Anne-Marie Perry & Green Bracelet

by Jean Anne Chapman Richardson

Every day I think about all the incredible musicians who grace the city of Atlanta. I know a lot of these artists have spent their entire lives playing, writing, recording, and traveling with their stories …weaving their way in and around the landscape of this beautiful country and beyond. It takes a special soul to live constantly out of their suitcase, haul equipment, set up for the gig and a few hours later tear down the magic of the night and pack it all up again. So is the life of the dedicated, hard working music man or woman.

I often wonder what it must have been like for Grace Slick and Jefferson Airplane, or Janis Joplin and Big Brother And The Holding Company. How did Chrissie Hynde and the Pretenders do it…night after night, year after year? The heartbeat of songs holds the soul and spirit together and music runs in the veins of every true Gypsy. It’s a way of life no one else could ever understand, but it’s a beautiful road well traveled by those who have promised themselves to it.

I am highlighting a rock artist this month who stands in this category on the highest level, Anne-Marie Perry.

She was born and raised in Vidalia Georgia. Her brother and sisters all play instruments and sing, and they learned it all from their dad Ed Perry. Ed started out as a D.J. Shirley came to his radio station one day to sing in a contest and when they met, they fell in love and got married. Four children came from their union and music was everywhere in their house. Ed started a label called Gala Records where he produced and managed musical talent including Wayne Cochran’s first hit “Last Kiss.” Ed also wrote songs, had his own band and he rehearsed at their house several times a week. Anne-Marie took in every music move her Daddy was making, and as a young child, started singing and recording at the age of 5 years old.

By the age of 11, she was playing guitar and her dad bought her a guitar of her own. It was then she started writing songs and finding her voice. She participated in school and church functions as a musician, but that wasn’t enough…

She later decided to move to Texas and it was there she started her first band, CHEERFUL TEARFUL. Based out of Houston, they played for 5 years all over Texas and the Southeast and built quite a following. Most notable gigs were opening for Stanley Clarke at Fitzgerald’s in Houston and for King’s X in Galveston Beach. Anne-Marie wanted more…

She then made the move to Atlanta where she formed the band GILDED LILY. They rocked their way into opening for acts like The Georgia Satellites and The Violent Femmes, played the Samsung Stage during the 1996 Olympics, and also won the Best Georgia Band contest which afforded them free recording time at Tree Sound. 99X picked up and played their single from this session, “The Mistress.” Then…

In 2004 she started up her current band, GREEN BRACELET, who won a songwriting contest in Key West for Mel Fisher Days. They play the entire Southeast circuit in clubs and theatres including the world-famous Fox Theater. They are also invited repeatedly to perform at several festivals including The Cherry Blossom Festival, Homefest, The Leveefest, and the Brookhaven Festival. They also won Best Alternative Rock Band at The Killer Creek Harley Davidson Festival.

They recorded their first C.D. “Home” in Nashville with producer Michael Roe of The 77’s/Lost Dogs and  engineer Derri Daugherty of The Choir. This album really shows off Anne-Marie Perry’s rock ‘n roll writing style and that magnificent, powerhouse voice.

They are currently recording with Frank French at his Dragon Path Music Studio. Anne-Marie says, “Frank is also playing a few guest parts on many of these songs, keyboards and harmonica. Recording with Frank is very laid back. He’s a great producer in that he pulls the creative sparks from you without interfering with the true spirit of the song. I really like the approach we’re taking without too many vocal effects. Songwriting is my passion and this project shows all my different styles of writing so I can pitch tunes to other artists as well. This album will be up for sale toward the end of this year.”

GREEN BRACELET consists of John Landrum on lead guitar and backing vocals, Stan Metz on bass and backing vocals, Hays Hall on drums and Anne-Marie Perry on rhythm guitar and lead vocals.

While interviewing Anne-Marie I gathered enough stories to write a book, but someday she will have to tell you the story of her wedding day. She and John Landrum (her husband) were driving down to Macon to get married by John’s father, had a flat tire along the way, finally arrived late to the church to find a casket in the chapel …sounds like a game of “Clue.” Ask her sometime. She’ll tell you all about it.

It’s all Rock ‘n Roll !

For more information on Anne-Marie Perry go to these websites, sign up for monthly email, check out tour/gig dates, buy and listen to music at the following:

http://www.reverbnation.com/greenbracelet

Join the GREEN BRACELET band page on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/green-bracelet/93844026778