Tracey
Singer/Songwriter
Tracey Coryell was born Tracey Lynn Piergross on June 6, 1970 in Riverside, New Jersey, a small town across the Delaware River from Philadelphia. She began songwriting at the age of 13. Her original music is a combination of styles like pop, rock, r&b, country, folk with a peppering of jazz. She also writes short stories and musicals for the young adult age group. To date, Tracey has written and owns over 100 original songs in various styles of music, one musical and 30 short stories.
Some of her musical influences have been singer/songwriters like Colin Hay and Sara McLachlan. Although Tracey built her musical foundation from the pop/rock and R&B scenes, she also contributes her love and deep appreciation for jazz and classical music to her creativity as well.
In the studio, Tracey has had the pleasure of working with some very talented and well known music industry pros like Grammy Award Winning studio engineers Ron & Howard Albert (Derek & The Dominoes, Firefall, Crosby Stills & Nash), Steve Alaimo (TK Records President/ KC & The Sunshine Band) her husband Larry Coryell (renowned Jazz Guitarist), to name a few. (1989 - present)
Her performances have taken her around the globe to Europe, Asia, British Isles, Canada, the Caribbean, and all over the continental United States. She has a wide variety of fans from all over the world from ages 5 and up. Most of Tracey’s recent performances (2005 - 2009) were guest vocal spots with her husband Larry Coryell and his bands. She has shared the stage with great musicians such as Alphonse Mouzon, Jorma Kaukonen (Jefferson Airplane), Victor Bailey(Weather Report), GE Smith (Saturday Night Live Band), Paul Wertico(Pat Metheny), Mark Egan(Pat Metheny), Bernard ‘pretty’ Purdie and Jeff Berlin.
Tracey’s voice has been heard on radio stations around the world, from Istanbul, Turkey to Seoul, Korea. National radio stations and college stations have been spinning her duet remake of the Tracy Chapman song “Gimme One Reason” from Larry Coryell’s “Live In Seattle” CD.
Tracey considers herself first and foremost a singer/songwriter; a vocalist with a touch of acoustic guitar playing. Live, Tracey accompanies herself on guitar (when the song calls for it) and, when required by the music, she’s usually accompanied by a second guitarist or bassist. For larger venues, she takes a rhythm section (bass/drums) plus some keyboards.
Tracey has been studying percussion with ex-Pat Metheny stalwart Paul Wertico and under his tutelage she has honed her drumming and percussion skills to the max; she always had a great time-feeling (listen to her rhythm guitar work) and now she couples that inherent natural pulse with new techniques and ideas.