Tracy Ferrie is an American musician, who is the current bass player for the classic rock band

Boston Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

and is the former bass player of

Christian metal Christian metal, also known as white metal, Jesus metal, or heavenly metal, is heavy metal music distinguished by its Christian-themed song lyrics and the dedication of the band-members to Christianity. Christian metal is typically performed by ...

band

Stryper Stryper is an American Christian metal and heavy metal music, heavy metal band from La Mirada, California. The group's lineup consists of Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar), Oz Fox (guitar), Perry Richardson (bass), and Robert Sweet (musician), ...

Biography

Ferrie grew up in Northern

Indiana Indiana ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Michigan to the northwest, Michigan to the north and northeast, Ohio to the east, the Ohio River and Kentucky to the s ...

where he was encouraged by his high school band director to pursue music, leading him to study at

Berklee College of Music Berklee College of Music () is a Private university, private music college in Boston, Boston, Massachusetts. It is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known for the study of jazz and modern Music of the United ...

in the Music Production and Engineering deptartments. During his grade school days, Ferrie learned to play various instruments including tuba, guitar, upright bass, and percussion, but was requested to play electric bass by his band director. Bass quickly became Ferrie's main instrument and gained him many session gigs, live and in the studio. After two and a half years of studying at Berklee, Ferrie was attacked and mugged outside of Boston. After hospitalization and multiple surgeries, Ferrie moved back home to Indiana recover. He eventually moved to Hollywood and enrolled at

Musicians Institute Musicians Institute (MI) is a private for-profit music school in Los Angeles, California. MI students can earn Certificates and – with transfer of coursework taken at Los Angeles City College – Associate of Arts Degrees, as well as Bachelor ...

. While in Los Angeles he began taking jobs for recording sessions and performing live with bands and in videos, some of which were featured on MTV. Ferrie's first touring act across the south western United States was with the band Electrik. Ferrie's big break came from

Dez Dickerson Desmond D'andrea Dickerson (born August 7, 1955) is an American guitarist and singer who was a member of Prince's band, the Revolution. Life and career Dickerson was born in 1955 as Desmond D'andrea Dickerson, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. A v ...

, who played guitar for Prince's band The Revolution. Dickerson was able to get Ferrie an audition for the Christian metal band Whitecross, with whom he recorded two full albums and completed two world tours with. He also played and wrote for Whitecross's labelmate, Seraiah. Since 1996, Tracy played bass for

Michael Sweet Michael Harrison Sweet (born July 4, 1963) is an American musician; he is the co-founder, songwriter, guitarist and lead singer of the heavy metal music, metal band Stryper. He has also had a successful solo career and served as singer and gui ...

's solo band, Sally Steele,

Guardian Guardian usually refers to: * Legal guardian, a person with the authority and duty to care for the interests of another * ''The Guardian'', a British daily newspaper (The) Guardian(s) may also refer to: Places * Guardian, West Virginia, Unit ...

, Rebecca St. James, Plumb, Sonicflood, Greg Long and Strange Celebrity before joining

in 2004. He participated on stage in the Boston Strong Benefit along with

Aerosmith Aerosmith is an American Rock music, rock band formed in Boston in 1970. The group consists of lead vocalist Steven Tyler, bassist Tom Hamilton (musician), Tom Hamilton, drummer Joey Kramer, and guitarists Joe Perry (musician), Joe Perry and B ...

, J. Geils,

Jimmy Buffett James William Buffett (December 25, 1946 – September 1, 2023) was an American singer-songwriter, author, and businessman. He was known for his tropical rock sound and persona, which often portrayed a lifestyle described as "island escapis ...

Carole King Carole King Klein (born Carol Joan Klein; February 9, 1942) is an American singer-songwriter and musician renowned for her extensive contributions to popular music. She wrote or co-wrote 118 songs that charted on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billbo ...

and

James Taylor James Vernon Taylor (born March 12, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist. A six-time Grammy Award winner, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. Taylor achieved his breakthrough in 1970 with the single "Fi ...

. As a member of Stryper, Tracy was joined By

Tom Scholz Donald Thomas Scholz (born March 10, 1947) is an American musician. He is the founder, main songwriter, primary guitarist, keyboardist and only remaining original member of the rock band Boston. He has appeared on every Boston release. Scholz, a ...

and Gary Pihl to play " Peace of Mind" for

the Station nightclub fire A fire occurred on the evening of February 20, 2003, at The Station, a nightclub and music venue in West Warwick, Rhode Island, United States, killing 100 people and injuring 230. During a concert by the rock band Jack Russell's Great White, an ...

benefit for the families and victims of the tragic fire in Rhode Island. Some of his recording credits are with Stryper, Plumb, April McLean, Strange Celebrity, Whitecross, Jeff Deyo, Boe Braswell,

Kristy Starling Kristy Starling is a contemporary Christian music singing, singer, born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After marrying husband Adam Starling in late 2002, she came second in a national singing competition, ''Today's Superstar'', NBC News' morning sh ...

, Danielle Bollinger, Paul Alan, and

Kimberley Locke Kimberley Dawn Locke (born January 3, 1978) is an American singer and television personality. She has recorded in the dance and pop genres, and has targeted the adult contemporary radio format. She was the cohost of the daytime talk show ''Dr. ...

. Tracy is the Assistant Minister at Grace Church of East Dennis on

Cape Cod Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer months. The ...

. Ferrie has since left Stryper to join

, replacing

Kimberley Dahme Kimberley Dahme (born April 22, 1966) is an American rock/country musician who is best known as a former member of the rock band Boston. She played bass, rhythm guitar and provided vocals. Career Dahme became the first female member of Boston i ...

in mid-2012. Ferrie is also a national roller skating champion.

Discography

*1992: ''Seraiah'', Seraiah (bass and backing vocals) *1994: '' Unveiled'', Whitecross (bass and backing vocals) *1995: ''

Equilibrium Equilibrium may refer to: Film and television * ''Equilibrium'' (film), a 2002 science fiction film * '' The Story of Three Loves'', also known as ''Equilibrium'', a 1953 romantic anthology film * "Equilibrium" (''seaQuest 2032'') * ''Equilibr ...

'', Whitecross (bass and backing vocals) *2001: ''Becoming'', April McLean (bass) *2003: ''Remedy'', Strange Celebrity *2005: '' Reborn'',

(bass) *2006: '' Him'',

(bass) *2009: '' Murder by Pride'',

(bass) *2013: ''My Independence'', Erika Van Pelt (bass on "Walk Through The Storm")

References

External links

* American Christians American heavy metal bass guitarists American male bass guitarists Living people Year of birth missing (living people) People from Elkhart, Indiana American performers of Christian music American rock bass guitarists Boston (band) members Berklee College of Music alumni Guitarists from Indiana Stryper members 20th-century American bass guitarists {{US-bass-guitarist-stub