A new CD chronicles the impressive work of late local musician and luthier Chris Pearne, who died in June at age 66. “Parting Words” includes a compilation of 13 songs recorded between 1967 and 2011. 

It’s a moving tribute to Pearne, who was known both as an expert craftsman and a skilled guitarist and songwriter. The CD demonstrates Pearne’s proclivity for writing and performing beautiful folk melodies and bluesy rock numbers.

It begins with “My Friend,” a soft, stirring tune with touching, poetic lyrics, recorded in 1967. The similarly evocative 1971 song “Trees” comes next, followed by several tracks that were recorded live at various gigs. One features Pearne bantering lightheartedly with the audience, and one was recorded at the Folkway club in Peterborough, where he long served as a soundman and emcee. 

Pearne moved to the Seacoast in the late 1980s and remained here until he passed away in June, repairing instruments at Gary’s Guitars and later at his own studio at the Button Factory. The CD documents this period beginning with “Silent Bells,” recorded in Kittery in 1992. Several more rocking tracks follow, all recorded in Portsmouth.

“I Followed you Home” and “Skinny’s Song” represent Pearne’s recording sessions with Jerry Tillet in Portsmouth. “The Last Word” is a piece from his band The Late Great Scott. The CD concludes fittingly with an earlier work called “Prophet Winds.” 

Long-time friend and collaborator Bob Halperin wrote the CD’s liner notes, with a brief outline of Pearne’s career and body of work. Halperin and several others gathered the material from numerous old tapes, digitizing and cleaning up the sound. 

Meanwhile, Scott Miller has acquired Pearne’s guitar tools and will put them to use at his Dover shop, Naked Guitar Repair. Pearne recently gave Miller his tools after receiving Miller's promise to take good care of local musicians and their strings. 

“Parting Words” is available at Port City Coffee Roasters and Gary’s Guitars in Portsmouth.