Dennis Pearne, singer/songwriter/session musician
Dennis has been writing songs and performing his music for over 50 years. His themes display a passionate commitment to justice, peace, spirituality, and his daughters — along with many unusual and haunting love songs.
Dennis has performed in every major, and most minor folk venues in the Northeast, along with larger stages such as Sanders Theatre in Harvard Square, Cambridge, and Boston’s outdoor Hatch Shell. He has toured cross-country several times, including appearing on national radio programs such as the Studs Terkel show in Chicago, Jim Post’s concert series in the same city, and NPR. In the Northeast, he has played at clubs from Massachusetts’ Club Passim and Iron Horse, to Greenwich Village’s Bottom Line and Speakeasy. Nationally, he has toured through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., Washington state, and New Mexico. He has appeared on stage with many of folk music’s legends, including Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt, Patti Larkin, Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens, and Tom Paxton. (Scroll down for quotes from those who have worked with Dennis or heard him perform.)
In May of 2011, Dennis accepted the position of booking manager for Harvard Square’s Nameless Coffeehouse, the oldest all-volunteer coffeehouse in the United States. In October of 2011, the Nameless entered its 45th season — Dennis had played at the Nameless for the prior 36 consecutive seasons. Many of Dennis’ works have been placed in the Smithsonian Institute (www.si.edu).
Dennis has performed in every major, and most minor folk venues in the Northeast, along with larger stages such as Sanders Theatre in Harvard Square, Cambridge, and Boston’s outdoor Hatch Shell. He has toured cross-country several times, including appearing on national radio programs such as the Studs Terkel show in Chicago, Jim Post’s concert series in the same city, and NPR. In the Northeast, he has played at clubs from Massachusetts’ Club Passim and Iron Horse, to Greenwich Village’s Bottom Line and Speakeasy. Nationally, he has toured through Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, New Jersey, Maryland, Rhode Island, Washington D.C., Washington state, and New Mexico. He has appeared on stage with many of folk music’s legends, including Pete Seeger, Bonnie Raitt, Patti Larkin, Joni Mitchell, Richie Havens, and Tom Paxton. (Scroll down for quotes from those who have worked with Dennis or heard him perform.)
In May of 2011, Dennis accepted the position of booking manager for Harvard Square’s Nameless Coffeehouse, the oldest all-volunteer coffeehouse in the United States. In October of 2011, the Nameless entered its 45th season — Dennis had played at the Nameless for the prior 36 consecutive seasons. Many of Dennis’ works have been placed in the Smithsonian Institute (www.si.edu).
Media Reviews, and Comments by Folk
Music Luminaries
Music Luminaries
Photo by Tom Smith
“Dennis Pearne addresses contemporary life in an entertaining, provocative, and musically exciting manner, representing the groundswell of tradition and idealism found in the best of folk music.”
– Frank Hamilton (The Weavers).
“Pearne’s versatility of styles and instrumental techniques has made him one of the most sought after musicians in the area…has been featured as musical backup for the majority of new folk artists in the area.” – Hingham Mariner
“Fine, up-and-coming singer/songwriter” – Jeff McLaughlin, Boston Globe (1983)
“Disturbing but powerful songs — everyone should hear them”
– Folk legend Bob McCarthy, on CD “Whispers of the Spirit”
“You are my favorite bass player.” Chris Chandler to Dennis, after recording his
“As Seen On NO TV” CD (produced by Rachel Faro)
“(Richie) Havens was joined by local studio musicians assembled by local guitarist Dennis Pearne
and including flute and percussion…a stirring 80-minute set.” – Boston Globe (show at The Channel, Boston)
“Personal reflections and deep political convictions give this solo album a cohesive, autobiographical tone. Sounding like a cross Between Country Joe McDonald and Neil Young, Pearne balances angry protest songs with romantic ballads.”
– Craig Harris, Boston Globe (On “Whispers of the Spirit”)
– Frank Hamilton (The Weavers).
“Pearne’s versatility of styles and instrumental techniques has made him one of the most sought after musicians in the area…has been featured as musical backup for the majority of new folk artists in the area.” – Hingham Mariner
“Fine, up-and-coming singer/songwriter” – Jeff McLaughlin, Boston Globe (1983)
“Disturbing but powerful songs — everyone should hear them”
– Folk legend Bob McCarthy, on CD “Whispers of the Spirit”
“You are my favorite bass player.” Chris Chandler to Dennis, after recording his
“As Seen On NO TV” CD (produced by Rachel Faro)
“(Richie) Havens was joined by local studio musicians assembled by local guitarist Dennis Pearne
and including flute and percussion…a stirring 80-minute set.” – Boston Globe (show at The Channel, Boston)
“Personal reflections and deep political convictions give this solo album a cohesive, autobiographical tone. Sounding like a cross Between Country Joe McDonald and Neil Young, Pearne balances angry protest songs with romantic ballads.”
