Moondog da Leadbelly
07-19-2007, 03:45 PM
You blues rock fans may know Perry.
he wuz great.
GUITARIST BILL PERRY DIES AT AGE 49
With great sadness, Blind Pig Records announces that New York guitarist
<http://mailman.305spin.com/users/blindpigrecords/images/BillPerrypromoe.jpg
> Bill Perry died on Tuesday, July 17th. According to Greg Schwark, Perry's
road manager for seven years, the musician was found at his apartment in
Sugar Loaf, NY. Emergency medical personnel tried to revive Perry, but he
died on the way to the hospital, an apparent heart attack victim, although
no official cause of death has been determined.
Perry was known as an outstanding guitarist whose go-for-broke technique
combined effortless fluidity and incredible attack. Guitar One magazine
called him a "six-string superman more powerful than a locomotive." He was
also gifted with a distinctive, raspy voice full of grit and gravel that
particularly suited the drama and emotion so essential to blues music.
Perry first made his mark in the clubs of New York City in the 1980's, where
he was spotted by folk-rock singer Richie Havens. Perry spent four years on
the road as the featured guitarist in Havens' band. During the same period,
he also did some touring with The Band's Garth Hudson and Levon Helm. In
1995 he signed a deal with Pointblank/Virgin and released two albums for
them. In 1999 he released a live album recorded at New York's blues
hotspot, Manny's Car Wash. In 2001 Perry released the first of four titles
for Blind Pig Records, with Jimmy Vivino, music director of "The Conan
O'Brien Show" serving as producer on the first two CDs.
Good friend and labelmate Popa Chubby produced Perry's next two releases for
Blind Pig, the most recent being 2006's Don't Know Nothin' About Love. Upon
hearing the news while on tour in Germany, Popa said, "The best thing about
Bill was that his talent was effortless. He was a natural. He could sing the
phone book and draw you in. He didn't have a mean or a bad bone in him. I
never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He was a brother and I'll miss
him dearly."
Richie Havens issued a statement, saying, "I'm shocked and saddened to hear
the news. Billy was a great friend, a truly gifted guitar player, and one of
the funniest people I've ever known. Our times on the road together were
some of best times I've ever had." Havens recorded a haunting acoustic duet
version of the Rolling Stones' "No Expectations" with Perry that appeared on
Bill's 2002 album Crazy Kind Of Life.
Buddy Fox, Perry's manager for four years and the long time booking agent
for Manny's Car Wash, said, "Bill was a very singular and unique talent. He
had a natural blues voice, and an uncanny ability to sing at the same time
that he was playing a virtuoso guitar solo."
Blind Pig President Edward Chmelewski said, "We are indeed saddened by the
loss of Bill and his incredible talent. His intensity on the guitar was
frightening. He was a mesmerizing performer who played with passion and
excitement, and he had that wonderful sandpapery voice that you could listen
to forever. Truly a unique artist that will be missed."
Perry, age 49 at the time of his death, is survived by his only son, Aaron,
25, three brothers, and a sister. Details of a memorial and funeral have
not been announced.
Contact: Debra Regur pigpress@blindpigre
<mailto:pigpress@blindpigrecords.com> cords.com 415-550-6484
For more information visit www.blindpigrecords
<http://www.blindpigrecords.com> .com.
he wuz great.
GUITARIST BILL PERRY DIES AT AGE 49
With great sadness, Blind Pig Records announces that New York guitarist
<http://mailman.305spin.com/users/blindpigrecords/images/BillPerrypromoe.jpg
> Bill Perry died on Tuesday, July 17th. According to Greg Schwark, Perry's
road manager for seven years, the musician was found at his apartment in
Sugar Loaf, NY. Emergency medical personnel tried to revive Perry, but he
died on the way to the hospital, an apparent heart attack victim, although
no official cause of death has been determined.
Perry was known as an outstanding guitarist whose go-for-broke technique
combined effortless fluidity and incredible attack. Guitar One magazine
called him a "six-string superman more powerful than a locomotive." He was
also gifted with a distinctive, raspy voice full of grit and gravel that
particularly suited the drama and emotion so essential to blues music.
Perry first made his mark in the clubs of New York City in the 1980's, where
he was spotted by folk-rock singer Richie Havens. Perry spent four years on
the road as the featured guitarist in Havens' band. During the same period,
he also did some touring with The Band's Garth Hudson and Levon Helm. In
1995 he signed a deal with Pointblank/Virgin and released two albums for
them. In 1999 he released a live album recorded at New York's blues
hotspot, Manny's Car Wash. In 2001 Perry released the first of four titles
for Blind Pig Records, with Jimmy Vivino, music director of "The Conan
O'Brien Show" serving as producer on the first two CDs.
Good friend and labelmate Popa Chubby produced Perry's next two releases for
Blind Pig, the most recent being 2006's Don't Know Nothin' About Love. Upon
hearing the news while on tour in Germany, Popa said, "The best thing about
Bill was that his talent was effortless. He was a natural. He could sing the
phone book and draw you in. He didn't have a mean or a bad bone in him. I
never heard him say a bad word about anyone. He was a brother and I'll miss
him dearly."
Richie Havens issued a statement, saying, "I'm shocked and saddened to hear
the news. Billy was a great friend, a truly gifted guitar player, and one of
the funniest people I've ever known. Our times on the road together were
some of best times I've ever had." Havens recorded a haunting acoustic duet
version of the Rolling Stones' "No Expectations" with Perry that appeared on
Bill's 2002 album Crazy Kind Of Life.
Buddy Fox, Perry's manager for four years and the long time booking agent
for Manny's Car Wash, said, "Bill was a very singular and unique talent. He
had a natural blues voice, and an uncanny ability to sing at the same time
that he was playing a virtuoso guitar solo."
Blind Pig President Edward Chmelewski said, "We are indeed saddened by the
loss of Bill and his incredible talent. His intensity on the guitar was
frightening. He was a mesmerizing performer who played with passion and
excitement, and he had that wonderful sandpapery voice that you could listen
to forever. Truly a unique artist that will be missed."
Perry, age 49 at the time of his death, is survived by his only son, Aaron,
25, three brothers, and a sister. Details of a memorial and funeral have
not been announced.
Contact: Debra Regur pigpress@blindpigre
<mailto:pigpress@blindpigrecords.com> cords.com 415-550-6484
For more information visit www.blindpigrecords
<http://www.blindpigrecords.com> .com.