Mary Kessler

British-born classically trained musician, songwriter (ASCAP IPI # 126309592), sound designer, designer and entrepreneur, born May 1957, in the UK. Goes by "Maz Kessler." Married to [a=Robbie Kilgore], has lived in Brooklyn, New York, and Burlington, Vermont.

Attended the London School of Economics, but left after one year to relocate to the U.S. to join bands, in New York's downtown music scene in 1983/1984. First worked at Unique Recording Studios in Manhattan as a receptionist. Worked in the Music Building in New York as a songwriter, and became a staff writer for CBS (now SBK). As a songwriter, she's charted three times in the U.S. and once in the U.K. In 1986, she had a #1 dance song (#10 overall) in the U.S. with "Baby Love" by Regina (co-written by [a=Stephen Bray] and [a=Regina Richards]). In 1988, she duplicated the feat with "Like a Child" by Noel, which again was #1 on the dance charts (#67 overall) (co-written by Noel Pagan and Roman Ricardo). Dannii Minogue's cover of "Baby Love"' in 1991 hit #14 in the U.K.

1995 Grammy award winner (Best Contemporary Jazz Performance) with [a=The Brecker Brothers]' album "[m=170153]."

Worked with husband Robby as production and sound designer (as [a=Maz & Kilgore] and as 22 Music Inc.).

Left the music business in 1995, to be a designer and creative director. Worked for Microsoft in their Social Interface Group, then NetSage (1997-2000), co-founder of FunArts Software, then worked for nonprofits Keep A Child Alive, Advocacy International (2005-2010), Women Deliver (2010-2012), and founded Catapult in 2012 and Manifesta.net (2014).

For her publishing company, see [l=Maz Appeal]/[l=Maz Appeal Music].