Jamie is known in the music and theater community for her distinctive soprano voice, and for the powerful live productions and recordings she creates. In her over forty years contributing to Chicago’s vibrant arts scene, she has made an indelible mark as performer, activist and producer. The creative projects she spearheads have lasting impact and cultural significance.
A Voice for the Soul of the City
As one of Chicago’s most beloved song stylists and ballad singers, Jamie performs as a concert soloist and in small ensembles. Jamie’s selection of material is at once surprising and intriguing, reflecting a range of life experience in the lyrics, and sophistication in its musical depth. Her current programs with pianist John Erickson feature lush songbird ballads, reminiscent of by-gone eras. There are romantic standards from the 1920s – 40s, sultry gypsy ballads, Celtic folksongs and parlor songs, Americana ballads, and original songs written for her.
Jamie began performing as early as age seven, often with her mother Winifred as coach and director, soon playing leads in musicals and singing solos at church in Crystal Lake, Illinois. She received a degree in Vocal Performance from DePaul University School of Music (1981). The art songs of Ireland became a specialty and led to her vocal debut at Orchestra Hall Chicago in the John McCormick Centenary Concert (1984.) Jamie was soon in demand as a featured soloist at cultural centers, concert halls, and at special events throughout the city and neighboring states. She was accompanied in concert by guitarist Peter Swenson, pianist Jeffrey Panko and others. As lead vocalist with the band Jamie O’Reilly and the Rogues (1982 – 1992), she appeared regularly in variety shows on radio, in festivals, and at folk music venues.
In the early ‘90s, her repertoire now expanded from Irish folk music and classical material, Jamie began researching and presenting thematic programs for cultural organizations: the Chicago Historical Society, Chicago Cultural Center, Irish American Heritage Center, Chicago Humanities Festival, Woodstock Opera House, Krasl Art Center and others. She sang new, original works by Wayland Rogers, Daniel Tucker, Paul Amandes and others.
Current Programs
In Old Chicago: Stories and Songs of a Beloved City
Tough Broads and Tender Lasses: Songs of Resilience
Voices of Old Chicago Legacy Project with a concert & talk
Gramma Jamie’s Children’s Storytime
Roots Salons, music and poetry events in intimate venues
Coming out of the worst of the pandemic, in 2021, Jamie produced the Roots in the Garden Series.
In 2022, she produced Tough Broads & Tender Lasses: Songs of Resilience. She hosted Gramma Jamie’s Storytime for Children at the Sweden Shop. Last fall brought an indoor Roots Salon Series to local treasure Tre Kronor Restaurant. 2023 is already proving to be a busy year for Jamie.
As A Voice for the Soul of the City, Jamie’s work includes essays, stories, poetry and memoir, and pieces further exploring the range of the artist’s voice in community. Jamie is known for her moving essays and creative writing on her Blog. Her frank and personal reflections focus on what inspires and challenges her as an artist and activist. And how we make our way in the rapidly shifting cultural landscape
Musical/Theatrical Programs about Chicago history are among Jamie’s specialties. She has created programs with historic themes including Irish American Vaudeville and Music Hall (Irish American Heritage Center), the 1893 World Columbian Exposition and Irish Pavilion
(for Smart Museum, Chicago Cultural Center), the Irish famine (Facing History), and Pasiones: Songs of the Spanish Civil War, the much celebrated folk cabaret, honoring the Abraham Lincoln Brigade.
Recordings and Radio
Among the stellar crop of musical collaborators with whom Jamie recorded are guitarist Peter Swenson, the late songwriter Michael Smith, cellist Bob Weber, violinist Stuart Rosenberg, and singer Anne Hills. Many of Jamie’s projects were recorded at the state-of-the art studio of WFMT Fine Art Radio, including her debut album I Know Where I’m Going, On the Banks of the Roses (with Jamie O’Reilly and the Rogues), and Pasiones: Songs of the Spanish Civil War (with Michael Smith and Katrina O’Reilly, recorded live.)
Jamie has appeared on WGN Radio with Rick Kogan (After Hours), WFMT’s Folkstage (4 times), The Midnight Special, and WNUR Folk Show. Appearing as a radio guest of the late oral historian and Pulitzer prize-winning author Studs Terkel is one of her most treasured memories.
Salonnière
Jamie O’Reilly’s Roots Salon began in 1993 with a performance series hosted by Jamie and brother Beau, answering the need of Chicago artists seeking an intimate venue. From 1993 – 2023 Jamie has been Salonnière of Roots Salon, hosting events first in her home and now at intimate venues in the Chicago area. Continuing a tradition begun by her creative O’Reilly relations at the turn of the last century, Jamie presented the finest performers, writers and artists. Roots events have include a summer music festival, artist exhibitions and talks, a master speaker series, and now monthly gatherings with a guest writers, exploring Humanities related themes. Currently Jamie hosts Salons as parlor concert at Tre Kronor Swedish Bistro in the the upstairs room. Read about the parlor tradition: https://www.jamieoreilly.com/2halcyon-daze-songs-in-the-parlor-jamie-revives-a-vocal-tradition/
For 25 years, a popular musical collaboration with award-winning songwriter Michael P. Smith added dozens of signature songs to her diverse musical catalog. Together she and Michael recorded 6 albums and a series of critically acclaimed shows, including Pasiones: Songs of the Spanish Civil War (sung in six languages), Hello Dali: From the Sublime to the Surreal (at Victory Gardens Theater), Songpainting (a further extension of Hello Dali) Songs of the Kerry Madwoman (a song cycle), The Gift of the Magi (an Americana ballet, later narrated by WGN Radio Host Rick Kogan). (See projects, recordings)
