BRUCE GERRISH
Biography
Singer, award winning songwriter, multi instrumentalist and producer, Bruce Gerrish writes and performs his own distinctive brand of catchy, curious and heartfelt songs that celebrate a diversity of musical styles appealing to people of all ages and backgrounds.
Gerrish is the past winner of a Billboard
Achievement Award and a finalist in The Budweiser Search for Talent. His music is distributed in Europe by DMI Records. Bruce is also a published songwriter with Atrium Music in Los Angeles.
His recent “Quirkophony” album is a seamless combination of Roots, Blues, Folk, New Orleans Boogie, Texas Swing and sincere ballads that is currently receiving airplay on CBC Canada, BBC, Scotland, Germany, Holland and Italy.
Bruce owns and operates Cozy Shack Productions & Studio in Nanaimo, BC that offers audio/video and music production.
Gerrish is a recognized Artistic Director and producer who has developed festivals and show cases for the Vancouver Island Folk Festival, The Nanaimo Jazz Festival. The Okanagen Jazz and Blues Festival. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Vancouver City Limits a series of live Showcases that featured up and coming talent in Vancouver and beyond that was hosted a popular YouTube Channel.
Background
After graduating from high school, Bruce moved to New Orleans where friends of the family ran the world-famous Preservation Hall, a funky jazz concert hall in the heart of The French Quarter. He spent many nights absorbing the styles, rhythms and the many jazz legends.
A writer of many styles, Bruce was introduced and quickly influenced by Louisiana's rich musical tapestry where he absorbed everything from Jazz to Cajun Music, Country Blues, and New Orleans R&B. All the while he continued to write songs and gradually became interested in country music after obtaining a copy of Hank Williams greatest hits.
Eventually, Bruce broadened his style even further with stints in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, San Francisco and more recently Vancouver, British Columbia. He now makes his home in Nanaimo, BC on Vancouver Island and recently co-produced his own country roots studio album 'Quirkophony' with Vancouver producer Bill Buckingham featuring a roster of top Vancouver talent and additional session players from Canada the US.
Bruce has been playing to audiences and to critical acclaim for many years. He has a large repertoire that spans multiple genres from catchy originals to exceptional renditions of classic standards, all presented in his own inimitable style. A versatile vocalist, entertainer and accomplished musician, Gerrish accompanies himself on acoustic guitar, banjo, ukulele and piano. He works as a solo performer and with his alter ego projects:The Shineolas, The Hopeless Romantics and The Windin' Boys.