Maura Sullivan | |
---|---|
Born | 1955 (age 68–69) |
Origin | Virginia, US |
Genres | Country blues |
Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, real estate agent, children's writer |
Instrument(s) | Vocals |
Website |
allinformaura |
Maura Ann Sullivan (born 1955) is an American real estate agent, children's writer, and former singer-songwriter most known for her 1982 single, " Christmas Eve in Washington." The song generated $180,000 (equivalent to $568,303 in 2023) for charities at the Children's National Hospital and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. In 1984, she released Out of the Blue, a country blues album through Success Records.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Sullivan grew up in Iceland and the Philippines due to her father's job in the United States Navy. [1] Her family later settled in Maryland, where she attended St. Mary's Academy in Leonardtown and St. Mary's College of Maryland. [2]
During the early 1980s, Sullivan was a reoccurring guest on WMZQ-FM where she would create comedic songs using 10 ideas from call in listeners. This led to her writing the single " Christmas Eve in Washington" (1982) alongside radio show host Jim London. Sullivan premiered the song on the radio and sold one thousand copies in cassette form within a few hours. The single generated $180,000 (equivalent to $568,303 in 2023) for charities at the Children's National Hospital and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The current version was recorded in 1987. WBIG-FM included the single on their holiday album in the 1990s. [3]
Sullivan's debut album, Out of the Blue, was released in 1984 through Success Records. It features country blues ballads. Musician Lloyd Green is featured on the steel guitar. [4] The album included original tracks and covers of " Wrong End of the Rainbow" and " Too Good to Stop Now." Jim Williamson and Tony Migliore were producers. People drew comparisons of Sullivan's "intense voice to Édith Piaf. [1] Sullivan was an opening act for Joan Rivers, George Strait, Janie Fricke, Arlo Guthrie, Richie Havens, Odetta, Looking Glass, George Jones, Lee Greenwood, Loretta Lynn, and John Denver. [2]
Sullivan revealed that she was burned out and left the music industry. She worked as a real estate agent in Woodbridge, Virginia. Sullivan authored the children's book, Marty the Dolphin's Gread Day Adventure with Jay Schwartz as the illustrator-cartoonist. [2]
Sullivan was diagnosed with stage 4 colorectal cancer in December 2017 and sought treatment at Inova Health System. After a brief remission, the cancer came back in March 2019. [5] [6]