Faces of The Front

By Faces of The Front Staff / Mountain & Main

In the heart of Salt Lake City, you might find Mary Tebbs in two very different, yet equally vibrant, worlds. By day, she is a standout salesperson at Jerry Seiner Cadillac, where she has earned a reputation as a "rockstar" for her transparent, stress-free, and deeply personable approach to helping people find their perfect vehicle. But when the showroom lights dim, Mary steps into her truest passion: a decades-long career as a celebrated singer-songwriter.

A Journey of Resilience

Mary’s path has been anything but linear. Though she wrote her first song at age ten, she stepped away from music for years, pursuing a career in graphic design before a spontaneous moment with friends in 1989 reignited her creative spark. Since then, she has navigated profound personal challenges with grace.

In 2008, Mary was diagnosed with a Macro Adenoma, a type of brain tumor. Rather than letting the diagnosis side-track her, she described the experience as "life-expanding." She used the recovery process as creative fuel for her 2011 album, Fuzzy Halo, turning a frightening medical journey into a message of hope and awareness.

*Mary, the daughter of BYU Hall of Fame Basketball Player, Terry Tebbs, was an outstanding player for University of Utah.*

*Mary Tebbs played for the University of Utah Women’s team, and started at guard for the 1981-82 and the 1982-83 seasons.*

The "Ellen DeGeneres of Singer-Songwriters"

Known for her quick wit and endearing performance style, Mary has been affectionately dubbed the "Ellen DeGeneres of singer-songwriters." Her music spans a wide emotional landscape—from the humorous and off-the-cuff to the soulful and deeply moving. Over the years, she has garnered numerous accolades, including:

Best Songwriter and Best Solo Performer from Salt Lake City Weekly.
A national nomination for Best Jazz Song from the Gay Lesbian American Music Awards (GLAMA).
A prolific discography featuring albums like Landscape of Love and Last Goodbye.

From the Showroom to the Digital Stage

In today’s digital world, Mary has found new ways to share her personality and talent. Fans can follow her journey on TikTok under the handle MaryTLovely, where she blends her musical world with her daily life. Whether she’s sharing a snippet of a new melody or a glimpse into her day-to-day adventures, her digital presence mirrors the same authenticity she brings to the stage and the showroom.

Living with Passion

For Mary, selling Cadillacs is how she "pays the bills," but music is her lifeblood. She views every obstacle as a "gift to mine," choosing to live consciously and share her journey through her lyrics. Whether she is helping a neighbor into a new Cadillac Lyriq or performing an acoustic set in a local garden, Mary Tebbs embodies the idea that we don't have to be just one thing. We can be professional and poetic, grounded and creative, all at once.

As she once told Voyage Utah Magazine:

"Music is my passion and I will always find a way to do music until I die."

*Mary Tebbs has teamed up with Will Baxter in her latest venture into the Wasatch Front music world with the monthly* ***Soulful Second Sundays.***

***Soulful Second Sundays Location: Vitalize Community & Healing Arts Studio at 3474 S 2300 E #12, Millcreek, UT 84109. Catch Mary and Will on January 11th, February 8th and March 8th. 3PM to 5PM.*** ***Read more about Soulful Second Sundays here.***

Where to Listen

Mary has a rich discography that reflects her journey through love, recovery, and "mountain funk." You can find her work on most major streaming platforms:

Apple Music: You can find her most recent major release, Landscape of Love, Vols. 1 & 2 (2014), which features 18 tracks. You can also find her recovery-themed album Fuzzy Halo and her earlier work like Homemade Phase.
Spotify: Search for "Mary Tebbs" to find her top tracks, including "I’m Gonna Shine" and "Desert Song."
YouTube: Many of her live performances and studio tracks are available if you search for her name, offering a glimpse into her "Ellen-esque" stage presence.

The Duality of Mary Tebbs: Driving Dreams and Crafting Melodies