Artist InformationBiography
ALLAN BYER - CENTRAL OREGON’S EVERYMAN SINGER/SONGWRITER
It’s heartening to encounter an Artist that takes his role in the world, his voice and his vision, seriously, who dares to imagine that art can matter in the unglamorous world of everyday survival, and that the every day world bears artistic expression. One such artist is Central Oregon singer/songwriter guitarist Allan Byer.
For over 25 years Byer has crafted his songs of love, wonder, pain and hope with power and eloquence. He can comment on the spiritual search or poke fun at fast food or political injustice with equal ability. Always grounded in compassion for the human condition, at his best, Byer reflects back to us our own struggles to envision the world as it could be. At the core of his work is a profound reverence for life and the gifts of this world. He explores the possibility of seeing the world as it is and not losing heart.
His latest album, “Money Talks Too Much,” does just that with 17 finely crafted songs speaking about the world as it is while offering a vision of what it could be. Dean Prescott, Mirror Time Records, produced the album and plays lead guitar and percussion behind Byer. Ed “the whistler” Sharlet adds his unique skills whistling and singing harmonies. Kim Lakehomer adds tasteful flute and penny whistle on five cuts, and Byer’s daughter Halla makes her professional debut singing on two songs. while long-time partner Matt Engle adds lead guitar on “Falling Down.” Selections from this album can be found on internet radio stations: www.mediapositiveradio.com and www.positivemusicassociation.com POZ radio. This is a rootsy all acoustic album.
REVIEWS
Bend’s Source calls his music “an eclectic mix of rootsy instrumentation and harmonies that breaths fresh air with wide-reaching inspirations.“ The Redmond Spokesman says, “Allan Byer is an incredibly talented singer/songwriter who plays a smokin’ guitar.” The Source later says, “Local groover Byer delights listeners with his refreshingly original acoustic folk rock sounds.” The Bend Bugle says, “Allan Byer and his group provide a night full of originality and character.” Bend Bulletin’s Andy Whipple says of Byer‘s debut cd, “He delivers a pleasant surprise. It’s a declaration of faith and self-confidence, proving up on the optimistic claim staked out in the title (“Sometimes It Works“).
STYLES
BYER TOUCHES ALL THE BASES WITH A LITTLE BIT OF BLUES, FOLK, COUNTRY, ROCK, AND JAZZ.
VENUES
Byer has played over 100 gigs each year since 2000 as a solo act (on guitar, harmonica, and vocals),
in Duo with Doc Sackman on flute, hot-licks guitar player Matt Engle, bassman Hal Worcester, or “Ed the Whistler” or as a Trio with Worcester and new comer Jamie Morris on electric guitars. Venues played include many of Central Oregon‘s most popular clubs and restaurants as well as major Fairs and Festivals including Bend’s Summer, Fall, and Winter Music Festivals, the Deschutes and Crook County Fairs, Concerts on the Green, Conscious Living Expos, the Collage of Culture, Sun River’s “Music in the Village” and Cafe Libri concert series, and the Sisters Folk Festival. He’s taken his music on the road to the University of Portland, WOSU, Cafe Paradiso and the Eugene Saturday Mkt. (in Eugene), the Beaneries in Corvallis and Eugene, Riddle’s Sawdust Jubilee Fest, Cottage Grove’s Bohemia Days, and clubs in the Tillamook area.
AWARDS & AIR-PLAY
Byer recently had seven songs in the top ten at "http://www.positivemusicradio.com", an internet radio station w/ "Never Give Up" at #1 for 8 months. Byer has been the featured guest on Bend’s KLRR 101.7 FM Homegrown Music Showcase many times since Aug. ’99 and has had several songs played on that station regularly. In Eugene, he has garnered air-play on KLCC’s folk music shows and “Blues Power” and been featured on the Q104 in The Dalles. He’s also appeared on COTV’s Good Morning Central Oregon many times since he debuted the weekly music feature in Aug. 2003. Bend's newest station, KPOV, features him on Saturdays regularly.
Byer has won 17 Song of the Month awards as part of Central Oregon Songwriters Association and took a “Folk Song of the Year Awards” with his song “Storm” in 2001 and “Song of the Nations“ in 2003. His debut cd “Sometimes It Works’ was produced at MirrorTime Records in Prineville and released in Jan. 2000. His second cd, “Your Voice,” produced at Musi-Tech Studios in Redmond, , was released on the Mirror Time Records label in Jan. of 2004. His current cd, “Money Talks Too Much,” was released in Oct. of 2005.
MUSICAL INFLUENCES & HEROES
ARTIS THE SPOONMAN, BRUCE COCKBURN, JACKSON BROWNE, DEAN PRESCOTT, AND THE SUBSTITUTES.
Instrumentation
Allan Byer - Vocals, Acoustic Guitars, harmonicas
Hal Worcester - bass and harmony vocals
Jamie Morris - electric guitars, keyboards, sax
Ed "the whistler" Sharlet - lead and background whistles, spoons, percussion, synth auto-harp
Matt Engle - electric and acoustic guitars, bass, piano
Kevin Lewis - drums
Kim Lakerhomer or Doc Sackman - flute and sax
Discography
Sometimes It Works - Jan. 2000
Your Voice - Feb. 2004
Money Talks Too Much - Oct. 2005
All records released on Mirror Time Records label.
Several cuts played on radio stations: KLRR 101.7 FM in Bend, KLCC public radio in Eugene, Q 104 FM in The Dalles, KPOV in Bend; internet radio stations: POZ radio at the Positive Music Association website radio, www.mediapositiveradio.com, and others. Had #1 song in country for 6 months at www.positivemusicradio.com in 2004 with 7 songs in the top ten for a three month stretch end of 2004.
Links
| http://www.allanbyer.com |
| Allan Byer Main website |
| my space |
| Sixty Second Hero India website |
| cdbaby Your Voice site |
| cd baby Money Talks site |