Maria Futter - The talented one with the most hair!

Merv & Maria


	So how and why did Merv & Maria finally end up working together, well here is is the Merv & Maria Story. Dad had already become a major name on the circuit, working at top festivals both solo and with his band. I had grown up with the love of Country Music, following dad around the festivals and loving the Country Music Life, friendly people and the fun.
I began learning the bass guitar at the age of 13, I used to practice in my room until my fingers were sore. Dad used to help run a small club the Hayloft in King's Lynn on Wednesday night, we used to have free music every week and every other week I used to get up and play by guitar. That's how it all started really from there, I was a bag of nerves. This is me on stage with my guitar.
	At the Norfolk festival one of the largest festivals, one year a band failed to arrive so dad being stage manager had to fill the gap, he put together a band on the spot, they were short of a bass player. So here I am at about the age of 14 on stage in front of 1000's of people a real nervous wreck.
I then began to sing a couple of songs, starting off with the song "Granpa". At the age of 16 I would beg dad to take me with him to his gigs. He always said yes and I would get up and sing a couple of songs.
	It went from a couple of songs to about 6 and then a set, and that were it all started, I only really did it as a hobbie and nothing more. Whist at college I supported myself working At The African Violet Centre. It wasn't until I finished college and still not really sure what I was going to do that dad asked me If I would like to sing full time.
I then took the leap and decided to join Dad full time, I still worked during the week and singing at weekends. It soon became that I was asking for more and more time off to go to bookings, getting in around 3am and having to be at work for 7.30am, so I had to make the choice and decided to go professional.
	I'd been professional about 2 years when I saved up and got myself a beautiful acoustic guitar spent more hours going through songs and practicing over and over again in my bedroom. Tears and tantrums with the guitar and then it all started to fit together slowly.
I love working with dad, like they say if you are going to work with someone you might as well work with the best and to me he is one of the best. The main thing I love about Dad is he's the same person off stage as he is on, there is no pretence, you never really know what he is going to say or do, it's what makes it fun.
	We have so much fun on the road, taking the mickey out of each other and there is never a dull moment in the van. We have met some wonderful people along the way and made so many friends. We have also had the chance to work with so many fantastic acts.
One Of the highlights of my career so far was opening for Heather Myles, such a talented lady all the way from America. I also got to sing with her band in the sound check ha ha.