Each woman
contributed original compositions to the band and arranged vocals and
instruments to accompany the material. Their core sound was acoustic
guitars, dulcimer, percussion and three part harmonies. Even today "Honey
Creek" is still known in communities from Mendocino County to Santa
Cruz for the many benefits they contributed to up and down the coast.
Their motto was "exposure, exposure, exposure," and that kept
them busy, sometimes doing three gigs a day. Frequently they even played
just for food and gas money. It was an exciting, free-spirited time.
The club scene was teeming with new bands and women were finally beginning
to be recognized for the quality of their musicianship. It wasn’t
until the late 1970s that they finally disbanded and went their own
separate ways pursuing individual musical careers. It has even been
suggested that a screenplay be written chronicling their high adventures.
Following Honey Creek, Marjie continued to play in a variety of bands,
improvising with fellow musicians on stage and at parties whenever live
music was welcome. She has shared the stage with many great artists
such as Bonnie Raitt, Robin Williams, Taj Mahal, Terry Garthwaite, Graham
Nash, and many more. She plays electric and acoustic guitars, electric
and acoustic mandolins, and synthesizer.
Her latest
CD, which she just released this year, demonstrates her strong songwriting
abilities and showcases her musicianship. She performs all the vocals,
which are enhanced by three part harmonies along with weaving background
vocal arrangements. All the material on the CD was written, arranged
and produced by Marjie. Titled "Coast is Clear", the CD is
also the name of her publishing company. Marjie is currently performing
her new original material with her band "Island Fever." Her
fellow musicians also performed on her CD, adding bass, drums, lead
guitar and flute.
Although Marjie’s Midwestern roots are planted firmly in the Iowa
cornfields, her lively rhythmical sense and passion for inventive and
colorful guitar chords has woven its way into her music throughout her
career. Marjie’s new album is the sum of her musical history.
The album might easily be considered a magnum opus to her musical talent
and represents an uplifting, inspirational new sound of its own. The
CD, which is all original material, is a unique blend of jazz fusion,
swing, rock, and a hint of Latiin. As Marjie would say, paraphrasing
her song "You’ve Got To Choose", "It doesn’t
take walking over people to get where you want to go, you just have
to lift them up with your music."
CD
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