– Craig Harris, Boston Globe (On “Whispers of the Spirit”)
Discography
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In addition to the original works below, Dennis has made numerous appearances on the “Fast Folk Musical Magazine” record series, and other regional folk compilations. Dennis has over 100 credits as a session musician on bass, fretless bass, acoustic guitar, and vocals — including Mariah Sangiolo, Jim Infantino, Ellis Paul, Betsy Rose, Ruth Pelham, and Ben Tousley. Many of Dennis’ works have been placed in the Smithsonian (www.si.edu).
2005 “Woodwork at the Peace Abbey” Full length CD by full five-piece band. 10 live cuts, 8 studio cuts. Woodwork Music #003. 2003 “We Ain’t No One to Talk” CD-single — two versions, rock and folk. Copyright Dennis Pearne, 2003. 2002 “Songs of the Tao” 8-song CD. Verses of Lao Tsu’s “Tao Te Ching” put to music by Dennis Pearne, and recorded by Dennis with the full Woodwork band. Woodwork Music #002. 2000 “Woodwork Live” Full length CD by 5-piece band. Woodwork Music # 001. 1993 “Mother Earth is Choking,” b/w “Carol’s Song.” Two-song cassette single. Good Company Productions # GCP019. 1989 “Whispers of the Spirit” Full length CD of mostly original songs by Dennis Pearne. Good Company Productions # GCP009. 1986 “Ecstacy Called Love,” b/w “Gentle and Strong,” R&R 45 RPM single with band “Lion-in-the-Road,” including Marienne Kreitlow, www.marienne.com, Good Company Productions #GCP008. 1983 “Rising Tide” Full length LP with band of the same name. Good Company Productions # GCP001. |
These four CD’s display the spiritual bent in Dennis’ songwriting. However, be prepared for some hard-hitting social commentary too.
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Sales
Contact Dennis at dpearne@aol.com to request copies of items on this page. For “Songs of the Tao” also see Amazon.com.
New Performing Band
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Dennis' new band, Pisces Rising, is a reincarnation of the previous Dennis Pearne and the Pisces Band. The trio consists of: Dennis on guitar, 12-string guitar, vocals, harmonicas, and fretless bass; Christopher Rowan on gut guitar, fretless bass, and Celtic Harp; and Arthur Olins on nylon-string guitar and vocals. All three members are songwriters -- providing a variety of textures, and unexpected territory being explored as they swim and soar through original songs and instrumentals. Current and local bookings can generally be found on Facebook. |
Photo by Patricia Courtney Pearne
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Past Achievements
A Special Honor...Woodwork, officially named House Band of the Peace Abbey, Sherborn, Massachusetts, 2005.
The Jack Hardy Story
On March 7th, 1985, Dennis was locked in a hot attic room, with a make-shift recording studio by Jack Hardy for six hours in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, and was made to overdub bass parts and some lead guitar parts on almost every song of the 2-LP Boston Edition of the Fast Folk Musical Magazine, even though Dennis had never heard most of the songs. |
Dennis with Rising Tide, making a hit out of Rick Goldin's gender-busting song, "Act Like a Man", www.rickgoldin.com |
Has Performed With:
Richie Havens Pete Seeger Ellis Paul Jamie Brockett Magpie Kim and Reggie Harris Dave Van Ronk Frank Hamilton (of the Weavers) Guy Carawan Betsy Rose Pat Humphries Chris Chandler Willie Sordillo Kevin So Ben Tousley Has Shared the Stage With: Bonnie Raitt Peter Yarrow (of Peter, Paul, & Mary) Joan Baez Mimi Farina Patti Larkin Tom Rush Katie Curtis Joni Mitchell Kris Kristofferson Tom Paxton David Massengill Claudia Schmidt Jerry Jeff Walker Tony Bird Jack Hardy Jim Post Bill Staines Rosalie Sorrels Sally Rogers John Schindler Scott Alarik Cormac McCarthy Steve Key Has Engineered / Produced for: (Studio or Live) Mimi Farina Jim Queskin Jug Band Dean Stevens Vance Gilbert John Schindler Pat Humphries Betsy Rose Pete Seeger |
Hear Dennis' original songs
From Whispers of the Spirit:
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From Woodwork Live:
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From Woodwork at the Peace Abbey:
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From Songs of the Tao:
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Hear Dennis Play Bass
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From the CD "Reverse Speed" with singer/songwriter Ellis Paul:
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From the CD “Live at the Masquerade Ball” with singer/songwriter Dan Cloutier (photo above)
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Sophie Rich
Performing with daughter, Sophie Rich, at the Nameless Coffeehouse, Harvard Square, Cambridge.
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"I've been in show business for 40 years, and my 14-year-old daughter has already left me in the dust..." - Dennis |
Amazing Things Arts Center, Framingham, MA
Photo Gallery
Above photos by Jon McAuliffe
The Dan Cloutier Show at Amazing Things
Above photos by Michael Moran
Above photos by Jon McAuliffe