{{short description|American musician}} {{For|those of a similar name|Chris Pearce (disambiguation)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Chris Pierce | image = Chris_Pierce_-_Live_at_Robert_Mondavi_Summer_Concert_Series_-_Napa,_CA_(2019).jpg | caption = Chris Pierce performing in Napa, California, in 2019 | birth_name = | alias = | birth_date = | birth_place = Pasadena, California, U.S. | death_date = | origin = | instrument = Vocals, guitar, harmonica | genre = Soul, folk, Americana | occupation = Musician, singer-songwriter, guitarist | years_active = 1995–present | label = Pierce Records | website = {{url|chrispierce.com/}} }}
'''Chris Pierce''' is an American singer-songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, radio host, educator, public speaker, wine producer and officiant born and based in California.<ref name="Random Lengths News">{{cite web |last1=Paris |first1=Melina |title=Chris Pierce’s American Silence Testifies Trauma Through Grace |url=https://www.randomlengthsnews.com/archives/2021/04/02/chris-pierces-american-silence-testifies-trauma-through-grace?v=7516fd43adaa |website=Random Lengths News |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref>
==Early life== Pierce is from Pasadena, California. He grew up singing in church and playing in bands from an early age and listened to classic soul, rhythm and blues, jazz, gospel and rock and roll recordings. When he was 15 he was diagnosed with otosclerosis which caused him to lose significant hearing.<ref name=":0">{{cite web |last1=Callwood |first1=Brett |date=2018-10-17 |title=Soul Singer Chris Pierce Is Undeterred By Hearing Loss |url=https://www.laweekly.com/soul-singer-chris-pierce-is-undeterred-by-hearing-loss/ |access-date=11 June 2021 |website=LA Weekly}}</ref> A surgery helped him regain 60% of his hearing in his right year. In his teenage years, he pursued acting and singing in local theater presentations and appeared on notable television shows such as ''Kids Incorporated'', ''Big Break'' hosted by Natalie Cole, ''Star Search'' and ''Half and Half''.<ref name=":0" />
While still in high school, Pierce began playing gigs with Grammy-nominated rock musician Jon Butcher.<ref name="Ruggieri">{{cite news |author=Ruggieri |first=Melissa |date=June 23, 2005 |title=The Fortunate One; Chance Encounter Leads Pierce to Tour with Seal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/richmond-times-dispatch-the-fortunate-on/171390816/ |accessdate=2025-04-30 |newspaper=Richmond Times-Dispatch |page=D11 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> After high school he received a scholarship to study jazz at USC. At 19 years old he performed on a US tour with Sonia Dada and later continued on to Moscow, Russia. After touring with Sonia Dada, Pierce came home to Southern California to work on his degree in jazz studies at USC.<ref name="Ruggieri"/> In 2005, Pierce met Seal at a house party and later joined him as his opening act on a world tour. Pierce says, "I kinda got discovered by him... That opened up a bunch of different things."<ref name=":0" />
==Career== For over 3 decades, Pierce has been recording and doing independent road tours. He has opened for Neil Young, B.B. King, Seal, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Jill Scott, Aaron Neville, Colbie Caillat, Al Green, Jamie Cullum, Toots & the Maytals, and Robert Cray. In 2021, Chris Pierce's cover of "No One" by Alicia Keys was featured on the ABC television series ''A Million Little Things'' and the single was released by Hollywood Records. Pierce also co-wrote the hit song "We Can Always Come Back to This" which was featured 3 times on the NBC drama ''This Is Us''. The song peaked at #1 on the ''Billboard'' Blues Chart and #12 on iTunes's Top 100.
