For Mary Alessi, simply put, it’s all about worship.  The gifted and anointed worship leader from Miami, FL is focused on one thing and one thing only: giving all glory and honor due to the King of Kings.  For the Dove and Stellar Award Nominee, who has been blessed to work with other popular artists such as Israel Houghton, Aaron Lindsey, Nicole Binion and, of course, her twin sister, GRAMMY Award nominee and Stellar Award winner Martha Munizzi, it’s a privilege to be chosen as a vessel to lead others to God.  Her skill in bringing people into the Throne Room is evidenced on the new release called Pressing On.  Produced by Alessi and released on her own Miami Life Sounds label, her fourth live recording displays a fresh new sound from the artist with an undeniable fervor and determination for worship. Pressing On, the title of the new CD, was not casually chosen.  Not only does the moniker represent the challenges life can throw our way, but even more, it’s symbolic of God’s deliverance, if we persevere.  "Anytime you start declaring what God’s going to do and He does it, it’s almost always followed by a valley experience," says Mary.  And that’s exactly where the title of the new release, Pressing On, comes from.  It’s a declaration to the enemy that no matter what comes her way, Mary will indeed "press on".

Prior to the live recording, she and husband Steve experienced a number of major obstacles.  Under an inordinate amount of stress from the trials, they decided to get away and vacationed.  On the first day of their getaway, Steve suffered a massive heart attack.  Thankfully, it happened right in front of paramedics, who were able to save Steve’s life.  "There was a moment where fear tried to tell me that my husband was dying in front of me," recalls Mary.  "But all those years of trusting God, all the times I had to lean on Him to receive my peace just flashed before my eyes.  I knew ? despite the fear and uncertainty ? that no matter what it looked like, I had to press on."The CD?s title song is a wonderful acoustic number that’s got a catchy, little hook.  The melody came to the singer while she was stepping up to the pulpit of her church one Sunday morning.  Originally, she wasn’t certain about including it on the album, but after mentioning it and singing it to her twin during a songwriting session, they flushed it out, added lyrics and amazingly, in ten minutes, the song was done.  Combining that with the recent tests, making the song the title of the CD was a no-brainer.  But it wasn’t just the sisters that fell in love with the song.  Even during the live recording at Mary’s home church, it was clear that the congregation adored it as well. Stepping into this project, as producer, Mary wanted to make sure that the songs were easy for congregants to learn and simple musically and lyrically.  Songs like the praise and worship anthem, "I Will Bless The Lord", fit perfectly in that criteria.  On the recording, it’s beautiful how the audience chimes in singing the pretty song even before Mary has a chance to sing the chorus.  The slow and moving track is one of the jewels of Pressing On.  Musically, the project has more of a pop and rock feel than her previous recordings, but the gospel feel is ever-present in Mary’s music.

"Hero" is another powerful worship tune.  Accented with a CCM sound, the song speaks of how Jesus is the only true hero.  Many fans will also love the edgy and vibrant "All Of The Doors".  This one finds the Christian proclaiming victory.  It’s definitely worthy of the repeat button.  Martha makes a guest appearance on the uplifting "More Than A Conqueror".  With lyrics taken from Romans 8: 37, the sing-along track proclaims that we are more than victors.  Listeners will also enjoy the celebratory "Hope In Me", an inspiring tune reminding us of where true hope really lies.  The 15-track CD is the culmination of a life that has been lived singing and praising God through gospel music. Mary has a rich background.  Since the age of four, she journeyed across the country singing the praises of God with her sisters, Martha and Marvelyne, and her parents, who were traveling evangelists.  When hitting some parts of the nation, the Lakeland, Florida family, as Mary remembers it, would see "revival break out" and the family would "set up camp" for weeks, in one location.  "That’s how we grew up," shares Mary.  "I learned to wait on the Lord and not be in a hurry.  I believe that’s impacted how I do things today."  It was her upbringing and times on the road where she fell in love with gospel music and believed eventually she would be ministering as a career."From the time I was thirteen or fourteen, I knew I was going to sing for the Lord," Mary recounts.  "I wasn’t sure how it was all going to work out, but I had the drive to sing gospel music."  Her start began in the church and it was there that she honed her singing skills.  She and her two sisters formed a group called Testament and sang at churches and conferences statewide.  But it was one sermon that changed her life forever.

"Years ago, my husband and I went to a conference and heard TD Jakes speak for the first time.  Then, no one knew who he was," Mary recollects.  "He got up and preached and I remember the hairs on my arm stood up.  As I drove home, I started to talk with the Lord.  I didn’t just want to sing anymore.  I wanted people to feel the presence of the Lord like I had just sensed.  I knew that was the anointing and I wanted it.  I also knew after that moment that either I was going to be a singer or I was going to be a worship leader.  And I made the decision to drink from a deeper well."

In time, she developed the ability to bring other worshipers into the presence of the Lord with her.  That gifting led her to record her first independent project, Whatever It Takes, in 2003 followed by the breakout release More in 2005.  The album’s title tune introduced Mary to the national gospel music scene and showcased her amazing musical talent and pure love for God.
That successful project was a precursor for the stunning When Worship CD in 2007 which included other popular female worship leaders including Mary’s twin sister, Martha, Nicole Binion, Da?dra Crawford-Greathouse, Cindy Cruse Ratcliff, and Ingrid Rosario.  The CD sealed her place in gospel music, peaking at #13 on the Billboard Top Gospel Albums chart and #37 on Billboard’s Christian Albums chart.  In January 2008, the album netted her a Stellar Award Nomination for Special Event CD of the Year.  One month later, she received another nod, this time from the Gospel Music Association Dove Awards with a nomination for Contemporary Gospel Recorded Song for "Great Grace" recorded by fellow praise and worship leader Alvin Slaughter. As much as Mary appreciates the accolades and enjoys traveling across the country singing, her heart is never far from home.  Metro Life Church is where Mary and her husband Stephen pastor.  Located in beautiful Miami, the mother of four believes it’s the greatest church on the planet.  Started in 1997 by the couple, the church has grown tremendously since its humble beginnings in a hotel room.  As Senior Pastors, both she and Steve love to be active in their members? lives.  Mary says, "I love the concept of starting with someone and finishing with someone.  I love being in someone’s life, living life out together and seeing what God does.  It’s a great experience."

But the best experience for Mary comes during her times of worship.  It’s what she’s passionate about.  "To me, worship is all there is," she says.  "When we understand that worship is what we were created to do, bowing our knees to Him and surrendering our lives to Him, everything in our life follows.  When God is on our list of priorities and we give everything to God - that is the life of worship."