Maggie Herron was born in Muskegon, Michigan into a family of 11 children. She began taking piano lessons as a little girl and was the church organist by the age of 10.
At 14, Maggie performed Beethoven’s 2nd Piano Concerto with the Muskegon Symphony Orchestra and was awarded a scholarship to Interlochen Center for the Arts, placing in the top 5 finalists in the piano concerto competition.
At 18, with the late ’60’s idealism at her back, she was inspired up and out of her family home. She hitch-hiked across the U.S. landing in the Olympic National Rainforest in Washington State.
There, in an off-the-grid cabin with only an old upright piano at her disposal, she started exploring pop and folk music, writing songs and weaving the new sounds with her classical training.
Maggie began performing in Seattle, playing at the top of the Camlin Hotel, the Sorrento Hotel and appearing as a guest performer at Jazz Alley.
Life took an unexpected turn, when Maggie traveled to Hawaii where she found herself feeling at home ever since.
Maggie has been living, writing, recording and performing on Oahu, Lanai, and Hawaii’s “Big Island” since 1976. Her first Hawaii music award was in the ’70’s for best song in the Hawaii Home Grown contest.
In 2015 Maggie won the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Jazz Album of the Year for her album ‘Good Thing.’
In 2017 Maggie’s album ‘Between the Music and the Moon,’ won the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Jazz Album of the Year Award while Maggie was also nominated for Female Vocalist of the Year. The album of 12 original songs includes 5 co-written with her lyricist/daughter, Dawn Herron.
Maggie won her third Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Jazz Album Of The Year for her 2018 album, ‘A TON OF TROUBLE.’ The album includes 10 original songs. And Maggie’s remake of ‘In My Life’ from the album was nominated for the 2019 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Single of the Year.
‘RENDITIONS,’ Maggie’s 2019 album, is the winner of the 2020 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award, for Jazz Album Of The Year.
Maggie Herron’s 2020 album release, ‘YOUR REFRAIN,’ is the winner of the 2021 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Jazz Album Of The Year. The album is a dedication to her daughter and writing partner, Dawn Herron, who tragically passed away April 5, 2020. YOUR REFRAIN features 7 of the mother/daughter’s collaborations with the title track nominated for the 2021 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Song Of The Year Award.
‘My Story In Song‘ is the winner of the 2024 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Jazz Album Of The Year, and the BIMA award for Contemporary Acoustic album.
‘Yesterday’s Lives‘ is the winner of the 2026 Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award for Jazz Album Of The Year.
Maggie can be seen every Friday and Saturday nights performing with bassist, Dean Taba at Lewers Lounge in Waikiki.