Biography

Mary Beth Carlson, composer, recording artist, author, inspirational speaker and former Teacher of the Year, performed nationally as a pianist and speaker for a wide variety of special events. As Lead Pianist at Nordstrom Mall of America for nearly 15 years, she managed piano entertainment for most of those years.

Much of her original music was inspired by her daughter Jody, who was born with cerebral palsy and autism. She wrote and performed music for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, International Special Olympics, Arc, Fraser Community Services, Children's Cancer Research Fund, Alzheimer's Association and Joni Eareckson Tada's ministry, Joni and Friends.

Fortunate to have opportunities to perform for a variety of distinguished audiences, she was particularly honored to have been invited by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association to present a concert of restoration to guests from forty countries at The Cove in Asheville, NC. Decision Today, Dr. Graham's nationally syndicated radio program, interviewed her as their featured guest. She was invited to participate in disabilities outreach conferences with Joni Eareckson Tada, internationally renowned author, artist and speaker and also performed in concert with Joni at Bethel College in St. Paul, MN. Mary Beth was interviewed on KTIS Radio in St. Paul, MN for a five-day series about her journey of faith.

Mary Beth produced and recorded twenty-nine albums of piano orchestral music which are distributed by MBC Productions. Her most recent release is The Wonder of Christmas ... collection of time-honored Christmas songs. She's been featured on other CDs with Jim Brickman, Patty Peterson, J.D. Steele, The Blenders and Steve Hall, and additional inspirational CDs by Integrity Music with artists including Sandi Patty, Darlene Zschech and Don Moen (Christmas Worship).

In 2009, Mary Beth collaboratively created a comprehensive music experience program for residents in Memory Care for The Goodman Group Inc., LLC, a company that owns and manages senior living, health care, and residential communities throughout the US and Europe. The project involved arranging, producing, and recording familiar vocal/instrumental music and coauthoring a correlating book of thematic curriculum. Due to its overwhelming success, Volume II was completed in 2012.

Also in 2012, she joined Dr. John Gray (Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus), best-selling author Brian Tracy and others to coauthor a new book titled Words of Wisdom ... Experts Share Strategies For Mastering Life & Business Relationships.

Early in 2017 Mary Beth and her husband Kent completed an integrated, intergenerational music curriculum for residents in senior living communities throughout the country for Grand Living, an innovative new company specializing in the development and management of distinctive senior living communities with a hospitality focus.

Married for forty 47 years to her husband Kent, they raised three daughters and resided in Eden Prairie, MN. They've immensely enjoyed spending time with their nine grandchildren. In 2021 Mary Beth passed away due to complications following treatment for multiple myeloma cancer.