Bio

A native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Bill Deasy fell early under the musical influence of his older brother who, lucky for all of us, was listening to landmark rock songwriters such as Van Morrison, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen. Their songs were like college courses for the aspiring tunesmith.

In the early 1990s, Bill began to make a name for himself on the Pittsburgh music scene frequenting open stages and appearing before prominent Pittsburgh rock bands. Eventually he formed a band of his own, then another, and another. Finally he found the musicians who would become The Gathering Field whose second release, "Lost in America," (1996) garnered enough sales and airplay to land the band a deal with Atlantic Records. The Gathering Field toured extensively earning a loyal fan base in the states and abroad.

The early 2000s saw Bill's success continue. Country stars such as Martina McBride and Billy Ray Cyrus, along with an assortment of pop and rock artists, recorded Deasy-penned songs. Bill's own recording of "Good Things are Happening," a song he co-wrote on a trip to Nashville, became the long-running theme for Good Morning America on ABC. Bill appeared in the promo spots, strumming his guitar and singing.

Since leaving the Gathering Field in early 2000, Bill has enjoyed success as a solo artist through a string of compelling and critically acclaimed records. From "Good Day, No Rain" (2003) to "Chasing Down a Spark" (2005) to "The Miles" (2007) to "A Different Kind of Wild" (2008) and "Being Normal" (2009) his craft has matured and his soulfulness, deepened. The same can be said for his live performances which continue to grow more passionate and powerful.

Performing songwriter says, "He calls to mind Paul Westerberg and many of the finest rock songwriters who mix poetry and drunken bluster, yet somehow sound macho and sensitive at the same time" and All Music Guide suggests that "Sensitive singer/songwriters are a dime a dozen, but really good ones are a rarity. Bill Deasy is the real deal. In a perfect world, you'd already know this."

In 2006, Bill added "published author" to his list of accomplishments. His debut novel, "Ransom Seaborn" went on to win the 2006 Golden Needle Award and is currently being adapted for film (with Bill writing the screenplay.) "Traveling Clothes" followed in 2009 and "Ghost Tree" in 2010, both novels delivering on the promise of "Ransom Seaborn."

As if all that weren't enough, Bill has found time in recent years to collaborate with Los Angeles writer-producer Rich Jacques in the form of Thomas Jefferson's Aeroplane and has reunited for a series of club shows with his old bandmates from The Gathering Field. In early 2011, a recording of one of these magical performances was released in the 2-disc set "Gathering Field Live 11.20.2010."