I interviewed a tired, bearded Greyhound driver
Who said the name possessed a ring.
Then added, “If I am remembering right -
She seemed to carry heavy things.”
These words can be found near the end of the first verse of “Traces of You” from Bill Deasy’s new record, BEING NORMAL. They point to the world of travelers and seekers Deasy has made his own in the course of his recording career both with the Gathering Field and, more recently, as a solo artist. They also indicate the unique nature of Deasy’s music, which offers, through addictive melodies and seamless lyrics, a visceral experience – so that listeners don’t so much hear it as feel it.
The same can be said of Deasy’s live performances. The soulful, charismatic singer takes audiences on emotional journeys as he shares his tales of shimmering humanity with a healthy dose of humor thrown in for good measure. Again, it is an “experience” as opposed to an event….and one which is not to be missed.
The Bill Deasy “experience” broadened in 2006 when he joined the ranks of published novelists with the release of his critically acclaimed, award-winning debut, Ransom Seaborn. It, along with the author’s November 2009 follow-up, Traveling Clothes, tills the same rich soil that his songs do, deepening the bond between the artist and his audience.
Performing Songwriter Magazine says: "He calls to mind Paul Westerberg and many of the finest rock songwriters who mix poetry and drunken bluster, yet somehow sound macho and sensitive at the same time" and All Music Guide suggests that "Sensitive singer/songwriters are a dime a dozen, but really good ones are a rarity. Bill Deasy is the real deal. In a perfect world, you'd already know this."
Some Fast Facts About Bill Deasy:
Bill’s former band, Gathering Field, was signed to Atlantic Records in 1996 and had the most requested song (“Lost in America”) for 8 consecutive months at WDVE in Pittsburgh.
Bill’s song “Good Things are Happening” was the theme for ABC’s Good Morning America from 2001 through 2004.
Bill was selected as one of Pittsburgh Magazine’s 25 “most beautiful people” in 2005.
Bill’s novel, “Ransom Seaborn” was selected out of 1600 books to receive the 2006 Golden Needle Award.
In 2008, Bill was included in the book “Pittsburgh Born, Pittsburgh Bred” as one of 500 of the most memorable Pittsburghers from the past 250 years.
Bill has performed with artists such as Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Mellencamp and Patty Griffin and his songs have been recorded by Martina McBride, Billy Ray Cyrus, Howard Jones, Kim Richey, the Clarks and Michael Stanley among many others.
Bill began playing the guitar and singing songs at the ripe old age of 10, thanks to a childhood obsession with the music of Elvis Presley.