“Daniel McRath is a native of Saint Louis, MO. At an early age, he has been involved in professional musical theater at the MUNY and Opera Theater of Saint Louis, He is a graduate of Normandy High School and Morehouse College where he majored in music. Daniel is delighted to have collaborated with KLR1 Productions/ Studios for the first time and looks forward to many more.”

Mary Veda, born as Mary Veda Jones, is a St. Louis, Missouri native who started performing at the age of six years old with her older sister Laura Renee, making their debut in church, harmonizing “Standing in the Need of Prayer”.  At that time they played and sang original duets on the piano, as the neighbors listened outside the window of their home.  She and five of her other siblings also began singing six-part harmony performances on various occasions as “The Jones Movement”.

As a teenager, Mary Veda performed in many talent shows and contests with her sisters Laura Renee and Deborah, known as “The Jones Girls”, and several other groups.  They were picked up by a booking agency, “The Zack and Mack Revue”.  The group reorganized and became “We Five” after adding two males, their brother Ronald (a bass) and a friend, Julius Williams (a high tenor).  After the tenure of “We Five”, Mary Veda and Laura Renee returned to their original duet performances. She married and took on the last name “Moorehead”.  She and her sister stopped singing in the early eighties and she returned to her roots, church.

After returning to church, Mary Veda began receiving requests to sing solos and she started singing “Whiter than Snow” – Denise Williams until she learned more gospel songs. She eventually joined her local church choir.  On her first day of rehearsal, her choir president at that time prophesied to her and spoke that she heard jazz in her voice and also saw her directing the choir.  She had sang jazz, but had never directed a choir, nor had any lessons.  That choir president moved out of town very shortly thereafter.  Mary Veda started practicing directing in the mirror because of the prophecy; and sure enough the opportunity to direct was presented, and the prophecy came to pass.  One Sunday afternoon, her church choir was on program at a visiting church and none of the directors were present.  The musician beckoned for her to step up as they performed “I’m Not Tired Yet” – Mississippi Mass Choir, and they were all surprised at how God used her spontaneously, and so was she.  At that point, Mary Veda was used more and more and became the head director, standing in the middle of the isle in front of the church, directing their 30-plus member choir into the sanctuary to Andre’ Crouch’s, “Yes Lord” as she sang the lead vocals.  Mary later served as choir director for several stage productions performed at the Mildred Sabastian Theatre created by Dr. A Wayne Jones, Professor and Chaplain of St. Louis Community Colleges.

Mary Veda is a member of the St. Louis Symphony InUnison Chorus, Conductor Kevin McBeth, where she enjoys learning various genres, styles and languages of music.  She also sang with the Missouri Gospel Announcers Guild Choir (MGAG) under the direction of, Evg Twentyfourkt Gold, Charles “Chuck” Spearman, Merdean Fielding-Gales and Dr. Bobby Jones.  She currently attends Central Baptist Church and sings in the choir under the direction of singer/songwriter, Christopher Watkins of Christ & Kyle with True Spirit. She retired employment in 2018 and has been enjoying traveling, working on books, making jewelry, and sewing projects, as she continues to write and perform solos.  

She resumed music studies to enhance her writing.  A producer, Kevin L.Wafford, of 4point1, heard her singing at a music symposium, “Iron Sharpens Iron” conducted by “The Happy Guitar” Gregg Haynes, and selected her and to be featured on his projects.  She served as vocal arranger and lead vocalist for his song “Carry You”.