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Willy Porter

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Willy Porter
Porter performing in 2012
Porter performing in 2012
Background information
BornOctober 4, 1964
Mequon, Wisconsin
United States
GenresRock, blues, Jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
Instrument(s)Guitar, Vocals
WebsiteOfficial website

Willy Porter is a contemporary American rock musician and singer-songwriter from Mequon, Wisconsin. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.[1]

Career

Porter's professional career as a musician began in 1990 with his album The Trees Have Soul with Paul Perrone. It was produced by Willy Porter, Paul Perrone & Randy Green. Much of this album was developed playing a Sunday night residency at the Club de Wash in Madison, Wisconsin. He hasn't left the road full-time since that first commercial release in 1990. In 1994 he released the album Dog-Eared Dream, which had the successful single Angry Words, and led to his touring as an opening act for artists including Tori Amos, Rickie Lee Jones, and The Cranberries. He signed with BMG/Private Music in 1995 and in 1999 with San Francisco-based label Six Degrees Records, for whom he released three albums. During that time, he toured with Sting, Paul Simon, and Jeff Beck. This was followed by touring with Jethro Tull and its guitarist Martin Barre. In 2005, he formed his own imprint, Weasel Records, with his manager Chris Webb.

Porter released the disc "Available Light" in 2006 while producing the "Brand New Frame" album by guitarist/songwriter Natalia Zukerman. During the next few years Porter focused on label duties while raising a family and producing. In 2009, he returned with the band album, How to Rob a Bank. Following, his 2012 CD, Cheeseburgers & Gasoline, Porter released Human Kindness in 2014, followed by Bonfire to Ash, a collaboration with vocalist and songwriter Carmen Nickerson in November 2016. Currently,[when?] Porter is touring in support of that project under the combined name, Porter Nickerson.

Porter has played with guitarist Greg Koch. Greg Koch played guitar on the 1999 Willy Porter album "Falling Forward".[2]

Reception

The Washington Post wrote that "Porter is a dazzling acoustic guitarist with a moody baritone." The Village Voice said "Porter captures the street corner ethic of acoustic performance perfectly." The Boston Globe reported that Porter is a guitarist who possesses "the Olympian speed of Leo Kottke bolstered by rootsy vocals and twisting, offbeat lyrics."[3][better source needed]

Discography

Willy Porter performing at The Saint, in Asbury Park, NJ, on July 15, 2013
  • Leaving Tomah Home — 1988 (cassette)
  • The Trees Have Soul — 1990 Southwind Music, re-issue 1996 Don't Records (additional track)
  • Dog-Eared Dream — 1994 Southwind Music, 1995 Private Music (remixed and additional track)
  • Falling Forward — 1999 (Six Degrees Records)
  • Willy Porter — 2002 (Six Degrees Records)
  • High Wire Live — 2003 (Six Degrees Records)
  • Available Light — 2006 (Weasel Records)
  • How To Rob A Bank — 2009 (Weasel Records)
  • Live at BoMA w/ Carpe Diem String Quartet — 2010 (Weasel Records)
  • Cheeseburgers & Gasoline — 2012 (Weasel Records)
  • Human Kindness — 2014 (Weasel Records)
  • Bonfire to Ash — 2016 w/ Carmen Nickerson as 'Porter*Nickerson'

References

  1. ^ August 11, 2011. "UW-EC grad Willy Porter makes debut at The State". Leader-Telegram. Retrieved 2011-08-12.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)[dead link‍]
  2. ^ Levy, Piet (April 30, 2015). "Concert to raise money for Steve Kleiber fund". The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Retrieved September 26, 2018.
  3. ^ "How To Rob A Bank - Press Kit". Willy Porter. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
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