Bill's Bio
After
writing his first songs in high school on his cheesy blue electric
guitar from Sears, Bill Gawley began performing for the public in
1978. During the 1980s, he
spent nine years as half of the folk/rock duo Crimson Sky, and
performed as a soloist at many clubs and coffeehouses in Massachusetts
and Rhode Island. Gradually making his way up the coast of New England,
he spent 32 years in Brooksville, Maine where he became a fixture
in the coastal Maine music community. Bill moved back to southern RI in
early 2025 and is looking forward to sharing his songs with new
listeners!Audiences have enjoyed his shows at restaurants, coffeehouses, and numerous benefit concerts, community events, summer fairs, and music festivals from Maine to Idaho.
Bill's Music
Listening
to Bill Gawley perform is like settling in for a conversation with an
old friend. With the storytelling ability of Harry Chapin and wry humor
reminiscent of John Prine and Steve Goodman, Bill blends elements of
folk, rock, blues, country, and Americana to weave tales of dancers,
murder mysteries, lost (and new!) loves, snowy highways, and the
wonders of the world around us. Capturing perspectives ranging from
political to poignant, sensitive to sidesplitting, this classic
singer/songwriter coaxes listeners into thinking and understanding a
little more about themselves and learning to celebrate their time on
this planet we all share.Supporting his strong, distinctive vocals with a combination of fingerstyle and flatpicking guitar techniques and the occasional open tuning, Gawley has created a clean, efficient instrumental style that has drawn from influences as diverse as Jim Croce, James Taylor, Shawn Colvin, Cat Stevens, and Stephen Stills.