Musical influences:
Robert Johnson, Shirley & Lee, Hank Williams, Buddy Holly, ABBA, Eddie Cochran, Big Joe Turner, Sonic Youth, Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, Shane MacGowan, Eric Bogel, Stephin Merritt, Gram Parsons, Jimmie Rodgers aka "the Singing Brakeman", The Sex Pistols, Tammy Wynette, The Rolling Stones, Charlie Patton, The Blue Sky Boys, Smokey Robinson, Jean Ritchie, Pete Townshend, Cole Porter, Jerry Lee Lewis, Hoagy Carmichael, Leadbelly, Rodgers & Hart, Darlene Love, The Beatles, Howlin' Wolf, Elmore James, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry, Sam Cooke, Jack Nitzsche, Shooby Taylor, The Chantels, T.Rex, Elvis Presley, Phil Spector, Doc Boggs, The Carter Family, George Jones, Jerry Kennedy, Randy Newman, Gene Pitney & Melba Montgomery, Felice & Boudeleaux Bryant, Roy Orbison, The Troggs, Sly Stone, The Velvet Underground, Jonathan Richman, Mary Wells, Johnny Otis with Marie Adams and Three Tons Of Joy, Elvis Costello, The Kinks, John Prine, Loretta Lynn, The Everly Brothers, Mildred Bailey, The Boswell Sisters, The Mekons, Van Morrison, Bent Fabric, Jimmy Liftlock, Big Bling, Vig Blunt, Anwar Tardy, Mrs. Melt, Landmines 'r' Us, Lost Highway Hair Salon, My old friend Soupy, Velvet Chin Strap, Sergeant Lou, Cupcake, The big guy next door, Sit hear and eat somethin', I'll get the door, I fold, Stand up a second, Coconut Cream Pie, Antfarm Pendrake, Keep On The Sunnyside
"You can hold the best of Maurice Mattei’s Material to the highest
songwriting standards. His "Set The World On fire" would not only fit
fine on Bob Dylan’s Love And Theft album, It would be a highlight. It
was an ear-opening revelation when a career spanning package from
this
unsung songwriter arrived in the mail."--Don Mcleese, No Depression Magazine
"The best thing about his minimalist songs is that they’re anything but
your slick, cliché, over-emotional coffeehouse crooner material.
Mattei’s guitar melodies are as soothing and undiluted as his lyrics.
It’s like the thrill of literature in the form of rock ’n’ roll, and
without all the shaggy hair and distorted guitar posing to get in the
way."--Kari Wethington of Cin Weekly
Maurice Mattei is a singer/song writer from Cincinnati, Ohio. Born in Italy, he immigrated to America as a child with his family. He started writing songs in his early teen years. After the release of his first recordings in 1983 and 1988 he abandoned music to pursue photography. His interest lay primarily in documentary photography and this led him into certain social circles (Bikers, Drug addicts, Debutantes, Wrestlers, Strippers, Socialites, Celebrities, etc.) that he found to be strangely new and oddly exciting. This vast and glorious parade of life re-ignited his desire to write songs.
In 1995 he released his first CD of original material. He has since
released 10 CD’s, the latest being "The Tempers Perform The Best Of
Maurice Mattei Vol.3". In addition to CDs, Mr. Mattei has released
three cassette tapes, two 7-inch singles, one tape-cassette single, two
CD singles and a DVD since 1995. To see a complete discography,
examples of photographic works, lyrics page, additional mp3’s, and
miscellaneous writings.
Since 1990, Mattei has been quietly releasing some of the best
story-songs in the region. Mattei’s tawdry, insightful tales were
released to minimal fanfare, masking an unsung talent that was part
Dylan, part Bukowski, only smarter and of better voice. Also a noted
photographer, Mattei’s examination of the seedier side of the human
condition in his songs is even more effective than his photographs
exploring similar ground.Mike Breen of City Beat
It's a beautiful day under that older summer sun beating it's rays down on everyone Warming the earth Feeding the plants i wish everyday were a sunday with a little rain at 3AM
Summer's almost here and the time is right For dancing in the street, I hope you get a smile from everyone you meet I hope rocj=k and roll never lets you down, I hope your soul feels comfortable all over town
