Gritty blues and soulful ballads [performed with] absolute authority…Chris O’Leary rocks relentlessly with assurance and a clear sense of passion and purpose. He is a potent tour-de-force. — Living Blues

Devastatingly soulful vocalist, dynamic harmonica master and superlative songwriter Chris O’Leary is among the blues and roots world’s most talented unsung heroes. The award-winning O’Leary — disciple and friend of both The Band’s legendary Levon Helm and iconic blues harmonica giant James Cotton — has been playing professionally since the 1990s, with five solo albums to his credit. The Marine veteran, ex-Federal police officer, former lead singer of The Barn Burners (featuring Levon Helm on drums) and loving father has walked a hard line from his upstate New York home to stages all over the world.

O’Leary’s astonishingly honest material, fierce harmonica work and torrid vocals stun his listeners to attention and bring live audiences to their feet, all while making a lasting, personal connection. No Depression magazine says, “O’Leary’s voice contains startling emotion…reaching an intensity and emotional rawness [that’s] primal. The performances practically vibrate with an authenticity that stays with you.”

On his Alligator Records debut, The Hard Line (January 2024), O’Leary set his sights high and created what he says is, “the best work I’ve ever done. It’s the most focused, most to-the-point album I’ve ever made.” The deeply personal “I Cry At Night” is the emotional centerpiece of the album, drawn from the singer’s own personal experiences. It’s a wrenching performance, and one that O’Leary hopes will resonate with both soldiers and civilians. “I write and sing what I know,” says the seven-year U.S. Marine combat veteran. “And as long as I have a platform, I’m always going to use it to shed light and raise awareness about the realities our veterans face.”