BIOGRAPHY

Whether you call his music jump blues, folk, or americana, PK Dwyer continues to be an innovative force on the roots music scene today with his unique musical style, unconventional lyrics, and One Man Roadhouse Show live performance.

The 1970's first brought PK recognition when he was busking [street performing] on the streets of L.A. and was asked to write and record the music for Jac Zacha's out of print exploitation film Walk The Walk.

Dwyer has the distinction of being the first person to busk at the Seattle Pike Place Market in 1972. PK Dwyer and singing partner Donna Beck were a known entity on the street performing scene and the bars around Pioneer Square in Seattle and the pair had a Northwest radio hit with Dandy Annie / Drawbridge in 1975. In the late 70's PK went on to found the ground breaking cow punk quintet The Jitters. The Jitters are a long time favorite band of No Depression magazine founder Grant Alden and considered one of the "cow punk ancestors of alt-country."

The 1980's and 90's were also a busy time beginning with Dwyer moving to Europe in 1980. PK and some friends formed The Gutter People - a street performing vaudeville troupe. They quickly gained notoriety and a fan base in Paris and were the winners of the First Annual Amsterdam Street Performers Competition in 1981. PK Dwyer then moved to New York City and caused a sensation on the folk scene with his infamous acoustic cabaret act The Hollywood Dick Doll Revue. Hollywood Dick Doll was a controversial act at the time and was championed by Richie Havens, Suzanne Vega, and [the late great] Dave Van Ronk.

The 90's saw the PopLlama release of Dwyer's alter ego project George Michael Jackson: King of Gonzo Folk. The album garnered rave reviews and a nation wide tour followed.

The year 2000 brought salvation when PK Dwyer came full circle and returned to his musical first love: Folk & Blues . . .

A visit from the ghost of Jimmy Reed inspired Dwyer to take a long and hard look at his musical journey. He went back to his roots and started writing original jump blues material. In 2001 the CD Up To My Balls In The Blues was released to worldwide airplay on folk, blues, and college radio. The tracks Lookin' For A Woman and Time To Try have been featured on MTV's reality show MADE. PK Dwyer's 2003 effort, Blues Guy Now, was released to an enthusiastic audience, world wide airplay and critical acclaim. The September 2004 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine calls Blues Guy Now "a modern blues masterpiece." The tracks Celebration Blues and No Longer My Girlfriend were also featured on MTV's MADE.

In May of 2005 PK Dwyer was nominated for a Seattle Weekly Music Award. PK is the only solo acoustic artist to be nominated in the Blues category and the only Blues nominee to exclusively perform original, self written material. PK's live performance at the awards showcase earned him a grant from Seattle's Art Patch and enabled him to record and release Healed - a raw & rip roaring acoustic take on PK Dwyer's version of the blues.

The end of 2005 found PK pulling up stakes and heading for the Appalachian mountains of North Carolina. He spent 6 months touring the small towns of the southeast soaking up the traditional music and spirit of the area before moving on once again to New York City. This time around PK stayed in New York four glorious years making his living busking the blues in Central Park and the subway.

PK Dwyer is a seasoned and respected artist who travels a different path from most musicians in a modern day world. After a two year stint in Albuquerque, New Mexico [2010 - 2011] PK is back in the Pacific Northwest and currently makes his home in beautiful Des Moines, Washington. He prefers street performing to playing the bar and club circuit and with a career that now spans over 40 years, Dwyer continues to write all his own material. He tours every year playing small venues and festivals he considers to be special or unique as well as performing his Sidewalk Hipster Blues on street corners everywhere.

New Release: Rough Shod is available now!