Perched firmly atop the Americana / folk / blues summit, singer-songwriter Cletis Carr knows a good yarn. Draped in a rich tapestry of acoustic steel-string and resonator guitars, his story-songs play out like mini-movies.

Raised in the USA, Carr first tasted success with his 1980 new wave band Sneakers, which launched a solo career that's taken him all over the planet and has seen nine solo releases and numerous band projects.

Over the years, he's toured and shared stages with the likes of Tom Petty, John Mellencamp, Elvis Costello, Joan Jett, and Nick Lowe, just to name a few. An intended brief vacation in Australia found Carr performing with members of AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, the Easybeats, and the Saints. He toured with blues heroes, Bondi Cigars, and his bands Big Whiskey and Hillbilly Moon were both met with considerable critical acclaim.

In the 90's, he was offered a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell music, and moved behind the scenes as an award-winning writer and producer for new and emerging artists. He moved to Nashville in the late 90's, co-writing as well as performing at legendary venues as the Bluebird Cafe, Douglas Corner and the Broken Spoke before returning to Australia in 2001 for a promo stint with leading Aussie label Liberation Music.

As a songwriter, he's has over 100 compositions commercially released worldwide, dozens of covers by other writers, and tracks on international film and television. His most notable cut, What About You, won a 2003 ABC Music award, and was the closing credits song in the hit film, Danny Deckchair, which starred Miranda Otto and Rhys Ifans.

Like so many others, the pandemic saw Cletis back in his home studio, writing and recording. 2021 ended up being a very productive year, with tracks on several compilation albums, and an EP of all new songs, Lurid Casino Of Existence. In 2022, an EP was released with the lead single, Hard Working People, plus rarities, remixes, and live tracks. 2023 will see a full length blues-rock album, a reunion with his former all-star band, Hillbilly Moon, a new Blues Pirates set, and a return to the international festival circuit.

Cletis Carr bases himself in both Sydney, Australia, and Nashville, Tennessee. He tries to collect Australian wines, but they never seem to stay in the rack very long.