His songs have also been featured in film and television including ''Crash'',<ref>Menconi, David (October 21, 2005). "Critic's picks: Rock", ''The News & Observer'', p. WUP19.</ref> ''Brothers and Sisters'', ''In Plain Sight'', ''True Blood'', ''Eli Stone'', ''What About Brian'', ''Lincoln Heights'', ''Army Wives'', ''North Shore'', ''Half and Half'', ''Dawson's Creek'', ''Sister Act'', ''Great Plains'' and ''The Long Shots'' starring Ice Cube. His single "Are You Beautiful" has been used in a national Banana Republic ad campaign.<ref name="Saitowitz">{{cite news|title=His music's got soul |author=Saitowitz, Paul |newspaper=The Press-Enterprise |date=November 16, 2006 |url=http://www.pe.com/entertainment/guide/stories/PE_Ent_Guide_D_chrispierce17.2037629.html |accessdate=2010-10-31 |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20101031082719/http://www.pe.com/entertainment/guide/stories/PE_Ent_Guide_D_chrispierce17.2037629.html |archivedate=October 31, 2010 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref>
[[File:Chris Pierce - Live at Mountain Winery - Saratoga, CA (2019).jpg|thumb|Chris Pierce performing at the Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California (2019)]]
==Reception== Critic Paul Saitowitz of ''The Press-Enterprise'' has compared Pierce's voice to Ray Charles, writing that it "fluctuates from delicate falsettos to shrieks reminiscent of Ray Charles".<ref name="Saitowitz"/> In a concert review, the ''San Antonio Express-News'' wrote that he has "one of the most powerful voices going."<ref>Beal, Jim Jr. (November 21, 2008). "Overnight: B. B. King", ''San Antonio Express-News'', p. A2.</ref>
Pierce's 2021 album, ''American Silence'' garnered critical acclaim from ''NPR'',<ref name="NPR Music">{{cite web |last1=Hilton |first1=Robin |title=New Music Friday: The Top 8 Albums Out On Feb. 26 |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/23/970558276/new-music-friday-the-top-8-albums-out-on-feb-26 |website=NPR Music |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> ''SiriusXM'', ''The Bluegrass Situation'',<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shelburne |first1=Craig |title=CHRIS PIERCE WRITES AN ANTHEM FOR THE YOUNG, BLACK, AND BEAUTIFUL |url=https://thebluegrasssituation.com/read/chris-pierce-writes-an-anthem-for-the-young-black-and-beautiful/ |website=The Bluegrass Situation |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> ''Acoustic Guitar'',<ref name="Acoustic Guitar">{{cite web |last1=Moran |first1=Pat |title=Album Review: Chris Pierce Writes Incisive Protest Songs for Today |url=https://acousticguitar.com/album-review-chris-pierce-writes-incisive-protest-songs-for-today/ |website=Acoustic Guitar |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> ''No Depression'',<ref name="No Depression">{{cite web |last1=Cholst |first1=Rachel |title=Chris Pierce Issues Powerful Statement about ‘American Silence’|url=https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/chris-pierce-issues-powerful-statement-about-american-silence/ |website=No Depression |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> ''Rolling Stone'',<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite web |last1=Freeman |first1=Jon |title=RS Country Music Picks for the Week of November 9th |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/rs-country-music-picks-donovan-woods-amy-ray-1087582/ |website=Rolling Stone Country |access-date=7 June 2021}}</ref> ''Americana UK''<ref name="Americana UK">{{cite web |last1=Fotheringham |first1=Alasdair |title=Chris Pierce “American Silence” |url=https://americana-uk.com/chris-pierce-american-silence |website=Americana UK |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref> and more for its strong racial justice themes. ''NPR'''s Robin Hilton said, "I haven't been so deeply, deeply moved by just a person and their guitar like this in a long time.”<ref name="NPR Music"/> ''Rolling Stone'' wrote, "''American Silence'' is the sound of everyone who's hungry for change, steadying themselves and marching toward a common goal."<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> ''No Depression'' noted the timelines of the album's release around the worldwide racial justice uprisings: "Chris Pierce's ''American Silence'' is one of those albums that truly feels like a lifetime in the making."<ref name="No Depression"/>
Additionally, his song "Keep On Keeping On" was chosen as KCRW's "Today's Top Tune" and he appeared on KCRW's "Morning Becomes Eclectic" with Nic Harcourt, who selected Pierce's album, ''Walking on the Earth'', as "Best Album of July 2008".<ref name="KCRW">{{cite web |last1=Harcourt |first1=Nic |title=MORNING BECOMES ECLECTIC Chris Pierce |url=https://www.kcrw.com/music/shows/morning-becomes-eclectic/chris-pierce |website=KCRW |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref>
==Personal life== Pierce currently resides in California. He married actress Tara Buck in 2012.
==Discography== * ''Liberation Vol. 1'' (2002) * ''Intimate Moments'' (2004) * ''Static Trampoline'' (2005) * ''Walking on the Earth'' (2007) * ''Chris Pierce Live at the Hotel Cafe'' (2009) * ''I Can Hear You'' (2011) * ''When the Hustle Comes to a Stop'' (2012) * ''Reverend Tall Tree'' (2015) * ''You've Got to Feel It!'' (2017) * ''American Silence'' (2021) * ''Let All Who Will'' (2023)
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website}} * {{Allmusic|class=artist|id=p736949|label=Chris Pierce}} * {{IMDb name|5134334}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pierce, Chris}} Category:Living people Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:American soul guitarists Category:American blues musicians Category:American folk musicians Category:Musicians from California Category:Year of birth missing (living people)