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Artists:Bill Deasy
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"It hit me over the head when I was six years old," says Deasy. "Elvis Presley. Truly hit me over the head. I don't even know exactly how I became aware of him. On my sixth birthday I got a record called Legendary Performer, Volume 1, a collection of his very first hits. From that day on I would run up to my room when I got home from grade school, put on whatever Elvis record I was listening to at the time and bounce on the edge of my bed and just sing Elvis. It got to where every single corner of my bed had an indentation just from rocking and I had to keep flipping my mattress."
While his early fixation with Elvis Presley in his Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania bedroom may have set him on his career path, his inspiration to become an artist was further fueled by the discovery of such notable craftsmen as Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen and Van Morrison, who he refers to as his holy trinity of songwriters. Deasy says, "There are many artists that have kind of shaped me, but Jackson Browne and Bruce Springsteen really affected my writing." As for Morrison, Deasy adds, "I don't think I write so much like Van Morrison, but he really inspires me. There's a mystical element to his writing that's so cool."
Like the songwriters cited above, Deasy has that rare ability to really touch people through his songwriting, and perhaps this is the thread that ties the myriad of early influences together with his own work. "When I write songs," says Deasy, "I try to take my life experience and put it out there in a way that people can relate to. I feel like I've done my job if a song resonates with other people; if it connects with them in some way." More than anything, this is probably the reason that his music has attracted fans of all different ages in every state and overseas in places like the UK, Germany, the Netherlands and Japan.
Deasy's first glimpse of national attention came as lead singer/songwriter of his former band, the Gathering Field, when the title track from their independently released album Lost in America became a bona-fide regional hit and brought them to the attention of several major labels. A bidding war ensued and the band ultimately signed to Atlantic Records who re-released the album. Almost immediately the label underwent re-structuring, and the band struggled for several years to be released from their contract. Soon afterwards, the Gathering Field put out Reliance, followed by So Close To Home, an album of songs they'd played live for several years but had never recorded. During that time Bill also released a semi-acoustic solo album, Spring Lies Waiting, which he has referred to as an intentionally low-key affair. He explains, "I had written all these songs that didn't quite fit with the Gathering Field, and I felt a need to get them out there." After 6 years devoted to the band, it was an opportunity to return to his roots as both a singer and songwriter and be able to express a vision all his own. During that time Deasy secured a new publishing deal and started making trips to Nashville to collaborate. The Gathering Field eventually disbanded and Deasy stepped out on his own.
In 2003 he released Good Day No Rain, on which four songs were produced by Gregg Wattenberg (Five for Fighting, Pat McGee Band, Dishwalla) and the balance co-produced by Deasy and Dave McNair. The album brought rave reviews and several songs received airplay both across the country and overseas, with a few winding up on the playlist of some significant radio stations.
His new CD, Chasing Down a Spark, was produced by Kevin Salem (Freedy Johnston, Emmylou Harris, Rachael Yamagata) and mixed by the legendary Joe Blaney (The Clash, Blues Traveler, The Raveonettes.) The majority of the new CD was recorded in Woodstock and New York City and features stellar guitar work from the Clarks' Rob James and producer Kevin Salem. Two members of Deasy's Pittsburgh-based band, Scott Tamulinas and Dave Throckmorton, provide bass and drums, respectively. Rounding out the equation is a host of all-star NYC session players like Rob Arthur on keyboards, Oli Kraus on cello and David Mansfield on pedal steel and violin. The CD also features guest appearances by such Pittsburgh notables as Donnie Iris and the Clarks' Scott Blasey, as well as recording artists Rachael Yamagata and Maia Sharp.
Deasy is an avid reader and his literary leanings have probably influenced his songwriting as much as his musical heroes. As one fan declared, "He's the only person who can use the word circumnavigated in a song and make it work!" His songs are not only emotional; they're intelligent and yet completely accessible.
Besides Deasy's ability to turn a phrase, his distinctive voice is yet another appealing factor. Several fans have remarked that he could sing the phonebook and make it sound good! Certainly, it was that amazing voice that brought literally thousands of people to his website upon hearing him sing Good Things Are Happening in a commercial for ABC's Good Morning America and got him the surprising gig in the first place. The campaign was intended to last only 10 weeks, but it became so successful that it remained on the air for 3 1/2 years.
Deasy continues to show his diversity as both a songwriter and performer. His songs have been recorded by a wide array of artists including Kim Richey, Martina McBride, the Clarks, British pop star Howard Jones, Billy Ray Cyrus, Bijou Phillips and Michael Stanley. He has shared the stage with an equally diverse group, opening for the likes of Bob Dylan, Norah Jones, Patty Griffin, John Mellencamp and Bruce Springsteen.
Bill Deasy has a unique style all his own, and perhaps this is the reason his fans have a difficult time comparing him to other artists.
But that's a good thing.
- from the artist's MySpace page.
External links
| Bill Deasy on MySpace |
| Bill Deasy on Wikipedia |
More information
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This artist lives in Pennsylvania. |
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The gender of this artist/group is male. |
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Listener Tags & Comments
I didn't know he recorded that song for the Good Morning America spot! I liked that. --terri 02:08, August 18, 2006 (AKDT)
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Request a show of songs by Bill Deasy
| Song | Album | Length | Played | Overall | You | Tags | Single Request |
| Pale | Chasing Down A Spark | 3:53 | 5 |  0 votes |
You have to login to give your opinion about songs. | Fireflies | Chasing Down A Spark | 3:58 | 4 |  4 votes |
You have to login to give your opinion about songs. | Levi | Chasing Down A Spark | 4:42 | 8 |  3 votes |
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| Total Time | 12:33 |
The current music queue contains 2 songs that will take 7 mins, 45 secs to play.
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Artist name is|Bill Deasy Last played| more than 1 week ago ---------------------------------------- Show name| Songs by Bill Deasy Length| 15 minutes Order by| random Limit| 3 songs ----------------------------------------
Stats
- Spotlighted: Friday, August 18th 2006
- Artist site clicks: 9
- Songs on WWR: 11
- Total plays: 65
- Total requests: 34
- Total listens: 1641
- CDBaby website clicks: 2
- CDBaby referrals: 4
- CDBaby sales: Good Day No Rain (Sold 2 copies)
Spring Lies Waiting (Sold 2 copies)
Other skins for artist pages
| Default / Simple / Classic / Jimbob / For Playing Around With / 12-stringer / Atuu / Mert / Kelli / Rubenerd |
