Jerry Markham is the 2000's version of a one man band using the latest in technology to create a great live sound, totally solo. Markham has moved from playing piano in small gatherings to blasting catchy synth melodies on Dallas stages amongst a mass of guitar heroes. He has released 3 CDs, including his latest release, 'Big Deal'.
Jerry was born in Dallas, Texas, on the 22nd of December 1972. He learned to play the keyboard at the age of eight. He grew up in an ever changing environment. However, his love for making music has always been a consistent force in his life.
In the mid nineties he played Friday nights at church in front of a small crowd, on a synthesizer. This was quite contrary to the usual couple of guys strumming guitars or singing to backup tapes.
In his twenties, Jerry worked outside the music industry. Nonetheless, he would stay up late at night writing and recording his original compositions. With the turn of the millennium he found himself performing with other musicians and bands. One of these bands included a Dallas based cover rock group called 'Group Therapy'. But all of the time spent playing cover gigs with 'Group Therapy' was starting to eat at him. It was time for real change and the desire to do something more personal. In 2001 with the help of friends, he released the album 'Calibrate'. It was his first real attempt at producing a project completely solo.
After the release of 'Calibrate' with little to no attention, Markham searched within for real purpose in his music endeavors. Between 2002 and 2004 he belted out over 40 new pieces of music completely improvised and raw. The styles were widely varied, emotional and full of energy.
Despite the changes in the music business, he has pressed on. Jerry believes that great songs, thoughtful lyrics and real performances that reach people on a human scale make the difference. "You have prepared so don't be scared, you are a champion...Is it so wrong to stand so strong for what you believe in," is a message about overcoming adversity with genuine personal conviction. This is a common theme in the optimistic ideals in his music.
Jerry has invested the last few years into writing and recording. In October 2006 he finished 'Big Deal', a collection of electronic songs. The first track on the album 'Underground to Camden Town' was chosen in the top 10 new electronic songs in the October 2006 issue of Britain's 'Future Music' magazine and was featured on the magazine's complimentary DVD disc. His first solo gig was on May 27th 2007 at the Curtain Club in Dallas along with 7 other bands. www.jerrymarkhammusic.com came online on the same weekend.
In the later half of 2008, Markham completed the soundtrack for author Adie Bishop's book called 'Rock A Bye'. This EP was released on March 12, 2009 via iTunes and available on disc in May 2009. WIth the summer came the official release of the well praised and long awaited 'Big Deal'.
The only thing to be said about 'Big Deal' is that if you haven't heard it, beg, buy, borrow, steal or whatever this album and judge for yourself. A lifetime of dedication, hard work, heartache and sheer determination has come before and this is the result. From the ballads 'Thoughts of the Day' and the club fun 'Here Comes the Man' to the roaring drive of 'Underground to Camden Town' and 'Free My Heart', it rates as one of the most exciting and optimistic albums for years.
For the 'Retro Live' shows, Jerry Markham has taken his best live songs and stripped away the computers and heavy electronics to achieve a more raw and improvisational performance. As before, Jerry will be playing everything entirely live own his own on stage (there are no back ups).
The new summer album is 'Big Deal' which is the third US album. Full or roaring melodies, it tells a story of unrealized human potential.
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