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Pierce Pettis is an American singer/songwriter from Alabama. A former staff writer for PolyGram Publishing in Nashville, Pettis' musical career was started in 1979 when Joan Baez covered one of his songs, "Song at the End of the Movie", on her album Honest Lullaby. Following that release, Pettis became heavily involved in the "Fast Folk movement" in New York in the 1980s alongside artists such as Shawn Colvin and Suzanne Vega.
In 1987, Pettis released his first independent solo album, Moments, followed by a string of releases for High Street Records ; While the Serpent Lies Sleeping, Tinseltown and Chase the Buffalo. None of these releases have made Pettis a household name, but his music has become extremely popular with other artists. His songs have been covered by artists like Dar Williams ("Family" on Mortal City), Garth Brooks ("You Move Me" on Sevens), Dion & the Belmonts, Sara Groves , Randy Stonehill and others.
In the early 1990s, Pettis developed a working relationship with songwriter and producer, Mark Heard. Pettis was actually performing with Heard at the Cornerstone FestivalThe Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA held annually around the 4th of July in Illinois. From 1984 to 1990, Cornerstone was held in Grayslake, Illinois. In 1991, Cornerstone moved to the town of Bushnell, Illinoi in JulyJuly is the seventh month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days. July was renamed for Julius Caesar; previously, it was called Quintilis in Latin, since it was the fifth month in the Roman calendar which started in March. Because of its orig of 19921992 is a leap year starting on Wednesday. Events January January The Internet Society is formed. January 1 Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Perez de Cuellar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General January 1 George H. Bush becomes the fi, when Heard had a heart attack on stage. Heard finished the show, and died the following AugustSee August (album) for the album by Eric Clapton. August is the eighth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days. Named in honor of Augustus Caesar. The month reputedly has 31 days because Augustus wanted as many days as Julius Caesar's Ju. That event began a tradition for Pettis, who has started off each of his albums with one of Heard's songs since 19931993 is a common year starting on Friday and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003 Events January January 1 Czechoslovakia divides. Establishment of independent Slovakia and Czech Republic.'s Chase the Buffalo, where he recorded Heard's "Nod Over Coffee". Other Heard covers include "Satellite Sky" ( 19961996 was a leap year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty''. Events January January 5 Hamas operative Yahya Ayyash is killed by an Israeli-planted booby-trapped cell phone Jan's Making Light of It), "Tip of My Tongue" ( 19981998 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar), and was designated the International Year of the Ocean''. Events January January 1998 A massive ice storm, caused by El Nino, strikes New England, southern Ontario and Quebec, resulting's Everything Matters), "Rise from the Ruins" ( 20012001 is a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar), and also: The International Year of the Volunteer The United Nations Year of Dialogue Among Civilizations Events January January 1 A black monolith measuring approximately nine feet tall ap's State of Grace) and "Another Day in Limbo" ( 2004's Great Big World.) Pettis also appeared on a 1994 tribute to Heard entitled Strong Hand of Love.
In 1996, Pettis signed on with Compass Records and released Making Light of It, produced by David Miner ( T-Bone Burnett, Elvis Costello), and featuring Derri Daugherty and Steve Hindalong of The Choir. Two years later Everything Matters was released, produced by Grammy award winning Gordon Kennedy (who is best known for co-writing Eric Clapton's "Change the World.") Pettis followed that release with State of Grace in 2001, which featured cover art by the late southern folk artist Howard Finster (known among the rock crowd for his cover art for Talking Heads, Adam Again and R.E.M.), who, like Pettis, hails from Dekalb County, Alabama. Pierce Pettis new album Great Big World featuring Danny Thompson of Pentangle-fame, is sceduled to be released August 2004.
