BIOGRAPHYWith an eclectic career that now spans over 30 years and includes everything from folk & blues, to cow punk, cabaret, movie soundtracks, and good old fashioned rock & roll, PK Dwyer continues to be an innovative force on the roots music scene today with his unique style of blues and One Man Roadhouse Show live performance. Often thought of as a native of the Pacific Northwest, PK is a world traveler who originally comes from Mill Valley, California and currently makes his home in the beautiful Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. [Dwyer relocates to New York City in June] In the 1970's Dwyer was noted for writing , performing, and recording the music for Jac Zacha's hard to find cult classic film Walk The Walk; being the first to street perform at the Seattle Pike Place Market, thus spawning the Seattle busking scene; his Northwest radio hit Dandy Annie/Drawbridge; and founding the cow punk quintet The Jitters, a favorite band of No Depression founder Grant Alden and Young Fresh Fellows/Minus 5/REM's Scott McCaughey. PK Dwyer moved on to Europe in the 1980s where he found notoriety and a fan base while street performing in Paris and was also the winner of the First Annual Street Performers Competition in 1981. PK proceeded to New York and set the NYC folk scene on its ear with his infamous cabaret act The Hollywood Dick Doll Revue. Hollywood Dick Doll, a controversial act at the time, was championed by Suzanne Vega, Dave Van Ronk, and Richie Havens, who signed Dwyer to his production company in 1983. In 1989 PopLlama released George Michael Jackson: King Of Gonzo Folk; another Dwyer alter ego project that was released to rave reviews and a nation wide tour. The 1990s brought PK Dwyer back to the west coast and he spent a few years living on Venice beach and busking on the boardwalk before drifting back up to the Pacific Northwest. The year 2000 brought salvation when PK Dwyer had a coversion to the blues. Inspired by the sighting of the ghost of Jimmy Reed, PK went back to his roots and started writing original jump blues material. In 2001 the CD Up To My Balls In The Blues was released to worldwide airplay on folk, blues and college radio. The tracks Lookin' For A Woman and Time To Try have been featured on episodes of MTV's reality show MADE.
PK Dwyer's 2003 effort, Blues Guy Now, was released to an enthusiastic audience, worldwide airplay, and critical acclaim. Vintage Guitar magazine calls Blues Guy Now "a modern blues masterpiece" (Nov. 2004). The tracks Celebration Blues and No Longer My Girlfriend have also been used on MTV's MADE and Keep On Walkin' is currently the theme song for Real Change TV, a public access television show in Seattle, Washington, that covers the issues of poverty, the homeless, and public affairs. In May of 2005 PK Dwyer was nominated for a Seattle Weekly Music Award and as a result of the nomination was awarded a grant from Seattle's Art Patch to begin recording a new CD. Recording was completed in December 2005 at Grammy award winning Garey Shelton Productions and the end result is Healed, a raw & rip roaring acoustic take on PK's version of the blues featuring PK on 6 and 12 string guitar, along with his blistering harmonica, and signature vocals. Healed was recorded live in the studio and has PK going solo as well as being backed by members of the original PK Dwyer Trio [Dave Hutchison/Bass & Paul Black/Percussion]. Guest musicians include Northwest Folk & Blues Legend Alice Stuart on acoustic guitar and vocals, Michael Guthrie [Banjocaster] and Larry 'Jugs' Vanover [Jug]. Healed is set to be released from King Pin Head Music May 29, 2006. MTV is currently reviewing songs for placement on My Super Sweet 16. |
QUOTESPK IS A TREASURE. ~ Laura Love |