Margo Guryan

Margo Guryan (born in Far Rockaway, New York City) is a singer/songwriter who blends elements of pop, folk, and jazz. She is best known for her 1968 album Take A Picture. Her songs were recorded by Cass Elliot, Glen Campbell and Astrud Gilberto, among others.

History

Margo Guryan grew up in the suburbs of New York City, and took an interest in music from an early age. Jazz singer Chris Connor recorded her song "Moon Ride" in 1958, while Guryan was still in high school. At Boston University, she studied classical and jazz piano, idolizing musicians such as Max Roach and Bill Evans. She was primarily a jazz musician until a friend, David Frishberg, urged her to listen to the song "God Only Knows" from the album Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys. According to Guryan,

"I thought it was just gorgeous. I bought the record and played it a million times, then sat down and wrote 'Think of Rain.' That's really how I started writing that way. I just decided it was better than what was happening in jazz."

Her song "Sunday Morning" was recorded by Spanky and Our Gang. Released in December 1967, it reached #19. In 1968, she released the album Take A Picture, an album full of light, jazz-tinged pop melodies. Due to Guryan's refusal to tour, the album was underpromoted and failed to make an impact. Resigned to this, Guryan withdrew from the professional scene and became a music teacher.

Take A Picture was reissued in 2000 by Franklin Castle Records. A collection of demos entitled 25 Demos has also been made available. In 2006, the song "Take A Picture" was used in a TV advert for mobile camera phones. Guryan's song "Lonely Woman" was covered by Chris Connor in 1962, then in 1966 by Finnish jazz singer Carola Standertskjöld.

Discography

• Take A Picture (1968)
• 25 Demos (2001)
• 16 Words (single) (2007)

Songs recorded by other artists

• Moon Ride - Chris Connor (1958)
• Lonely Woman - Chris Connor (1962)
• Milano - Chris Connor
• This Lovely Feeling - Dizzy Gillespie (1963)
• Think of Rain - Jackie DeShannon (1967)
• Sunday Morning - Spanky and Our Gang (1968)
• Can You Tell - Carmen McRae (1968)
• Don't Go Away - Carmen McRae (1968)
• Think Of Rain - Astrud Gilberto (1969)
• Sunday Morning - Julie London (on Yummy, Yummy, Yummy, 1969)
• Come To Me Slowly - Julie London
• I Think a Lot About You - Cass Elliot (on Don't Call Me Mama Anymore, 1973)
• Shine - Linus of Hollywood (2000)
• Sunday Morning - Linus of Hollywood
• Think of Rain - Space Kelly (2006)
• Love - Dawn Landes (on Sweet Heart Rodeo, 2009)

External links

• Official Site
• MySpace Page
• Article in Mean Street Magazine
• Interview with Music Times Two

Persondata
Name	Guryan, Margo
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death