www.JERRYDIAZ.com

"I'd Rather Burn Than Fade Away"
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Download a printable version of the BIO for Jerry Diaz & Hanna's Reef by clicking HERE

Jerry Diaz is a songwriter, solo perfomer, and founder of the band "Hanna's Reef". The son of a merchant marine (R.L. Diaz) from the coast of Venezuela, and an artist (Irene Rivera) from Mexico, Diaz has both the nautical spirit and the gypsy flair running through his veins. Born and raised on the upper Texas coast, Jerry gives listeners a glimpse of the coastal lifestyle in just about every song he writes. From songs about Key West, Florida, to songs about New Orleans, and the Texas beach towns that he's grown up in, Diaz takes you on a musical journey of  boats, beaches, and bars.

As a songwriter, Diaz has accumulated quite a catalog of songs that have been enjoyed throughout the Gulf Coast, for the last several years. Jerry founded the band "Key West" in 1993, and performed with that band until April of 2002. During that time, Key West recorded three albums, which featured many Diaz originals. It is with Key West that Jerry developed his trademark high-energy "tropical" songwriting style that folks have come to know and love.

After leaving the band Key West, Diaz formed his current band, "Hanna's Reef", in July, 2002. Hanna's Reef features the songwriting of Diaz, including both familiar favorites from the earlier years, plus new compositions. Hanna's Reef recorded a live album in the summer of 2002 called "Reef Madness". The band released their first studio CD, "Deja View", in 2004.

In addition to songwriting, and playing lead guitar with Hanna's Reef, Jerry also performs regularly as a solo entertainer, and with other songwriters and musicians. In his solo performances, Diaz mixes a combination of original tunes, Jimmy Buffett favorites, and other "tropical" tunes. Jerry covers songs by well known artists, as well as songs by fellow Texans, and coastal songwriters. When Diaz performs solo, he does so with an acoustic guitar only (no backing tracks!)

Diaz has performed in several "songwriter's showcases", with fellow songwriters, and good friends. Some of the folks Jerry has performed with include Kelly McGuire, James "Sunny Jim" White, Larry Joe Taylor, Brent Burns, John Reno, David Waugh, Kelly Brown, Jim Hoehn, Sonny Russell, Gordon Price, Jerry Gontag, Jim Morris, Matt Hall, Hugo Duarte, Wes Loper, Eric Stone, Gene Mitchell, Robert Frith, Gary Seiler, Mark Mulligan, Don Burke, and Rick Steffen.