Maria McKee

The Profile

American singer‑songwriter and former Lone Justice frontwoman. Scored a UK #1 with Show Me Heaven, penned the hit A Good Heart, and pursued a solo path spanning country rock, soul, and bold art‑rock turns like Life Is Sweet.

Lead singer of Lone Justice; solo debut in 1989; UK #1 with Show Me Heaven (1990, Days of Thunder); wrote A Good Heart (hit for Feargal Sharkey); subsequent albums include You Gotta Sin to Get Saved (1993), Life Is Sweet (1996), High Dive (2003), Peddlin' Dreams (2005), Late December (2007), La Vita Nuova (2020); half‑sister of Bryan MacLean (Love).

Three DeBaser reviews track Maria McKee’s journey from the polished debut through the soulful rock of You Gotta Sin to Get Saved to the dark art‑rock of Life Is Sweet. The writer hails her voice as otherworldly and singles out production shifts from Mitchell Froom to George Drakoulias. Themes span anger, rebellion and catharsis, with notable covers and UK chart success for Show Me Heaven. Overall verdict: intense, daring, essential.