Mary Jo Frontiera Tribute From Barbara Boudreau

Barbara Boudreau writes-

Hi Joey,

I didn’t know if you run any tributes to people who have passed, but Gloucester lost a very special lady on Tuesday.  Perhaps you knew her from her music – she was a gifted piano player – a wonderful musician.  The wake is tomorrow (Friday) at Greely’s and the funeral Saturday at St. Ann’s.  I wrote this piece about her if you have room for it on the web site.  Great job on the site – it tells a wonderful side of Gloucester.

Barbara Boudreau

I’m very sad to report that my dear buddy Mary Jo Frontiera passed away on Tuesday. She was a magical presence who possessed that quality all musicians strive for, yet many never achieve. When she played, the music simply came out of her and greatly affected everyone within earshot, regardless of age or station in life. Memories of her sitting in at the Studio Restarant live vividly in my mind. No matter who was playing before or after, she always commanded the most thunderous applause with her simple, but elegant style and interpretation, her impeccable sense of time and creative musical genius. Though she was completely self taught and never considered herself to be a singer, she was one of my favorites, and her rendition of "Street of Dreams" was the ultimate. Mary has been out of the music circuit for some time now, but was playing regularly for Day by Day elder services in Gloucester, bringing the gift of music to those who need it most. If you had the privilege of visiting at her apartment in Poplar Park, you were always treated to a free impromptu concert which spanned the gamut of the American Songbook and beyond, to classical, and at times, Beatles tunes that she loved. Mary Jo LOVED music. It remained to the end the most important aspect of her life. Just last Monday, she played for me at her house, and I will keep that memory of Winter Wonderland clutched in my heart. The world has lost a true treasure today.

Barbara Boudreau