Chris O’leary

12 striking original songs full of engaging, sharp-edged observations on life and love, and shot through with everyman wisdom and humor. Rollicking roadhouse R&B, hard Chicago blues and wrenching ballads. O’Leary’s rough, riveting vocals and world-class harmonica playing set the pace throughout this set of rollicking roadhouse R&B, hard Chicago blues and wrenching ballads. "Gritty blues and soulful ballads [performed with] absolute authority. Chris O’Leary rocks relentlessly with assurance and a clear sense of passion. A potent, raging tour-de-force."

On stage, Perry earned a reputation as a mesmerizing performer who plays with passion and excitement. Perry's rousing, crowd-pleasing performance at the Bishopstock Blues Festival in England in 1999 sparked the interest of Blind Pig Records and eventually led to a recording contract. The first album for Blind Pig, Fire It Up, was co-produced by Jimmy Vivino of "The Conan O'Brien Show" and released in 2001. His next CD for Blind Pig, Crazy Kind Of Life, was released in October 2002. Perry and co-producer Vivino wrote all the songs, with the exception of the Rolling Stones chestnut "No Expectations," on which special guest Richie Havens interprets one of the best blues tunes ever to come out of the rock idiom. Billboard called it, "An exceptional outing for guitarist/vocalist Bill Perry. He has definitely hit his stride as a solo artist."