Mary Self

Growing up in Clarksville, TN, Mary was exposed to music at an early age by parents who sang in their church choir and enrolled her in piano lessons while she was still in elementary school. By high school, Mary was taking voice lessons which led to gigs at local restaurants and, because she was underage, her supportive parents were always in attendance. By high school, she was performing with her school’s swing choir, madrigals, and concert choir. As early as middle school, Mary knew she wanted to pursue a degree in music. She graduated from Austin Peay State University with a degree in Vocal Performance, maintaining a side hustle singing in country music bars and restaurants. She landed one very special gig, portraying beloved character Minnie Pearl at the 1982 Worlds Fair in Knoxville and her training for the role came from none other than Minnie Pearl herself, Sarah Cannon, who invited Mary to her Nashville home and coached her on facial expressions, mannerisms, and of course, her trademark ‘HOW-DEE!,’ an experience that remains a cherished memory. Cruise Line, performing in a Manhattan Transfer-style vocal quartet and as a solo performer in a country show. Docked in California, the ship traveled down the Baha coast to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. She landed a job at ASCAP, her first job on Music Row, in 1986 where – over the next almost 40 years – she ascended from receptionist to Writer/Publisher Administration, to Membership Administration Representative to her current position of Senior Manager of Membership and Administration, Nashville. She will officially mark her 40th work anniversary January 6, 2026. Mary originally took a job at ASCAP because she thought it would be a great place to work while learning about songwriters and artists. She could’ve never imagined it would also include countless memorable highlights like meeting songwriters – and ASCAP leadership – Marilyn Bergman, Alan Bergman, and Paul Williams who penned some of the biggest hits of her all-time favorite female vocalist, Barbra Streisand. Mary has been involved in the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament (MRLGT), benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee, for 36 years. She is a member of the Copyright Society of the South, AIMP, CMA, ACM and the GMA. Her son Bryan graduated from Vanderbilt University where he received a degree in music performance and Economics. He works at Domain Capital Group and provides data analytics and helps manage royalties for their Media, Entertainment and Technology Funds. Mary’s fur children are cats T helma and Louise. Mary then spent a year as an entertainer on a Carnival Cruise Line, performing in a Manhattan Transfer-style vocal quartet and as a solo performer in a country show. Docked in California, the ship traveled down the Baha coast to Cabo San Lucas, Mazatlán, and Puerto Vallarta. She landed a job at ASCAP, her first job on Music Row, in 1986 where – over the next almost 40 years – she ascended from receptionist to Writer/Publisher Administration, to Membership Administration Representative to her current position of Senior Manager of Membership and Administration, Nashville. She will officially mark her 40th work anniversary January 6, 2026. Mary originally took a job at ASCAP because she thought it would be a great place to work while learning about songwriters and artists. She could’ve never imagined it would also include countless memorable highlights like meeting songwriters – and ASCAP leadership – Marilyn Bergman, Alan Bergman, and Paul Williams who penned some of the biggest hits of her all-time favorite female vocalist, Barbra Streisand. Mary has been involved in the Music Row Ladies Golf Tournament (MRLGT), benefiting United Cerebral Palsy of Middle Tennessee, for 36 years. She is a member of the Copyright Society of the South, AIMP, CMA, ACM and the GMA. Her son Bryan graduated from Vanderbilt University where he received a degree in music performance and Economics. He works at Domain Capital Group and provides data analytics and helps manage royalties for their Media, Entertainment and Technology Funds. Mary’s fur children are cats T helma and Louise.