… They’d Sing These Songs.

“Songs for Mary” is the story of Mary Dawson, of her life and times in reflection of our own. Powerful, evocative, personal. Triumphant.

The 15-Song Soundtrack was created by Dawn Carroll and Jon Butcher.

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Songs For Mary is the Story of Us.

Dawn Carroll and Jon Butcher will release a soundtrack album, Songs For Mary later this year. Songs is the precursor for a planned stage production, working title If The Walls Could Talk. “The stories of Mary Dawson and the famous musicians and other visitors to the ‘ house on Apple St. are embodied in the 15 songs on the soundtrack album” Jon says. “They’re powerful and also personal.” Dawn adds, “Mary’s legacy is the fight for racial justice, freedom and fairness, ironically the same struggle we’re in now. Songs For Mary are stories that need telling now more than ever!”

ALBUM • MUSICAL • DOCUMENTARY • TV SHOW

Media

Here’s the Buzz…

“Shining a broader, inclusive light on historically marginalized communities is essential for those of us committed to preserving and sharing a more accurate account of our nation’s history. Mary Cardwell Dawson’s contributions to this country’s cultural history are impressive in their own right and need to be added to the larger culture narrative. By preserving and amplifying her exceptional accomplishments and lived experiences as a black woman during a particular period in our history, Dawn Carroll’s comprehensive, timely and inspiring project would enable us to more deeply understand and appreciate a relatively unknown dimension of this unique community.”

– Vin Cipolla, President and CEO of Historic New England

Dawn Carroll shows unmatched passion for everything she puts her mind to. Her commitment to doing the right thing is the leading principle in everything she does.

Dawn is a true mentor; she provides guidance, motivation and emotional support to all she interacts with. She exhibits this in all aspects of her life ,whether as a friend, colleague, family member or citizen of the world.

“If the Walls Could Talk” and “Songs for Mary” are her latest projects about preserving history and an architectural masterpiece, all this while juggling a demanding design career. This amazing story was captured in her 15 song soundtrack, it is going on stage, and being filmed. She intends to show us a world that time and history sadly forgot.

– John Trifone, Showroom Director, Minotti

Dawn Carroll has an inspiring commitment to a shining bright spotlight on the life and legacy of Mary Cardwell Dawson. She has taken on the sharing of Dawson’s story – through music, film, and theater – as her personal calling. Carroll is a force. When she believes in something or someone, nothing stands in her way. Carroll is moving mountains so that people today and of future generations will know all that Mary Cardwell Dawson did to help Black musicians bring their talent to the world.

– Jackie Russell, President Teak Media + Communication

The Queen Anne style home in Pittsburgh, known as the National Negro Opera Company and the home of founder Mary Dawson, is important for its cultural, architectural, and social embodiment of the arts in Pittsburgh. Preservation of this home connects us to a time in America when the musical arts were admired but not available to all citizens equally due to racial divides. Restoration of the building will not change the history of the past or of the place, but it will allow us to remember the past with clarity. Conserving the past is but a window opening to our future.

– Gary Johnson, Principal, President – AIA CambridgeSeven

I am not the kind of guy that says… “things happen for a reason” but in this case, there is no other explanation. This project, Songs For Mary, has an energy that seems to come from the heavens. Early mornings, I’d get a voice recording message of Dawn singing her melody ( or worst- rapping LOL ) her song idea. I would sort it all out and get a keyboard recording. Once we thought we had an organized outline of a song, we would send the demo to Jon Butcher. The entire collaboration was a blast and what a gift it is to see the story of Mary Dawson come to life. The song Slowly, Dawn asked how much does patience cost… we spent the afternoon at Bang studio in Gloucester, for an old fashioned song writing session, together we sculpted this amazing song and pulled together a powerful message to the world. I am honored to be one of the writers and team.

– Sandy Mac

Latest News

Who’s Gonna Save the World?

Once I realized that Songs for Mary would be a theatrical show I knew we needed a song that inspired families to take action. “Who’s Gonna Save the World” became that song. Listen here. We wanted people to run out the doors with fists in the air singing at the top of...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Musical Activist MICHAEL BERRY!

Don't think one person can make a difference? When it comes to delivering a high-voltage message in music, our teammate Michael Berry will knock your socks off. Using his musical and writing gifts Michael proves the essential ingredient to a kinder world is COMPASSION...

Boston Designer Dawn Carroll Releases Her Album About Historic Preservation and Mary Cardwell Dawson

SONGS FOR MARY the Album About Mary Cardwell Dawson - LIVE on all streaming platforms. Special thanks to everyone who helped save this story. First, the house called out. The onetime headquarters of the National Negro Opera Company, the Queen Anne-style house in...

Dawn Carroll Rediscovers the Story of Roberto Clemente Through Her Love of Mystery Manor

April 8th, Opening Day for Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park. There is no doubt that truly spectacular individuals have walked this planet, achieved their seemingly impossible dreams and then utterly disappeared into the dust of the past. The heaviness of that reality...

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A message from the National Opera House

“I first had the pleasure of meeting Mary Cardwell Dawson on a historical marker that regally stood in front of 7101 Apple Street. After that introduction, my life would forever change. For 22 years I’ve worked to tell the story and establish the legacy of Madame Mary Dawson, her National Negro Opera House and Mystery Manor, the mesmerizing home in Pittsburgh PA thats desperate for restoration.

On July 5th, 2021 my life would change again when I received a random call from Designer Dawn Carroll. She was more excited than I was and wanted to film the restoration of this home. Dawn gave me many, many great ideas saying “lets do a design competition show with prestigious designers and have them reimagine all the spaces inside this gorgeous home- it can be a show-house” she said. I was In!

I adored the idea, but then COVID happened and months went by without a word. I thought I’d never hear back from Dawn and it was just another excited person who realized the huge task in front of us.

Then, months later, an email arrived titled “Boston Dawn Calling “ Dawn told me the reason for her silence was she was busy, busy, busy writing and recording a soundtrack – 15 songs about all the people who frequented Mystery Manor called Songs for Mary. She figured some music would elevate awareness and that would help raise funds for this intricate restoration. She saw that the house was one gust of wind from blowing over, she knew that this history could not be lost so she and her writing partners wrote a song about each person who stayed in Mystery Manor. She got Grammy Nominated Jon Butcher to pull the entire album together and his beautiful writing is all over the album.

Imagine, a bunch of strangers all dedicated to saving this story, it was quite remarkable!

Now that the album is done, the show is being written by Dawn and she is already filming.

I am so excited to see the interest grow in unique ways, I know others will be inspired and will see this investment as an opportunity of a lifetime, an opportunity that saves history, educates, inspires the next generation of remarkable leaders.

Together we can save the woman, the house and the legacy.” – Jonnet Solomon