I first heard about singer-songwriter Pierce Pettis when another artist, Velma Fry, praised his work on a Prairie Home Companion radio show. I couldn’t tell you what year that aired. In the early 80's, Don Oja Dunaway played at our church coffeehouse and Sunday morning ser-

vice. He did St. Paul's Song (1Cor13), but I only just lately realized it was Pierce's song. I wrote my 1Cor13 paraphrase (The Greatest Gift) in 1984, just a few years after Pierce wrote his. In ensuing years, I’ve since seen Pierce live half a dozen times. I’ve admired his songwriting and perform-

ance skills (those dangerous alternate tunings!), I've followed and photo-

graphed him. A friendship developed. He has honored me by using my photos often in his promo materials.

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          I first saw Pierce play at Café Eleven in St. Augustine.

That was a long haul from

St. Pete for me, but my sister Lindy lived there across from

the beach in one of those stilt homes at the time, and it was a good chance to visit. I did that journey more than a couple of times, and she attended the concerts with me. I know we

saw the Claire Lynch Band,

Kelly Joe Phelps, David Wilcox, Don Dunaway, Michael Peter Smith. and Lis Williamson together. One concert was at Flagler College in the city.

2006

2007

          House concerts are a big part of Pierce Pettis's

itinerary. I believe this one

was in Tampa.

Pierce Pettis & David Wilcox at Café Eleven, 2008

Hideaway Café, 2012

2013

2014

Another Tampa House Concert, 2015

Hideaway Café, 2017

St. Petersburg, 2019

2020

2020 (top of page)

Pierce Pettis Posters I've Made

                  He was doing a show at Hideway Cafe in St. Pete, and since he had no recent pics that showed off his new beard and glasses, he asked me if I could do some studio shots. So he drove over to our condo and here’s what we did, present-

ed as a slide show. The song is his, " Love Will Always Find Its Way", a favorite of mine, used with permission.

Facebook Post, 2021