Mae McCoy has been around the honky tonk scene in California and beyond. She has been on television as a competitor (along with partner Sylvia Neal) on Season 1 of "Can You Duet," filmed in Nashville, TN and aired on CMT in 2008. Mae has been on the radio as co-host on KDRT 95.7FM Davis on the "Dinner Bell Roundup" interviewing legends such as "Whispering" Bill Anderson and "Voice of the Texas Playboys" Leon Rausch. It goes without saying she has played honky tonks in Bakersfield sharing a stage with one of her heros, Red Simpson.
As the Vice President of the Western Swing Society & Hall of Fame Inductee, Mae passionately champions the preservation of this rich musical heritage, and it shines through in every note she sings and every chord she strums on her guitar.
With music as country as cornbread and polished as Tiffany’s, Mae McCoy and her Neon Stars are playing a pivotal role in the resurgence of Western Swing and Honky Tonk by capturing their rich standards while infusing them with fresh energy and contemporary appeal, captivating new generations of music lovers.
Mae McCoy and her Neon Stars began in Sacramento in 2008. Opening up for acts such as Deke Dickerson, Big Sandy, and Rosie Flores. Her music, a testament to her honky tonk roots, was immortalized in a full-length album “Detour,” recorded at the Heart of Texas Recording Studio in Brady, TX. Produced by Honky-Tonk legend Justin Trevino.
With the acclaimed Emily Gimble on piano (Asleep at the Wheel), Jim Loessberg on steel guitar (Ray Price), Jess Meador on fiddle (Jake Hooker), and Lisa Layne Stewart on harmony vocals, every track on the "Detour" album is a nod to the traditional influences of times past.
In 2023, Mae McCoy and her Neon Stars released of her first single, "Detour," on Neon Stars Records, giving an enticing taste of her upcoming album by the same name.
