Blis
Poet/Biography
Blis is a gifted poet, musician, songwriter and inspiring orator. He was born and raised in the Bronx and did not realize his talent for poetry or music until adulthood.
Blis began his artistic journey shortly after high school with his enlistment in the Army. He attended Cardinal Hayes High School and in his senior year, used his yearbook as a canvas. During his time in service, his focus shifted from visual artistry to creative writing, as poetry became his centerpiece.
Today, he currently has a personal collection of over 200 poems and has released 3 spoken word CDs. Blis has performed at MTA Headquarters, Nuyorican, Restoration Plaza, NY1, WNYE 91.5FM, Bronx Net, The Harlem State Office Building, The Nuyorican Poets Café, Restoration Plaza, Mt. Vernon’s Art on Third festival, The 2008 Bronx Borough President’ s Black History Month Celebration, and The Tribute to Amiri Baraka at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
In 2000, his work was included in the book, Chimes from the Clock Tower as a member of the Jefferson Market Library poetry group, and in 2001 he released his "Sound of a Woken Man" CD and after the birth of his daughter, Bliss took a two year break from performing to assist her in, "adjusting to life outside the womb."
In 2004, Bliss made his acting debut in the off-Broadway play, "The Department of Veterans Affairs," where he is also a contributing writer. On November 1, 2004, Blis was a featured poet at the Bronx Borough President's office.
He continues to write and his inspiration comes mainly from the music of Seal, Jeff Buckly, U-2, Nine Inch Nails and countless other artists/poets who have the ability to paint thought-provoking imagery in the mind of the listener. He embraces their words and feels for the meanings. He firmly believes that not all true voices are being heard – their uniqueness suppressed by the power of industry. Blis is a proud member of the Jefferson Market poetry group and is an honorary senior with the Greenwich House Poetry Group.
In 2006, Blis he released his (((Alive))) CD, a mostly live disc partly taken from his Appearance on WNYE FM’s “Everything Goes”
On October 17, 2009 He released his "More Than What You Feel You Are" CD, a collection of poetry music and song. “At the end of my performance, my daughter came up to me and said she wanted to buy a CD from me. She didn’t want me to give her one. She then handed me $1 and I signed the CD for her and fought back the tears. To see the smile on her face, let me know that she was proud of me. Children need positive images, buoys in an ocean of negativity to cling to."
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