[1] As a young child she and her sister, Maryann, were moved to Portland, Oregon, from Milpitas, California, as an escape from her abusive father.
She learned to play after listening to work by Deep Purple, Cream, Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin.
After playing in the Seattle rock scene, Mann travelled back to Portland and stood in as Paul deLay's substitute bassist.
[1] In 2011, Mann performed with her backing ensemble, the Really Good Band, in the International Blues Challenge, reaching the semi-final stage.
[8] Mann has been inducted into the Cascade Blues Association Hall of Fame, and has gained the Muddy Waters Award for Bass Player of the Year three times.