Chris Pierce is an American singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, radio host, educator, public speaker, wine producer and officiant born and based in California.
Early life
Pierce is from Pasadena, California. He grew up singing in church and playing in bands from an early age and listened to classic soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel and rock and roll recordings. When he was 15 he was diagnosed with otosclerosis which caused him to lose significant hearing. A surgery helped him regain 60% of his hearing in his right year. In his teenage years, he pursued acting and singing in local theater presentations and appeared on notable television shows such as Kids Incorporated, Big Break hosted by Natalie Cole, Star Search and Half and Half. After high school he received a scholarship to study jazz at USC. At 19 years old he performed on a US tour with Sonia Dada and later continued on to Moscow, Russia. After touring with Sonia Dada, Pierce came home to Southern California to work on his degree in jazz studies at USC. Brothers and Sisters, In Plain Sight, True Blood, Eli Stone, What About Brian, Lincoln Heights, Army Wives, North Shore, Half and Half, Dawson's Creek, Sister Act, Great Plains and The Long Shots starring Ice Cube. His single "Are You Beautiful" has been used in a national Banana Republic ad campaign.
thumb|Chris Pierce performing at the Mountain Winery in [[Saratoga, California (2019)]]
Reception
Critic Paul Saitowitz of The Press-Enterprise has compared Pierce's voice to Ray Charles, writing that it "fluctuates from delicate falsettos to shrieks reminiscent of Ray Charles".
Pierce's 2021 album, American Silence garnered critical acclaim from NPR, SiriusXM, The Bluegrass Situation, Acoustic Guitar, No Depression, Rolling Stone, Americana UK and more for its strong racial justice themes. NPRs Robin Hilton said, "I haven't been so deeply, deeply moved by just a person and their guitar like this in a long time.”
Personal life
Pierce currently resides in California. He married actress Tara Buck in 2012.
Discography
- Liberation Vol. 1 (2002)
- Intimate Moments (2004)
- Static Trampoline (2005)
- Walking on the Earth (2007)
- Chris Pierce Live at the Hotel Cafe (2009)
- I Can Hear You (2011)
- When the Hustle Comes to a Stop (2012)
- Reverend Tall Tree (2015)
- You've Got to Feel It! (2017)
- American Silence (2021)
- Let All Who Will (2023)