Maureen McGovern devotes her energies to a number of charitable organizations. She is a National Board member of the Muscular Dystrophy Association and serves as the National Chairperson of the Polymyositis / Dermatomyositis Division of MDA and the National Chairperson of the annual “Shamrocks Against Dystrophy” campaign. For the last twenty-eight years, Maureen has performed on the “Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon,” acting as NYC co-host for six years. She is the recipient of the “Songs From The Heart” Award from NARAS and AMTA, “The Bodian Award” from the Post-Polio Institute and the CUNY “Lifetime Achievement Award” for her more than two decades of active service to causes serving people with disabilities. She recently received a Doctor of Music Honorary Degree from Youngstown State University in recognition of her musical career. Ms. McGovern is the Founder / President of the Maureen McGovern “Works of Heart" Foundation for Music and Healing and is an Artist Spokesperson for The American Music Therapy Association.

Her over 35 year career spans recordings, concerts, the Broadway stage, film, television, radio and compositions. She returned to Broadway’s 2005 season, originating the role of ‘Marmee’ in Little Women, The Musical, and received a Drama Desk Award nomination for “Best Outstanding Featured Actress” in a Musical and reprised her role as ‘Marmee’ in the first Broadway National Tour [2005-2006] of Little Women. Maureen made her debut as ‘Mabel’ in The Pirates of Penzance, starred as ‘Luisa’ in Nine with Raul Julia and as ‘Polly Peachum’ in The 3 Penny Opera with Sting. Off-Broadway, she originated the role of ‘Mary’ in Brownstone.

In regional theater productions, she has starred as ‘Mrs. Anna’ in the Broadway National Tour of The King and I, and as ‘Mme. Emery’ in The Umbrellas of Cherbourg at The Sundance Institute Theatre. Maureen also performed in the West Coast Premiere of William Finn’s Elegies and starred as ‘Countess Aurelia’ in the historic revival of Jerry Herman’s Dear World [an adaptation of The Madwoman of Chaillot] at The Sundance Institute Theatre. She appeared in the Boston World Premiere (and many productions of) the musical Letters From ‘Nam (now titled One Red Flower) originating the role of ‘Eleanor Bridges,’ followed by her dramatic debut role as ‘Eleanor of Acquitaine’ in The Lion in Winter, as ‘Mary Turner’ in Of Thee I Sing for the ‘Reprise’ series at UCLA’s Freud Playhouse and also at the Kennedy Center and BAM in tandem with Let ‘Em Eat Cake! She has starred in productions of The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls [playing both ‘Sarah’ and ‘Adelaide’] and in I Do, I Do. Maureen’s children’s musical, The Bengal Tiger’s Ball, had its East Coast premiere in 1999; Maureen wrote the music, co-created and also starred.

Her latest composition, “Born In The Heart,” co-written with Jeffrey D. Harris and Michele Pace Hofbauer, was recorded by Ms. McGovern and the United Nations International School Concert Choir. Maureen received a Grammy for Best Musical Recording for Children (2005) for her participation in the CD/DVD, “Songs from the Neighborhood: The Music of Mister Rogers.” Her films include Airplane, Airplane II: The Sequel and The Towering Inferno. She is also the voice of ‘Rachel’ in the DreamWorks animated video Joseph: King of Dreams with Ben Affleck. Television roles include One Life to Live, The Tracey Ullman Show, Pacific Blue and Beyond Belief.

Maureen's current CD, "A Long and Winding Road," is available on PS Classics, and garnering rave reviews. The New York Times has praised the collection as "A captivating musical scrapbook from the 1960's to the early 70's. Ms. McGovern is blessed with a vocal technique second to none." Her recording career began with the #1 chart topping Academy Award winning Gold Record, “The Morning After” from The Poseidon Adventure, for which she received a Grammy nomination for “Best New Artist,” followed by the Oscar winning Gold Record, “We May Never Love Like This Again” from The Towering Inferno. In 1975, she made history as the first singer to record two Oscar nominated songs in the same year, “We May Never Love Like This Again” and “Wherever Love Takes Me” from the movie Gold. Other recording hits include, “Can You Read My Mind?” from Superman and “Different Worlds” from Angie. To quote The New York Times, “... a singer who moves comfortably from jazz to soaring movie themes and from classical pop standards to operetta... a coloratura jazz singer at ease in any medium.” It is no wonder Maureen has been called “The Stradivarius Voice.” She has recorded more than 25 albums including “The Music Never Ends: The Lyrics of Alan & Marilyn Bergman” and “Out Of This World: McGovern Sings Arlen” (both recently re-released on Fynsworth Alley Records with new bonus cuts), “Naughty Baby: McGovern Sings Gershwin,” Grammy nominated “The Pleasure of His Company,” “With A Song in My Heart: The Great Songs of Richard Rodgers” with the late Skitch Henderson and The New York Pops.

Ms. McGovern launched her Works of Heart Foundation with the CD "Works of Heart,” songs of hope, featuring a 30th anniversary version of "The Morning After," for patients and caregivers and the CD Songcard "Help Is On The Way"(in partnership with Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.)

©2005 Maureen McGovern "Works Of Heart" Foundation
is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and accepts
contributions which support its mission.
Contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law.