PK Dwyer and Donna Beck were the sweethearts of the Seattle music scene in the 1970's. Downloads of their Pacific Northwest radio hits Dandy Annie and Drawbridge are Forever Free and brought to you courtesy of the King Pin Head Music Crew and Bandzoogle.
#PKDwyer #DonnaBeck #BuskersRule #Folk
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
Take a Free Download today:
Dandy Annie / Drawbridge
PK Dwyer was the consummate busker. Starting with being tapped to write and record the musical soundtrack for Jac Zacha's film Walk The Walk while performing on the streets of Los Angeles in 1970 PK left his impression on many busking scenes throughout the United States and Europe during his lifetime career. With his performance of genre crossing original material over the years PK Dwyer helped to raise the respectability of street performance and awareness of busking as a serious art form.
Here we have a selection of songs all related to Busking from the PK Dwyer song catalogue ranging from the mid 1970's - 2020. Proudly brought to you by King Pin Head Music.
That You So Richly Deserve / PK Dwyer and Donna Beck
Throwin' The Buskers Out / PK Dwyer
Photograph of Eric Zahn [left] and Kevin Dwyer [right] in Los Angeles, California 1970 while
working on the Walk The Walk recordings.
#PKDwyer #BuskersRule #KingPinHead #StreetMusic
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
Photo courtesy of PK Dwyer Estate
Legendary folk and blues artist PK Dwyer was, of course, all about busking. One of his favorite events to perform at was the annual Buskers In The Burg festival held the last Saturday of September in Ellensburg, Washington. Buskers In The Burg was created in 2011 by Carolyn Honeycutt and inspired by her husband who is a self-classified Porch Musician.
PK Dwyer's lively mug was the cover photo for the Buskers In The Burg Festival Guide in both 2017 and 2018. The festival organizers said PK's energy perfectly encapsulated the vibes they wanted to convey for the event and it was always a joyous occasion whenever PK participated; he had a wonderful time handing out stickers at the Arts Parade. A much loved busking festival event.
In 2019 PK Dwyer won second prize in the Vote For Your Favorite Busker competition.
The 2025 Buskers In The Burg festival is Saturday, September 27 at Unity Park in Ellensburg, Washington @ 10 am - 1 pm.
Be there because Buskers Rule!
#PKDwyer #Ellensburg #BuskersRule #Legendary
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer and in support of Buskers In The Burg by the King Pin Head Music Crew
Summer is in full swing and that means it's time to string up the outdoor lights, break out your favorite sips, kick off your shoes and paint your toenails Jitters hot pink, throw a patio party for all your friends, and get your groove on with the perfect summertime soundtrack from The Jitters!
Download this timeless Pacific Northwest Rock Classic for just $8 compliments of the King Pin Head Music Crew. Album download is of The Jitters Cd reissue. Available via Bandzoogle or bandcamp
These songs pair particularly well with Sun, Sand, Surf and Sangria . . . Enjoy!
Please drink legally and responsibly folks.
PK Dwyer was the founder & front man of The Jitters and penned all their original tunes. The Jitters are considered front runners of cow punk and the alt-country movement [whatever that was]. Their only album was released in 1980 to local critical acclaim and is a prime example of Cosmic American Music.
#PKDwyer #TheJitters #Legendary #PartyPerfectSummer #KingPinHead
Free & Easy Listening: Tune in to The Jitters on Jango Radio
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
One of the world's brightest stars shines no more.
PK [Patrick Kevin] Dwyer passed away on April 15, 2024 at Hospice House in Tacoma, Washington after an intense 8 month battle with cancer.
Born to parents, Jacqueline and Patrick Blair Dwyer on December 28, 1949, PK spent his childhood years in Mill Valley, CA and moved to Seattle, WA as a young teenager. He is survived by his wife Carol and dog Lola.
As a youngster PK - or Kevin as he was known back then - was quite passionate about baseball and it looked like a pitching career might be in the cards but his creative energy quickly turned towards all things music after hearing Elvis Presley for the first time. As a teenager PK started writing songs, creating stage shows, and performing with a zeal and intensity that would last a lifetime and a career that spanned well over 50 years came with many accolades and achievements. As a young man PK was recruited to write, and record the soundtrack for Jac Zacha’s film Walk The Walk. He was the genesis of the Seattle busking scene at the Pike Place Market in the 1970s and went on to be the front man and creative force behind a multitude of bands and musical projects, including the proto-punk band The Jitters and risque acoustic cabaret act The Hollywood Dick Doll Revue. The songs Post Orifice and The Bottom Line by The Hollywood Dick Doll Revue have been preserved by Smithsonian Folkways Recordings. The eclectic PK Dwyer tunes Your Dyin' Day, No Longer My Girlfriend, Celebration Blues, Looking For A Woman, and Time To Try were used as incidental music on MTV’s reality show MADE; and the epic Healed [One More Time] was featured on NPR’s All Songs Considered. While PK always stated he was relatively unknown as a performer, he was loved by many and entertained thousands of fans throughout his career performing at countless venues and on street corners, farmers markets and festivals across the United States and Europe.
