Gene Perla was born and raised in New Jersey where he studied classical piano and trombone. After attending Berklee School of Music he moved to New York City to advance his musical career as a jazz bassist. He has performed and/or recorded with Chick Corea, Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Elvin Jones, Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra, Chuck Mangione, Joni Mitchell, Buddy Rich, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Stone Alliance, Sarah Vaughan, Nancy Wilson, and others. In the early 1970s he formed music publishing and record companies and his group Stone Alliance toured South America and Europe which gave him experience in management and booking. Other efforts include Broadway sound design (Tony Award for City of Angels) and recording studio operations. He is currently playing his basses, producing records, running an Internet design and hosting company, and teaching music business and other subjects at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music in New York City. His musical performance activities continue with Vik & Gene, The Lighthouse Project, and Good & Plenty Jazz.