Memphis Songwriters Series Hosted by Mark Edgar Stuart

Artist Lineup

Mary Hatley

Mary Hatley is a singer-songwriter from Memphis, TN. She moved to Memphis when she was eight years old and immediately fell in love with the historic music scene. The soul of Memphis and the presence of famous musicians such as Elvis Presley, inspired her to pursue a career in music. Hatley’s early shyness subsided when immersed in music, her influences spanning classic rock to contemporary soul.

A self taught guitarist, she channeled her experiences into introspective songwriting during quarantine. Working with producer Matt Qualls at Memphis’ Easley McCain, Hatley has crafted her debut album that reflects the emotional landscape of her young life. Her music, an intimate exploration of vulnerability and strength, offers listeners a refuge, a shared space for emotional resonance. Hatley’s work marks her as a compelling voice in the Memphis music scene, one forged in personal experience and delivered with raw authenticity.

Paul Taylor

Paul Taylor is a second generation Memphis songwriter/musician who has honed his craft over a lifetime of gigging, recording and touring as a drummer, bassist, guitarist and vocalist with a wide range of artists, including Mike Doughty, Eric Lewis, Chuck Prophet, Robert Ellis, North Mississippi AllStars, Reba Russell, Ann Peebles, Eric Gales, Jim Dickinson, Shawn Lane, Jimbo Mathus, Amy LaVere, Hope Clayburn’s Soul Scrimmage, The PRVLG, Mighty Souls Brass Band, MEM_MODS, Luther Dickinson, Mason Ruffner and many more.

These vastly diverse musical experiences, along with being steeped in Memphis music since birth, have informed Paul’s solo recorded output - Open Closed (2007), Share It (2009), and The Old Forest Trail (2015) all under his own name, and Old Forest Loop (2018), The Music Stands. (2020), It Is What It Isn’t (2021), Let The Mystery Be (2023) as well as a bevy of recent singles under his alias, New Memphis Colorways.

Paul moved to Door County, Wisconsin in 2020, where he has been honing his skills as a solo performer and songwriter. He also formed the regionally celebrated band Three Springs in 2023. They have released two critically acclaimed records, their eponymous 2024 release and the EP Room For Everyone in 2025.

Paul still frequently performs as a solo acoustic songwriter act with folk, indie, jazz and blues tinges. Paul claims eclectic influences such as Joni Mitchell, MS John Hurt, Alex Chilton, Jerry Reed, Duke Ellington and Marvin Gaye.

Paul’s live sets reflect his wide ranging influences and also feature some looping and self jamming.

Kathy Zhou

Kathy Zhou is a piano-powered art-pop and burlesque-folk singer-songwriter. Based in the rock’n’roll soul capital of Memphis, TN, Kathy crafts poignant and musically rich stories in line with her city’s soulful traditions, yet powered by her own unique, cinematic, theatrical, flair. Audiences repeatedly describe her sound as “mesmerizing,” sharing that “no one else sounds like her.”

With piano stylings somewhere between a classical piano prodigy and rock and roll shredder, an equally dynamic voice that is soothing and gentle, yet passionate and empathic, and lyrics that are heartfelt and magical, Kathy’s shows are sure to bring avant-garde magic and prompt heartfelt and honest dialogue amongst audiences.