Daily Inspiration: Meet Maria Kinney Blanchard

Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Kinney Blanchard.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In October 2020, during the height of covid, I was recovering from a seven-year relationship ending that summer. My job in North Raleigh was right around the corner from a restaurant that featured live music called Saints and Scholars Pub. A friend of mine that worked there posted that there was live entertainment on a Thursday night. So, I went to see Kevin Lee and was so delighted with his performance that I went back the next week on Thursday, as well. However, Kevin Lee wasn’t there but an open mic called The Old School Jam was. It featured a backing band that played live music and allowed other people to play or sing with them. I was immediately excited and asked if I could participate. As a result, I met some of the best friends in my life and began my journey into the local music scene of Raleigh North Carolina.
At Saints and Scholars Pub, I met my best friend, Wanda Thompson when we sang together at The Old School Jam. I met my husband, Francis Blanchard, at Wanda Thompson’s weekly Wednesday karaoke. The Old School Jam eventually ended in 2022. But in September of 2023, Francis and I decided to get married at Saints and Scholars where we met and we chose to revive The Old School Jam for our reception. It was such a huge success and so much fun that we asked Victor Khoury, the owner of Saints, if we could bring The Old School Jam back regularly. He agreed and we started hosting the Jam on the second Thursday of each month. It has grown to be a hugely popular event for local musicians, bands and budding artists to come together and collaborate and inspire one another.
The Old School Jam was comprised of the original hosts, drummer Mark Ritchie and guitarist John Dellinger, and Maria Kinney Blanchard as the lead host and organizer. They added Federico Izzia on 2nd guitar and Jerry Morrone as keyboardist and Jeff Cunningham as bassist. The Old School Jam Band has had a few members change. Eric Rantanen replaced John Dellinger when he joined a band and he has since moved on as well. Eric Lamb took his place as 2nd guitar. The chemistry is magical with this group. In a few hours each month, we pick and play 6 songs to play at the Jam and rehearse the requests from other players. Fronting the Jam and facilitating the collaboration of all these awesome musicians is more of an opportunity than I could have ever dreamed.
From The Old School Jam, my 1st band was born, Oakwood Ash, a soulful classic rock and blues unit with my right-hand guitarist Federico Izzia and my friend I met from the original Old School Jam, blues guitarist Michael Moser. We also brought in drummer Mike Polk, bassist Ownzie Beirne and keyboard player Jerry Morrone, also from the Jam, eventually replaced by Jeff Jones.
And from Oakwood Ash, my 2nd band was created, Soul Sauce. Federico and Ownzie, with Jeff Jones, and drummer Jeff Newbrough decided to start a band to play different genres than the blues band. Everyone in this band had other bands they were involved in, but the feelings of joy and comradery while playing together made the next-to-impossible scheduling challenges worth it with this band.
I also began a marketing side business called MAKSBeat Music to create graphic design, (logos, websites, Facebook event notices, social media management) for local bands. I promote over 13 different groups and have grown my local reach to almost 800,000 views. This is just mind-blowing to me.
Then, to top the cake of this musical menagerie, one day while enjoying a show at a favorite venue, Scooter’s Grill and Bar, a friend, realtor Tim Bilbo, known for his dedication to the annual fundraiser, The Bilbo Bash for Autism, approached me about hosting a radio show on his live streaming radio station, Joco Radio. Tim operates this station as a hobby to promote his real estate business but also to promote his love for music. Tim told me that he has a new studio in downtown Raleigh on the Fayetteville Street Mall and that he’s hooked up for live broadcast and he’s looking for someone who has connections with the local music scene to host a weekly radio show that interviews our local musicians and bands. In the moment, I couldn’t imagine taking on one more thing. But I thought about it for a minute. My husband, Francis Blanchard, has been the greatest support in all the music things that I have chosen to do. He doesn’t say a word about the money I spend on my equipment or complain about loading all of that equipment into my car, helping me set it up and tear it down at the end of the night and loading it all back into the house at the end of it all. He’s done this so many times I can’t count. And funny thing, he looks like a rockstar and we get regular inquiries about what band is he in. He has a very deep soothing voice, an amazing wit and ridiculous amount of random knowledge about music. I have even convinced him to sing at Wanda’s weekly karaoke and The Old School Jam, as well. And even though he is a crowd favorite, it’s just not his thing. But, I thought that hosting a radio show might be. So, I asked him if he would be interested and he gave a resounding, “Yes!” With only a few weeks until New Year’s Eve 2024, we decided to launch our first weekly MAKSBeat Music Radio Show on JoCo Radio on Tuesday, New Year’s Eve starring our first guest, my best friend Wanda Thompson’s band, Skintight, also with the drummer from my Old School Jam, Mark Ritchie, plus Cara Yates and Jeff Jones of The Blenders and Andrea Campoli of Rocket Music booking agency. We had a small party in our third floor Studio Lobby overlooking Fayetteville Street Mall which coincided with the New Year’s Eve 7:00 p.m. acorn drop. It was a great time and a really fun show which set the precedence for many more awesome interviews and performances.
