Bill Piekarski writes, sings, plays — and records it too
“I have always loved to do this, come up with ideas that aren’t patterned after anybody. I’m kind of a loner in that department. I want to do it the way I do it — push the envelope, you know.”
Bill Piekarski of International Falls is talking about his music — the songs he writes and the way he picks a guitar.
He recently produced a collection of his own songs — the lyrics and the melodies all written, sung and performed by himself (except for the percussion provided by Scott Askey).
In his own studio at home, Piekarski has produced “Thinking Out Loud,” a CD of 14 personal offerings.
Piekarski has been making music all his life. As a child, he taught himself to play guitar from a chord book and listening to old Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard songs. He’s been writing music since his late teens. His service in the U.S. Air Force in the late 1970s found him performing in two bands in Germany.
Piekarski then played in several Fargo bands before coming to Borderland in 1989. He said he learned some of his picking skills in North Dakota. “Pickers there are phenomenal,” he noted. If he singled out a strong influence, he added, it would be those guitarists. Piekarski also plays enough keyboard and bass “to get myself by.”
He has played in various area bands as well, including TimberLine and Country Knights. His group performances ended in 2002 with the decision to focus entirely on writing his own material and recording. Piekarski also works with the mentally disabled through the Mentor Network (previously REM North Star). “I never did quit my day job,” he said with a laugh.
Using the Cakewalk Sonar 7 computer system, his recording studio has also produced CDs for Pat Porter of the Falls. Instruction by Piekarski can be found in four videos by visiting www.youtube.com and then typing in “Bill Piekarski. There, the guitar player explains in detail some of his picking styles.
“I show some of the fancy stuff I’ve learned over the years,” he explained. “I’m constantly looking for new ways to approach things. And I’m getting hits on YouTube so people seem to appreciate it.”
Piekarski said he’s been pleasantly surprised by the diversity and range of ages in people who like his music, which is classified as country/Americana with an ethnic twist.
His personal favorites when it comes to contemporary country music artists are in the guitarist realm: Vince Gill, Brent Mason, and Albert Lee. His favorite singer picks are Gill, Haggard and Randy Travis. A standout song for Piekarski is Emmy Lou Harris’ “Luxury Liner.” She’s awesome,” he said, noting that the sound of singers like Dolly Parton are too plastic for him.
Piekarski has four children, two in college — Ashley in Wisconsin and Duane in Fargo; and in the Falls, Charity Piekarski and Jacob Peikarski.
Those who would like to purchase a CD or download Piekarski’s songs should go to Google and type in Bill Piekarski “Thinking Out Loud” for a selection of sites where the music is available. The CD is $15 at www.cdbaby.com. Digital downloads in mp3 format are available and pricing is variable.
Local purchases can be made by e-mailing Piekarski at bill_piekarski@hotmail.com.
Song titles on Bill Piekarski’s self-produced CD entitled “Thinking Out Loud” include:
•Your Angel
•Four Little Reasons
•I Hate This Song
•Gonna Love You Anyway
•A Boppin’ Thing
•How Do I Tell Them
•I’m Gone
•Knoffler, You’re My Hero
•My Dog Hates You
•I am an Alien
•My First Time
•Me and Russell
•Nail Scarred Hands
•Thinking Out Loud
