Mary E - A Life In Full Harmony

In her own words, Mary E is "A lady who puts God first, who loves family, always gives of her best, and enjoys life".

This guiding philosophy is evident in every role she plays, whether it's in the boardroom, at church, within volunteerism, on stage, or within her cherished circle of family and friends.

By day, Mary is a dedicated Corporate Service professional. Outside the 8:00- 4:30 schedule, she is a devoted wife of 31 years to her wonderful husband Ian Weekes, proud mother of two beautiful daughters Aaliyah and Asha Weekes, the epitome of what is the very definition of what a supportive daughter, granddaughter, sister, aunt, cousin, niece and friend is. A true pillar of love and dependability; when Mary has you, she has you.

An Anglican and committed Lion, Mary also shines in her deep-rooted love for the Arts and Sports. In the 1980s she was crowned Barbados' Junior Table Tennis Champion under the mentorship of her brother Gregory Riley representing the island of Barbados at the CARIFTA Games on two occasions.

She was also talented enough to represent Barbados in the Under 23 Netball team and is the proud owner of a Gold Bar 2 Certification in Latin and Ballroom Dance. A lover of performance, she also enjoys acting and has found her rhythm and voice in music.

For the past twenty-three years, Mary has become a respected fixture in the Barbadian cultural scene as a backing vocalist for the Bacchanal Time and De Big Show Calypso Tents.

She has also recently done a stint with the Carters Shinning Stars Calypso Tent as a backing vocalist, and in 2025 at the invitation of Tent Manager Juliana Sealy, made her debut as a Tent MC.

She has performed with many regional and international Artists. These include Machel Montano, Iwer George, Red Plastic Bag, Edwin Yearwood, The Mighty Gabby, John King, Wendy Alleyne, Lou Kirton, Tony Grazettes, Tamara Marshall, Crazy, Ernie Smith, Melba Moore and many more.

She has also enjoyed the privilege of singing lead in the bands Jegna with John King, and Nemesis with Mr. Blood and Adrian "AC" Clarke.

As Mary puts it:

"No, I could never be considered the greatest singer, but I give my all to every performance. I enjoy myself and try to interpret the message the singer is trying to portray, so that I can lend to their entire production. I think my work ethic lands me gig after gig. I am truly grateful".

Her love for Caribbean Culture and performance has seen her participate in four editions of CARIFESTA. She first took part in CARIFESTA in 1981 hosted in Barbados, singing in the Mass Choir and dancing with her Alma Matter, Hindsbury Primary School, where she proudly led the Land Ship performance.

This experience took her to Radio City Music Hall in New York City while only 11 years old.

In later years, she continued her CARIFESTA journey in Guyana (2008), Barbados (2017) and again most recently in Barbados (2025), lending her voice to support diverse talent.

In 2020, Mary made the bold decision to step to the front of the stage as a calypsonian under the name Mary E. Though COVID-19 briefly delayed that ambition, she debuted in 2021 and hasn't looked back.

Over the past four seasons, she has grown from strength to strength, fully embracing her new role as a solo performer.

"Is it my goal to reach the Pc-O-De-Crop Finals one day? Yes, of course. But nothing before its time. I've seen myself grow and improve yearly, rather, night by night with every Tent performance, and that's the real win for me at this stage".

She credits her continued growth and success to her unshakeable family support, and to key mentors in the music industry, especially Gregory Hunte who gave her that first chance, the late Adrian "Boo" Husbands, Bernard Yearwood, Senator John King, Pernell Farley, Farakhan Stephens, Randy Eastmond, Mr. Blood, and many others who saw the star within and gave her stages to shine on.

A lady of faith, family and fierce determination, Mary E embodies discipline, humility, and joy. Whether performing for thousands, supporting fellow artist, or living her full and beautiful life behind the scenes, she leaves an indelible mark, heartfelt, authentic, and entirely her own.