Perry is a singer-songwriter and lifelong musician with over 50 years of experience performing in bands and on stages across the U.S. and abroad.
Raised in Lincoln City, Oregon, Perry began playing music in school band before buying his first bass guitar at age 12. After serving in the United States Marine Corps (1982–1986), he continued performing wherever he was stationed, including North Carolina and Okinawa.
Following his military service, Perry spent years as a working bass player, including performing with the North Santiam Band featuring Sara Evans, opening for Willie Nelson and Tim McGraw at a major festival.
Transitioning into a singer-songwriter, Perry has spent the last decade writing and performing original music, including festival appearances from 2015–2019.
His debut full-length album features 11 original songs, now available on all streaming platforms.
Perry's CD Release of DEAD FOR AWHILE will rock McMenamins Mission Theater October 3rd and The Beach Club Event Center in Lincoln City November 7th.
FULL BIO
Perry has been playing music for over 50 years, building his life around it one stage, one band, and one song at a time.
Born in California and raised in Lincoln City, Oregon, Perry’s early years were shaped by small-town coastal life. He began playing music in school band on tuba and trombone, eventually buying his first bass guitar at age 12 with money from his first paycheck — the instrument that would become his foundation for decades.
After graduating high school, Perry served in the United States Marine Corps (1982–1986). No matter where he was stationed — from 29 Palms to North Carolina to Okinawa — he continued playing music. In North Carolina, he performed in a heavy metal band at a biker bar called The Smurfs, and in Okinawa he played both in local bands and an All-Marine band performing in enlisted clubs.
Following his military service, Perry spent years as a working musician — a hired-gun bass player, sitting in with bands wherever he was needed. Music was never a side path — it was always part of his life.
One of those chapters included playing bass in the North Santiam Band with Sara Evans before her rise to national fame. During that time, the band performed at major events and opened for Willie Nelson at a large festival, marking one of many significant live experiences throughout Perry’s career.
For much of his journey, Perry stayed behind the scenes as a bass player. It wasn’t until 1998 that he discovered he could sing — a turning point that eventually led him toward songwriting.
After a major life shift in 2008, Perry began writing songs more seriously, developing his voice as a singer-songwriter. By the early 2010s, he formed a band and began performing original music, leading to festival appearances from 2015 to 2019.
When the pandemic brought live music to a halt, Perry made a pivotal decision — to focus fully on writing and recording the songs he had been building over the years.