Maria Gilhooley, also known as Marie Gilhooley, Marie Knight and Marie/Maria/Marry Waterson is a singer and artist best known for her contributions to numerous recordings and live performances by various members of the Waterson family.
Gilhooley is the daughter of Lal Waterson and George Knight and was born in the city of Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire. She made her recording debut as a guest on the album A True Hearted Girl by Lal and Norma Waterson in 1977. In 1988 she formed an occasional singing partnership with her mother Lal, aunt Norma Waterson and cousin Eliza Carthy under the name The Waterdaughters.[1] She has since been a guest performer on numerous Watersons and Waterson:Carthy recordings and has often performed live with her family at festivals and special performances.
Gilhooley currently lives in Robin Hood's Bay where she has developed a successful practice as a sculptor working largely in sandstone. Her work has been exhibited at numerous locations in Yorkshire and the North East of England and she has completed several commissions.[2]
On 12 May 2007 Gilhooley appeared with the Waterson family at a special concert at the Royal Albert Hall entitled A Mighty River of Song and on 25 October 2007 she appeared at the BBC Electric Proms concert Once in a Blue Moon: A Tribute to Lal Waterson at Cecil Sharp House in London.[3]
In 2007 Gilhooley replaced Eliza Carthy in Blue Murder and made her concert debut with the group on 23 November at the Met Theatre in Bury, Greater Manchester. In 2011 she was recording and touring with her brother as Marry Waterson & Oliver Knight.