BIO JAMIE O’REILLY, VOCALIST

A strong force in the Chicago area arts arena for over 25 years, Jamie is a critically
acclaimed vocalist, writer, cultural arts producer, and lifelong social justice activist.
Jamie sings songs gathered from over a lifetime of making music and theater. With many recordings to her credit, she is one of Chicago's premiere song stylists, known for her distinctive vocal style, the lilting cry in her voice, and powerful interpretations of ballads and songs for the stage. She performs songs ranging from folksongs - Celtic and traditional songs - to songs of vaudeville, old-world lullabies, waltzes and fiery numbers for the cabaret. Jamie is the vocalist with Jamie O'Reilly Trio, with Michael Smith (guitar) and Bob Weber (cello). This folk/chamber ensemble material includes one-of-a kind pieces penned for Jamie by Michael Smith, (with her lyrics on occasion)

Born in Crystal Lake, Il, Jamie O’Reilly is from a family of performers, and began her
performance career at the age of 9. Jamie has a B.M. from DePaul University School of
Music. In the mid 1980s, Jamie made her name as an Irish ballad singer. She also went
on the road – with her children in tow- in a musical on the right to work – performing in
13 states, from Michigan to Texas. Her first professional ensemble was the celebrated
Irish folk band Jamie O'Reilly & the Rogues, with violinist Stuart Rosenberg (SPACE),
Tom Amandes (Everwood), bassist John Floeter, and guitarists Paul Amandes and Peter Swenson.

She is the owner of J. O'Reilly Productions, a cultural arts and PR agency in Chicago,
and a registered arts consultant with the IL Arts Council. Jamie is Creative Director of
Women’s Media Group Chicago, and produces the radio show The Feminist Lens.
She began an expansive collaboration with singer/songwriter Michael Smith in 1994,
creating folk cabarets and recordings including Pasiones: Songs of the Spanish Civil War, Scarlet Confessions, (with Anne Hills and Paul Amandes) The Gift Of The Magi, Songs of the Kerry Madwoman and Hello Dali: From the Sublime to the Surreal, (which
received two After Dark Awards, during Victory Gardens Theater's Tony-winning
season). Their current collaboration Songpainting (a musical cousin to ‘Dali’) is a
musical collaboration between visual artists and songwriters.

Jamie hosts the Roots Salon, showing poetry, music, theater and art at her home in
Ravenswood. Hear and see more of Jamie at www.myspace.com/jamieoreillymusic

Some of Jamie’s Appearances Include:
SPACE: Evanston, Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago,
WFMT Folkstage, World Folk Music Company: Beverly, Chicago Cultural Center,
FitzGerald's, The Old Town School of Folk Music, Davenport’s, ACME Arts Center:
Wicker Park, Center Portion Salon: Logan Square, Acoustic Renaissance Concerts:
Hinsdale Bistro in River North, Charlie’s, Wilmette, Bill’s Blues, Evanston, Royal Oak
Pub/Rock River Friends of Folk, Rockford, Woodstock Folk Festival, Woodstock Opera
House,, Raue Center for the Arts: Crystal Lake, Friendship Concerts: Arlington Heights,
Chicago Humanities Festivals: Roosevelt University-Ganz Hall, Chicago History