John & Mary was formed by John Lombardo and Mary Ramsey of the alternative rock band 10,000 Maniacs.

John Lombardo, an original member of 10,000 Maniacs, co-wrote most of the early Maniacs songs, but left the band in 1986. He returned in 1994 with Mary Ramsey and picked up where he left off by writing and shaping the band's music for two albums, Love Among the Ruins (1997) and The Earth Pressed Flat (1999). He left the band again in 2002 and returned as a touring member in 2015.

Mary Ramsey was born in Washington D.C. She has been playing the violin since age 5, has worked with the Erie Philharmonic and founded the Lexington String Trio. She continued to expand her musical horizons when she replaced Natalie Merchant in 1995 as the lead singer and songwriter of 10,000 Maniacs.