Award-winning Portland musician Mary Flower talks about her decades-long career performing and teaching guitar

Mary Flower finally convinced her parents to buy her an acoustic guitar when she was around the age of 12, growing up in Indiana more than six decades ago. Inspired by the folk stylings of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, Flower taught herself to play and was good enough to teach the instrument while still in high school. She continued to perform and teach while in college, which she left to embark on a career as a professional guitarist and singer-songwriter based in Denver. 

 

In 2004, Flower moved to Portland, where she continued to gain acclaim for her albums and performances, including being nominated three times for a “Blues Music Award” from the Blues Foundation and being inducted into the Cascade Blues Association’s “Muddy Award” Hall of Fame and the Colorado Music Hall of Fame.  

 

This Saturday, Flower will receive the 2025 “Best of the West Artist Award” from Folk Alliance Region-West in recognition of her contributions to folk music in the region and her ability to “build bridges between traditional genres.”

 

Despite her busy performance and touring schedule, Flower continues to find time to instruct and mentor fellow guitarists. Earlier this month, she wrapped up Blues in the Gorge, a 5-day acoustic blues guitar camp for adults in the Columbia Gorge she started 12 years ago. Flower  leads the workshops with the help of several other musicians she chooses each year for their ability to both perform and teach.

 

Flower joins us to discuss her expansive career and extensive collaborations with other artists in musical genres spanning from blues to jazz.