BIL HOPKINS – bass guitar and vocals. In 1977, Bil joined his first Colorado band called Chautauqua. He spent two years touring the Rocky Mountain region before taking an all-original musical group to New Jersey where they opened for Pousette Dart Band, New Riders of the Purple Sage, and Pure Prairie League. He returned to Colorado in 1980 and joined The Chutney Brothers, the first band to record at the well-known Coop Studios in Boulder. In 1983, Ken Andrus & Tommy Sayers invited him to join LOA (Leave of Absense). In 1987, Bil joined Jock Bartley and Firefall with which he still plays today. He has recorded two CDs with Firefall, one of which includes a song written by Bil called, “Say It’s Over.”
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JIMMY MANIRE – Lead and rhythm guitar; vocals. Jimmy brought a Memphis influence to Pearl. A long time Boulder musician, Jimmy played with Gretchen Peters and Prairie Fire and recorded at North Star Studios with Judy Rudin. Jimmy is and has always been an avid and talented songwriter. Before joining Pearl, Jimmy received a degree in English Literature from Yale University. After his years in Pearl, he attended C.U. Boulder where he earned an MBA. Jimmy is an independent financial advisor in Parker, Colorado and the owner of James Capital Advisors.
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CHIP McCARTHY - Lead and rhythm guitar; vocals. Chip grew up in New Jersey and has been playing in popular local rock and roll bands from the age of twelve. A "graduate" of Berklee College of Music, Chip plays acoustic and electric guitar, bass, a host of other stringed and wind instruments, keyboards, synthesizers and drums. Chip is now the owner of Accentual Audio Productions recording studio in Louisville, Colorado, where he conceives and produces music for almost any application. He is an accomplished songwriter and currently plays lead guitar and sings with the The Legendary 4-Nikators.
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CRAIG SKINNER – Lead vocals, keyboards and rhythm guitar. Craig and Jimmy met in Boulder in the mid-seventies when they were selling camping equipment at The Quartermaster. They started playing together at The Utah Moon and were applauded in many living rooms throughout the city. Craig also played with Gretchen Peters in a country band. He played at Molly’s Back Room, The Walrus and McCabe’s before he started Pearl in the late 70s. Craig was the lead singer of Pearl and still devotes much of his time to singing and writing music. After his Pearl years, Craig received a B.A. in English Literature from C.U. Boulder, went to law school at D.U. and is now a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer in Denver.
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MICHAEL WOOTEN – drums. In 1970, Michael joined Zephyr and recorded an album with a very young Jock Bartley. He later played with Slumgullion and worked with Chris Hillman, Jock Bartley, Mark Andes, Larry Burnett and Rick Roberts in a band that would be known as Firefall. Michael then joined Navarro, one of Boulder’s most important bands, recording two albums. Navarro went on to play on three of Carol King’s albums. Michael also played drums on an album with Richard Torrance, Rosemary Butler and Mark Andes and when in Austin, Texas, did studio work with Al Kooper. He later returned to Colorado and joined Leftover Salmon with which he recorded three CDs and toured all over the country.
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In the early 1980s, when the Boulder music scene was mostly comprised of acoustic mountain music, Pearl’s unique sound afforded an inspirational and rousing change. As one of Boulder’s first new wave bands, Pearl played both original and cover material reminiscent of Dire Straits, Talking Heads and 1960s British Invasion. Pearl’s pure rock and roll guitar sound and outstanding vocal harmonies set it apart from all other Boulder and Colorado bands.
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For years, Pearl played regularly to sold-out rooms at The Blue Note, Molly’s Back Room, The Boulder Theater, The Boulderado, The Arapahoe Ranch, Tulagi’s and venues all over Colorado. Pearl played with national bands like Quarterflash, The Outlaws and The Producers as well as local bands like The Transistors, The Blitz Girls and The Kamikaze Klones.
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The five-piece band, in their skinny ties and Capezio shoes, played a pivotal role in Boulder’s rich musical history. In the early eighties, music lovers and music critics hailed Pearl as Boulder’s best rock and roll band.
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Today, Pearl is back together. Pearl played together for the first time in many years in August 2006 and to many sold-out crowds since.
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PEARL never sounded so good!
Warming up for St. Patrick's Day! Stop by our site and check our March schedule for a gig near you. Hope to see you at a show. Enjoy our new video "Whiskey Tonight" and stop by our site for a FREE download of the new song. Cheers!
hey guys i really dig your sound. Coupe is awesome, we recorded there a few months ago and it was definitely worth it. peace out, keep rock alive. -Luke, SwE
C'est la rentrée pour les Matrones dans les caveaux parisiens...! Rencard JEUDI 25 SEPTEMBRE 20h30 à La cave se rebiffe (6 rue François-Charles Dupuis, M° République). Come on bébé, ça va être rock'n'roll.