When PK wasn’t entertaining the masses he could often be found practicing his autoharp or slide guitar. He loved spending time at home watching Korean Soap Operas, Swedish Crime Dramas, cheering on The Seahawks with his wife Carol, and wandering the gritty streets of Tacoma with his trusty dog Lola.
PK Dwyer’s ashes were released into Puget Sound at Redondo Beach, WA in a private ceremony on May 5, 2024.
Plant a Memorial Tree. Let's plant a forest for PK Dwyer!
#PKDwyer #BuskersRule #Love
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
PK Dwyer's final studio album – Loud & Clear – is available for Download via Bandzoogle and bandcamp.
Streaming on Deezer - apple - and Spotify
A unique and gripping collection of songs presented by PK Dwyer at his finest. Coming in at a spare 9 songs, each original tune takes the listener through a raw and compelling journey of emotions featuring PK's distinctive vocals and dynamic playing style on guitar, harmonica and autoharp respectively.
Recorded live in the studio at Garey Shelton Productions every track on the album is stellar with gold star awards going to the bluesy The End Of Time [Parts 1&2] - the powerfully gritty Federal Way and The Ode: a rough and tumble little love ditty to the autoharp and all its magic.
FULL ALBUM REVIEW
Reviewed by: Indie Band Guru
FULL ALBUM REVIEW
Reviewed by: The Ark Of Music
SONG REVIEW: The End Of Time [Parts 1 & 2]
Reviewed by: Andre Avanessian
FULL ALBUM REVIEW
Reviewed by: Sleeping Bag Studios
MENTION
Recommended by: Bonnie's Legends
#PKDwyer #BuskersRule #Legendary #Reviews #Folk #Blues
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
Folk & Blues Busker Extraordinaire PK Dwyer was the cover story for the Fall 2020 issue of Autoharp Quarterly | Volume 32 Issue 4
Featured in the issue is an in depth article and interview with PK Dwyer by Pete Daigle as well as a review of PK's 2020 album release Music To Dance To by Nan Bovingdon and stunning photographs by Keith Daigle.
#PKDwyer #BuskersRule #Autoharp #Folk #CoverBoy
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer -- a true Autoharp enthusiast! – by the King Pin Head Music Crew
KRAB Radio: Music of Seattle's Taverns - April 6, 1976 | Recorded LIVE March 22, 1976
PK Dwyer and Donna Beck shine on this Seattle Music Time Capsule from 1976
Also featuring: Barbara Bush, and Ron W Bailey
Produced and introduced by Judith Hadley. Recording courtesy of the Jack Straw Foundation
#PKDwyer #DonnaBeck #KRAB #Folk #Americana #Seattle
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
Listen Now: KRAB Music Archive
Full album review of Loud & Clear by Keith Pro at Indie Band Guru published on March 25, 2025
Street music or busker music has been a fabric of society since the beginning of time. It takes a special type of person to create a stage out of nowhere and perform for anyone who will listen. The 1970s busking scene of Seattle, and the whole Pacific Northwest for that matter, was led by busker extraordinaire PK Dwyer. What started on the campus of UCLA and Pike Place Market led to a long career exploring the style.
Sadly, the ultimate busker has now left this realm. PK Dwyer’s last busking performance was at the Burien Trader Joe’s on March 2, 2024. He passed away on April 15, 2024 after an intense 8 month battle with cancer. His ashes were released into Puget Sound at Redondo Beach, WA so he will forever be part of the aura there.
As an honor, we would like to introduce you to the final album of PK Dwyer entitled Loud & Clear. The 9 song collection highlights his raw journey of emotions and distinctive voice and playing style on guitar, harmonica and autoharp.
PK Dwyer’s Loud & Clear isn’t a polished, radio-ready affair. It’s a raw, visceral blues experience, a gut-punch of emotion delivered with grit and unwavering authenticity. This album feels like it was recorded in a smoky backroom, the kind where the whiskey flows freely and the stories are etched in the lines of a well-worn face.
Read the Full Review here: Indie Band Guru reviews Loud & Clear
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
Listen and purchase Loud & Clear Bandzoogle bandcamp apple
#PKDwyer #BuskersRule #Folk #Blues #IndieBandGuru
PK Dwyer and Donna Beck - Pioneer Square, Seattle, Washington 197?
PK Dwyer and Donna Beck were the darlings of the Seattle music scene in the 1970's and very much known for Busking at the Seattle Pike Place Market and in the bars & taverns of Pioneer Square.
Downloads of their Pacific Northwest radio hits Dandy Annie and Drawbridge are Forever Free and brought to you courtesy of the King Pin Head Music Crew and Bandzoogle.
#PKDwyer #DonnaBeck #BuskersRule #Folk
Posted in loving memory of PK Dwyer by the King Pin Head Music Crew
Take a Free Download today:
Dandy Annie / Drawbridge