We are approaching April and we have successfully had two bands a week on the show since. Our radio show is booked out through June currently and steadily receiving more requests from bands who want to come on the show. Francis has fallen into the role of radio show host like a pro. The guests and the listeners love him and I’m so happy that he has a way to share in the enrichment of the local music scene in our hometown Raleigh.
Local music has brought us together as a couple, and has created a family of friends for life with all the great people we’ve gotten to know. The interviews delve into the personal experiences of each of the band members that come on the show as well as the challenges, the rewards, the inspirations, and the outlook for the future of their own personal endeavors and the general music scene overall. Even though it is a huge commitment to produce this show on a weekly basis, Francis and I have thoroughly enjoyed immersing ourselves even more in the local music scene and getting to know these incredibly talented people on a personal level. We feel extremely blessed to have this opportunity thanks to Tim Bilbo’s vision. We regularly go out every weekend and scout out new talent and visit the performers scheduled to come on our show.
Going forward, The MAKSBeat Music Radio Show on JoCo Radio (JocoRadio.com or on the app store) will be live broadcasting fundraising events for local music like the Slayerfest 2025 on April 25th & 26th in Wendell, and the 5th annual Bilbo Bash for Autism combined with the Rocket Music booking 10th anniversary at Zinchouse Winery and Brewery in May 2025. We are also seeking sponsors for our show. Our broadcast is even being rebroadcast over the NextDoorRadio.com streaming radio station.
Getting to be an ambassador for the local music scene in Raleigh and the surrounding Triangle area is a dream come true. All I ever wanted was just to get to sing a little. I thought if I supported other bands by videoing their shows, if I showed up at open jams and open mics, someone would see my potential and want to play with me. When I started this in 2020, I was as green as grass, having only sung to the radio and played drums on my steering wheel. I even got to play bongos with Skintight and Friends for a few years. But I fearlessly kept at it and gradually improved and formed relationships with people whom I consider to be far above my level of musicianship. The fact that these people let me sing on the same stage as them blows my mind. I am humbly grateful for the opportunity to be involved with this community. It has enriched my life and I’m sure the same can be said for everyone that is involved. Sometimes, I think the music is medicine for our souls. There are a lot of people that are empty-nesters, recent divorcees, and generally lonely people looking for a tribe. The music scene creates a purpose and it triggers the senses, reminding us of our roots, our golden years, and our youth. The local bands focus on covering music that speaks to our best memories and the soundtracks of our lives. They don’t get paid well for their efforts. They work for appreciation and love. I know this for a fact.

If you want to follow me you can do so on Facebook @Maria Kinney Blanchard, on Instagram @MAKSBeatMusic, on Youtube @MAKSBeatMusic, and @OakwoodAsh and @SoulSauceBand. To book a spot on the radio show email me at: [email protected] or go to my website at: Maksbeatmusic.rocks.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Everything has magically fallen into place as though there has been divine intervention. The biggest struggles I face are time management. I feel like I am being pulled in a lot of different directions with my full-time job, three bands, managing the jam and the radio show and the promotion business.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Professionally I am an office administrator for a land surveying company called Newcomb Land Surveyors in Raleigh. In the music realm, I do marketing and promotions for local bands and promote and produce the radio show.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
As for finding a musical mentor, I believe that is the purpose of The Old School Jam or going to open mics. It allows you to hone your skills and collaborate with musicians who are experienced.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.MAKSBeatMusic.rocks
• Instagram: @Maksbeatmusic
• Facebook: @Maria Kinney Blanchard
• Youtube: @Maksbeatmusic