Rain Perry
Encyclopedia
Rain Perry is a folk-rock singer/songwriter. Her song "Beautiful Tree" was the theme song for the CW Network series Life Unexpected
. "Yosemite," her celebration of the pains of growing up, won the Grand Prize (Folk Division) in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest
and has been recorded by Tom Russell
and Nanci Griffith
. Her autobiographical one-woman, multi-media show Cinderblock Bookshelves is currently touring the country.
. She spent her early years in Los Angeles
and Redondo Beach
as a member of Bethel Tabernacle church. When her young mother died in 1974 (of, presumably, toxic shock syndrome
), Perry was raised by her father, writer/actor John Hazen Perry. They lived variously (and often precariously) in Marin County, southwestern Colorado
, and Los Angeles, before settling in Ojai, California, where she attended Nordhoff High School
, graduating in 1984. She married attorney Bill Slaughter in 1988 and graduated with high honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1995, with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She and her husband live in Ojai with their two daughters, Sarah and Stella.
When she was twenty-two, Perry was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
, which affects two million Americans, mostly women. She now works as an advocate for people with arthritis. In 2000, she produced "Agility: A Woman’s Music Festival to Benefit the Arthritis Foundation," featuring Julie Christensen
, Perla Batalla
, Victoria Williams
and Sara Hickman
.
The play “Cinderblock Bookshelves” evolved from her 2008 album of the same name and is a memoir of her counterculture
childhood, an ode to her imperfect, beloved family. The play's subtitle is "A Guide for Children of Fame-Obsessed Bohemian Nomads," and it had its world premiere at Theater 150 in Ojai, California, under the direction of Kim Maxwell, with Sasha Heslip producing.
) Finalist
▪ 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest
– Grand Prize (Folk Division)
▪ 2005 ROCKRGRL
Discoveries Award Grand Prize
Life Unexpected
Life Unexpected is an American television series that ran for two seasons, from 2010 to 2011.The show premiered on The CW on Monday, January 18, 2010. The 13-episode first season run ended on April 12, 2010...
. "Yosemite," her celebration of the pains of growing up, won the Grand Prize (Folk Division) in the 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
and has been recorded by Tom Russell
Tom Russell
Thomas George "Tom" Russell is an American singer-songwriter. Although most strongly identified with the Texas Country music tradition, his music also incorporates elements of folk, Tex-Mex, and the cowboy music of the American West. Many of his songs have been recorded by other artists, including...
and Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith, is an American singer, guitarist and songwriter from Austin, Texas.-Biography:...
. Her autobiographical one-woman, multi-media show Cinderblock Bookshelves is currently touring the country.
Biography
Rain Noel Perry was born in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
. She spent her early years in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach, California
Redondo Beach is one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 66,748 at the 2010 census, up from 63,261 at the 2000 census. The city is located in the South Bay region of the greater Los Angeles area.Redondo Beach was originally part of...
as a member of Bethel Tabernacle church. When her young mother died in 1974 (of, presumably, toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes...
), Perry was raised by her father, writer/actor John Hazen Perry. They lived variously (and often precariously) in Marin County, southwestern Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, and Los Angeles, before settling in Ojai, California, where she attended Nordhoff High School
Nordhoff High School
Nordhoff High School is the public high school serving Ojai, California and most of the surrounding communities within the Ojai Valley, with exception of the towns of Oak View and Casitas Springs, which are located within the boundaries of the Ventura Unified School District...
, graduating in 1984. She married attorney Bill Slaughter in 1988 and graduated with high honors from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1995, with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. She and her husband live in Ojai with their two daughters, Sarah and Stella.
When she was twenty-two, Perry was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, systemic inflammatory disorder that may affect many tissues and organs, but principally attacks synovial joints. The process produces an inflammatory response of the synovium secondary to hyperplasia of synovial cells, excess synovial fluid, and the development...
, which affects two million Americans, mostly women. She now works as an advocate for people with arthritis. In 2000, she produced "Agility: A Woman’s Music Festival to Benefit the Arthritis Foundation," featuring Julie Christensen
Julie Christensen
Julie Christensen is an American singer, born in Iowa and resident of Ojai, California. She has worked with musicians including Leonard Cohen, Todd Rundgren, Robben Ford, Iggy Pop, Public Image Limited, Van Dyke Parks, John Doe, Exene Cervenka, Steve Wynn and k.d. lang.From 1983 to 1987...
, Perla Batalla
Perla Batalla
Perla Batalla is a Mexican-American singer-songwriter.Grammy nominated vocalist, composer, and arranger Perla Batalla was born in Los Angeles, CA. Her father was a musician and record store owner. She first gained international attention as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen who later encouraged...
, Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams
Victoria Williams is an American singer-songwriter and musician, originally from Shreveport, Louisiana, although she has resided in Southern California throughout her musical career. She is noted for her descriptive songwriting talent, which she has used to immerse the listener of her songs into a...
and Sara Hickman
Sara Hickman
Sara Hickman is a rock/folk/pop/children's music singer, songwriter, and artist.-Biography:Hickman was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina. She grew up in Houston, Texas, where she attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts as a vocal major. In 1986, she graduated from the...
.
The play “Cinderblock Bookshelves” evolved from her 2008 album of the same name and is a memoir of her counterculture
Counterculture
Counterculture is a sociological term used to describe the values and norms of behavior of a cultural group, or subculture, that run counter to those of the social mainstream of the day, the cultural equivalent of political opposition. Counterculture can also be described as a group whose behavior...
childhood, an ode to her imperfect, beloved family. The play's subtitle is "A Guide for Children of Fame-Obsessed Bohemian Nomads," and it had its world premiere at Theater 150 in Ojai, California, under the direction of Kim Maxwell, with Sasha Heslip producing.
Music
Rain Perry has released two albums and a CD single on her own label, Precipitous Records, and is scheduled to release her third in late Spring 2010. She has been a guest performer on half a dozen albums by other musicians. Mark Hallman produced "Cinderblock Bookshelves" at the Congress House in Austin, Texas. The album placed #22 on the Euroamericana Chart in 2009.Awards
▪ 2000 Telluride Troubadour Competition (Telluride Bluegrass FestivalTelluride Bluegrass Festival
Telluride Bluegrass Festival is held annually in Telluride, Colorado by . Although traditionally the festival focuses on bluegrass music, it often features music from a variety of genres. In 1974, its first year, it attracted 1000 participants. Currently the festival's attendance is capped at 10,000...
) Finalist
▪ 2000 John Lennon Songwriting Contest
John Lennon Songwriting Contest
The John Lennon Songwriting Contest, named for the former member of The Beatles, is a songwriting competition for songwriters, open to amateurs and professionals. The contest accepts instrumental pieces as well as songs with a vocal component. Though all entries must include a CD, cassette, or...
– Grand Prize (Folk Division)
▪ 2005 ROCKRGRL
ROCKRGRL
ROCKRGRL was the first national publication for female musicians in the United States. Created by Carla DeSantis, the magazine purely focused on women in music and highlighted the artistic diversity of women musicians, often overlooked in mainstream culture...
Discoveries Award Grand Prize
Discography
- Balance (2000)
- Wide Awake (CD Single) (2001)
- Cinderblock Bookshelves (2008)
- Internal Combustion (due 2010)