Monica Marie signs a music distribution deal with Enrich music, Taiwan

Monica Marie Album Releases

I was released on a few Albums since my own Debut Album: "WAKE, Signs of Life" (1999) with the song "Libra-Balance" - backing vocals on the Album "Empress" Will Rogers State - Flesh and Bone (2005), Courtesy of Oversoul Music, and on a Compilation Album called "Groove Sound 2003" (2003), Courtesy of Enrich Music.

Monica Marie sings for the 15th world burn congress In Cleveland, Ohio

"Nearly 550 members of the burn community spent 4 days in September learning about the burn recovery process, sharing experiences, making new friends, and catching up with old ones."
Monica Marie opened each session with an inspirational song!
Thanks again to Amy Acton, Pam Peterson, Dr. Fratianne, Chief G.G., and also the Phoenix Fire Dept. for audio visual support. It was an honor to be able to participate, and you all made it an exciting and memorable event for me!

Monica Marie helps raise funds for Muscular Dystrophy

"Thank you to all of the people who contributed time, money & effort over the past few years through many, many events, and especially to the Cleveland Fire Fighters for inspiring me to help out with your Muscular Dystrophy drives and raffles. A special note of thanks to Chief G.G. you know who you are - you're an amazing man!

Mike Betten, KLMJ radio in Hampton, is on the new single

"To Get Me To You"
"A fresh new AC Artist with a lot of potential. The song speaks right to the heart, and with the help of Diane Warren and David Foster, it can't miss. Just one listen and you're hooked."

Taken from the Trabuco Canyon News

Entertainment section - Jesus Flores
Monica Marie is storming the music industry as she debuts her adult contemporary/pop music album. She was featured in the Trabuco Canyon News in the July 4th weekend issue and is described by a staff writer: "She delivers a musical style that embraces the best of today's pop, laced with a hint of rhythm and blues and expressive lyrics."

Taken from the Orange County Register

Sports section - Jeff Miller
Ain't id grand commentary: with fashion statements, t-shirt slogans and beer, the sights and sounds of the Grand Prix are again familiar in Long Beach.
Monica Marie is promoting the release of her debut album. According to literature supplied by a publicist, Marie has "a powerful, sumptuous vocal instrument" and her style is "laden with hauntingly poetic lyrics." You could even listen to her new CD right there while she was signing. That is, if you could hear her sumptuous vocal instrument over the thousands of horsepower screaming by like a barrel of bats set on fire and bound for hell.

Taken from the Cleveland Plain Dealer



Entertainment Section - John Soeder
Taste of Cleveland is homecoming for former Medina singer
Add former Medina resident Monica Marie to the impressive list of singers who have recorded songs by Diane Warren, the Grammy-winning tunesmith who wrote hits for Toni Braxton, Cher, Celine Dion and Leann Rimes, among others. Monica's self-titled debut features two Warren compositions, "To Get Me To You" and "Don't Look At Me That Way." they're ideal vehicles for Monica's pretty yet powerful voice. She was introduced to Warren by big-shot producer David Foster, who supervised the arranging and recording of "To Get Me To You."
"I said, 'How do you get a Diane Warren song?' he said, 'Well, you just go to her house, get on your knees and beg,'" recalls the thirty something Monica, who now makes her home in Newport Beach, California. The Medina High School graduate prefers to keep her exact age and surname secret. Her performance tonight at the Nautical Stage in the flats kicks off the musical entertainment for the Taste of Cleveland festival.
"The record industry is all about who you know," say's Monica. For her Album, she recruited a team of top-notch session musicians and studio wizards who had worked with the likes of Celine Dion and Mariah Carey. The collection of adult-contemporary pop songs and romantic ballads came out last month.
In addition to 11 original tunes by Monica, the Album includes a cover of "Dream Weaver," Gary Wright's 1976 hit always seemed to be playing on the radio when Monica and her large family went on vacation. "Those were good times," she says, 'But it was kind of torture, too, when you had nine people plus a dog in a station wagon for two days, driving to Florida."
Monica is looking forward to tonight's homecoming gig. "When I go back to Ohio, I'm overwhelmed by how nice everyone is," she says. "I miss that sincerity. It's not that people aren't nice out here [in California], but they usually have an ulterior motive."
All the same, she did get a kick out of meeting the artist formerly known as Prince. Monica sang at his club, Glam Slam, several years ago.
"I'm not interested in him romantically, but I asked him to dance," she says. "He's like, only if there's a hellacious beat. I'm like, "what's a hellacious beat? How about one of your songs? He's like, 'oh, no, no, no.' at the same time, his bodyguards are asking the DJ to put on his stuff. He's full of himself, but he's very interesting."

