Originally from Duluth, Minnesota, Carlson began her professional career with Rock ‘n Roll bands in the 70’s, jazz duos in the 80’s, had a family, then returned in 2000 to perform with jazz ensembles and Symphony orchestras. She recorded two albums: the first, “Once in a Blue Moon;” the second, “This Christmas . . . My Favorite Things,” with pianist and arranger Frank Mantooth. This second recording earned her a Grammy Nomination in the Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album category.

Chicago Tribune jazz critic Howard Reich praised the Christmas album, “This beguiling recording has a great deal to recommend it, particularly Margaret Carlson's disarming vocals, which combine exquisite phrasing with uncommonly intelligent lyric reading . . . . Not intended as background music, ‘This Christmas’ offers bona fide jazz improvisation from a first-rate vocalist and her accomplished collaborators.”

Called “an exciting voice in contemporary music today,” Carlson credits such artists as Cleo Laine, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Duke Ellington and Chick Corea as major influences, but she is recognized for having developed a free-spirited style all her own.