Last year, musicians Marty O’Reilly, Chris Lynch and Jeff Kissell all quit their day jobs. They collectively decided to pursue music full time after joining a 6-week tour throughout Europe that included 28 shows in 35 days. By combining a passion for Delta Blues, American Folk and Gospel, the band hopes to capture the authenticity and energy of a live performance in their recordings.
All three members met in Santa Cruz, California and began playing together at various coffee shops around town. Lead singer Marty O’Reilly grew up playing a lot of jazz and classical music. After accidentally downloading a recording by “Blind” Willie Johnson, he fell in love with gospel music and the blues. The group considers themselves a very live-oriented band that thrives off of crowds and the ability to improvise onstage.
Marty O’Reilly & The Old Soul Orchestra debuted their album “Pray For Rain” in 2014 and currently have several upcoming shows scheduled for this year.