Who We Are
Sandee started the Beauty Operators 9 years ago. She had come straight off of 12 beautiful years with the Skinks, a band that played anywhere and everywhere and were dedicated to eating too much. She grew up in Chicopee, Massachusetts where the polka was hot and accordion players were rockstars...So at 8 years old Sandee dedicated her life to practicing her accordion. She is still not completely aware that Chicopee is not representative of the world. Through the angst of her teen age years Sandee fell deeply into the blues and playing the harmonica was her way out.
Accordion, Harmonica, Vocals
Sandee Washington
Maria is a Beauty Operator OG. She came to us from the pop-punk & rock of Rocketfire Red and the "F*ck Yeahs." Her engine runs in rhythm. She is master of many instruments from the guitar to the vibraslap. Commander of the stage in a man's skirt, Maria loves everyone!
Rhythm, Vocals
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Maria Linck
Darby started playing guitar at 14 and at 15 she was playing in her own band, Overload. She wanted to play since first hearing Jimi Hendrix, Santana, Black Sabbath, Jefferson Airplane, Kiss, Eric Clapton....etc. She has played with Kathleen Hannah, Janzig, and The Pusses, Rebecca Newton, Phil Lee and George Hindenach. Playing guitar feeds her soul. It gives her peace and it takes her to a place where she believes we can all touch the universe. Playing guitar is Darby’s happy place.
Lead Guitar
Darby Odom
Amanda can’t remember a time when she wasn’t playing music. She holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in percussion performance from UNCG and is currently the principle percussionist for the Salisbury Symphony. Amanda is a costume junkie and joined The Beauty Operators to indulge her unhealthy obsession with hats.
Drums, Harmonies
Amanda Sycamore
Mary Anne started jamming when she was a little girl on her grandmother’s acoustic guitar and then taught herself to play on a used Sears catalog electric guitar. In the days of indie rock she picked up the bass guitar. Mary Anne has written, recorded and performed music on bass, guitar and vocals with various original bands such as Viva la Venus and Fields of Mars and with tribute bands Shoot to Thrill (AC/DC) and Dirty White Girls (Foreigner), among others. She has played internationally with bands as far away as Australia and Kenya, but nothing could make her happier than building up her wig collection and keeping Durham, NC weird with the Beauty Operators.
Bassist
Mary Anne Barckhoff
Juliana has been singing blues and rock for 30 years - but mostly in the shower. She has spent over a decade touring as a singer-songwriter, playing her soulful indie folk everywhere from music festivals to living rooms, and made Durham home 3 years ago. As one of the newest Beauty Operators, Juliana loves having the opportunity to get people dancing, carry on musical traditions, and wear more sequins.
Lead Singer