Taken from the Medina Sun



- Sam Boyer -
Local Grad makes it in music world
Monica Marie's Album launches career and new record label. Taking part in all the musical groups at Medina High School has paid off for MHS graduate, Monica Marie G., who is a rising vocalist with her first album on the Kohassett Record label.
Now known as Monica Marie, she was the youngest of five children. As a teenager, she performed in musicals, plays, show groups, with nightclub bands and lead her church congregation in song on Sunday mornings.
She performed in solo and ensemble contest all four years of high school before graduating from Medina High, receiving superior ratings.
"From the time I was able to sing, I've been performing" she said, "Even if it was only for my family."
To pursue her dream of performing professionally, she moved to California where she worked in the computer industry for six years as she established herself in the music business and got to know the people one needs to find to help her along the way.
"You need someone who believes in you," she said, and she found that with a new recording company, Kohassett Records, Inc., of Newport Beach, California. Kohassett is aligned with the multi-million dollar corporations, usprint, a software and documentation printing company and usprint CD, a software and music CD manufacturer.
In addition to launching the new label and Monica Marie's CD via full-page ads in us and Rolling Stone, the firm has a competition car in the Toyota/Kool Formula Atlantic Series.
In a unique Artist promotion tactic, Kohassett is sponsoring u.s. F2000 National Champion David Besnard as its driver and the car not only has Kohassett's logo but the image of Monica Marie, whose trademark look is a close-up photo of her eyes.
Kohassett also has a mobile advertising vehicle featuring an 18-foot by 12-foot billboard and a 40-inch HDTV flat screen monitor, video player, 10 headsets and more, all of which provide a continuous audio and visual experience of debut artists.
The mobile ad vehicle is fashioned for promotional use at all high visibility events such as concerts, charity fund raisers, select races, in-store promotions and other pertinent recording industry events.
So it's not unusual to see an 18-by 12-foot photo of Monica Marie coming down a street in California and other venues.
Kohassett has packaged Monica Marie materials including the self-titled CD, videotape and a T-Shirt with the eyes logo.
Earlier this month, Monica Marie made a special appearance at the Taste of Cleveland in the flats where the mobile ad vehicle was on hand to attract attention. Monica Marie has also been heard in the movie, "Beyond Desire," where she sang one of the sound-track songs.
Her adult contemporary/pop Album is available in most record outlets, and can be ordered online at www.monicamarie.com where visitors can hear samples of her songs.

Taken from the Music Connection



Volume XXIII, No. 20
Heart & Soul Section - Michael Mollura
Monica Marie poised for Debut
National Network Against Violence recently attracted a stellar crowd, including prominent music figures, to a reception in Beverly Hills. Pictured below is newcomer artist, Monica Marie (left), poised for her debut on Kohassett Records, in early fall; longtime icon, Denise Williams (center), recent recipient of a 4th Grammy, and Linda Komorsky (right), Vice President, Touch Tunes, a high-tech digital jukebox. Marie's album includes a song by Diane Warren and a cut produced by multiple Grammy Winner David Foster.

Taken from MHR Magazine, UK


Monica Marie - Monica Marie
Kohassett records
- By Nicky Baldrian - -
Welcome to the hottest new sensation in female rock and pop, the best way to describe this Album in one word is class. Coming from nowhere, Los Angeles based songstress Monica Marie's Debut Album is hot hot hot, filled with bone trembling passion and lush melody patterns of huge finesse that Artists like Kyle Vincent, Richard Marx, Mark Free, Dianne Dewitt, Robin Randall, Robin Beck, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Whitney Houston, Celine Dion etc...Would die to have sung.
Monica spent a year in the studio on this Album with top producer David Foster and top songwriter Diane Warren (Bad English etc...), and the effect is a beautiful and timeless collection of soft pop/aor songs that is sure to send her topping the charts throughout out the world.
"To Get Me To You" opens the Album and is the lead off single. "To Get Me To You" is an uplifting and beautiful ballad that sets the standard for the rest of the album. Listen to the way Monica's baby like voice soars around the songs music. "A Good Thing" has a dancey edge to it a'la Whitney Houston and Richard Marx's "You Never Take Me Dancing."
Then we get a cover of Gary Wright's "Dream Weaver" which works really well with Monica's emotive and sexy voice. "Love For The Child" continues the sweet balladry and is a super ballad. A Christmas number one anybody? "Don't Look At Me That Way" is pure soft AOR, and has a wonderful and inspirational chorus that reminds me of Jaime Kyle, and heart's Ann Wilson - this is another hit. "Can you tell me" has a groove a'la Wilson Phillips with some neat vocal phrasing from our Monica." Out Of My Head" is another really great song that reminds me of device, and also at times she sounds like the black girl from the Spice Girls; very English sounding vocals on this song but in no way is the music like the spice girls (thank God)! This is one of the albums strongest tracks and even bares similarities to Pat Benatar. But what I like about the songs is that they all work. I know that Diane Warren's input has helped to make the songs more polished, but Monica does have her own pedigree, and that's why it works so well. She is very convincing and drives loads of juicy excitement into the song structures.
"Live Life" is another gorgeous ballad in the Sheena Easton Venus and Mars vein and is a totally huge nail-biting song - another hit!!! "You" goes for a Mariah Carey approach with a nice AOR edge. "My Solace" is another great ballad with some nice guitar work; in fact this is a stunning ballad. The way this lady sings this song is amazing - this is another highlight on the album. "Passion" doesn't altogether do it for me and is perhaps the weakest of the fifteen tracks. "Eyes" however is another neat AOR tune that if given to Steve Perry or Richard Marx to sing would be immediately massive." Change" is another hot tune sprinkled with AOR keyboard sensations and Dancey tones. "Back To You" is a challenging song, and features some beautiful background music a'la violins, classical guitar etc. This is another lush and very uplifting song that leads us into the albums final track "To Get Me To You" (re-mixed version) - which goes for a more poppy approach than the single version, and is a bit disappointing. Overall this is a sound album that is sure to elevate Monica to the status of Celine Dion and the like; and the great thing is that there are some great AOR/Pop songs to fall in love with. An album full of tranquility. Now then Monica - will you marry me?

