Bill Perry RIP

Just got this press release from Illinois Blues. They received it from Blind Pig Records. This is bad news indeed. Bill was way to young.

 GUITARIST BILL PERRY DIES AT  AGE 49


With  great sadness, Blind Pig Records announces that New York  guitarist
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   [LINK: mailto:pigpress@blindpigrecords.com]
pigpress@blindpigrecords.com   415-550-6484
For  more information visit [LINK: http://www.blindpigrecords.com]
www.blindpigrecords.com.