Monica Marie poses in front of her truck in Medina recently. She opens for Cheap Trick Friday at the Taste of Cleveland

Medina Native Catches Her Rising Star
By Craig D. Williams (Staff Writer)

MEDINA-Monica Marie may live in Southern California now, but she grew up in Medina. She returns to Northeast Ohio this weekend to perform at the fourth annual Taste of Cleveland event in The Flats, opening for Cheap Trick Friday night.

This local "rising star" of the music industry is hard at work these days promoting her self-titled album, but hard work and performing are nothing new to Monica. She's been an entertainer, in one form or another, since she was a child.

Monica was born locally, the youngest of five children. From a very young age she put on shows for friends and family - sometimes imitating female singers like Dolly Parton and Ethel Merman.

As a teen, her performer's spirit came to life. She participated in musicals, plays and show groups. She also sang with night-club bands and led her church congregation on Sunday mornings.

All that practice has paid off for Monica. Now she's promoting her own Album; an Album she was heavily involved in creating.

"For a solid year, I've been in the studio writing, recording and producing my album," Monica Marie writes in the Biography section of her website (www.monicamarie.com). "I've been fortunate enough to learn quite a bit more about the Engineering Producing, and the Recording Process as a whole."

Monica will continue promoting her new Album, not only by performing at Taste of Cleveland, but by rubbing elbows with her audience while she's there. Fans and future fans will have the opportunity to view the Monica Marie mobile billboard truck and see her new music video at a station set up in Fagan's parking lot. She also will sign free photos and posters daily at the mobile truck.

"I'm so looking forward to promoting my Album!" Monica writes. "I welcome any insight that my fans care to share, as (they) are the ultimate focus!"

The Medina Sun - Community Life

The Very First Seem To Stick In Her Mind

I once calculated that in 32 years in education I worked with about 10,000 students. Strange as it may seem, I knew the first students I had in class the best.

Later when I became a Principal, I never had the chance again to get to know individuals really well. When I run into former students, I can easily tell whether I knew them as their teacher or their principal. If they call me Miss Ocepek, I know they had me in English class (probably Science Fiction). If they call me Dr. Ocepek, I know I knew them when I became a Principal.

I always appreciate it when former students identify themselves to me. Usually, I can remember something about them or a brother or sister. It is so much fun to run into people just to see how their lives have turned out. My former students now range in age from 18 to 51 years old. I knew the 51 year olds when I was 22 and they were 18, many years ago.

Talking to these former students has become one of the great joys of my life. So, when I recently ran into Monica (Last Name Removed), Class of 1985, I had the best time talking with her. I discovered that she had just moved back to Medina after living in California for 15 years where she had a successful run at a career in music.

Her professional stage name is Monica Marie. She shared with me her Debut Album which was just beautiful, filled with soulful, haunting melodies. I was impressed that she sang songs written by Diane Warren who wrote the lyrics to "Where My Heart Will Take Me," the theme from Star Trek Enterprise (naturally that would make the biggest impression on me).

She has a terrific website at www.monicamarie.com that describes her career and some of the famous people she rubbed elbows with over the years. She is back in Medina to be with her family but does not rule out a return to California. She is contemplating a new Album, and she does need a local back up band to help her. If you are interested, you can e-mail her thorugh her website.

Monica praised Medina's music program and appreciated being a part of Spice, Showtime, "Annie," and Top Hat Entertainment Company (the show choir's name in the 1980s) when she was in high school. In particular, she singled out Mark Hutsko, who was the Choir Director during Monica's years at Medina High, as having a major impact on her life and career. In spite of her success, Monica is gracious and down to earth. It was a real joy to talk with her.

Note: a portion of select articles were deleted or paraphrased to protect the security of Monica Marie.