After growing up in Michigan and recording with his first band there,[2][3] Perry began performing his original songs and guitar compositions on the Venice Beach Boardwalk in 1973.

[10] In response, Perry became a named plaintiff in a class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Los Angeles Police Department and the ordinance.

[11] Perry and others initiated legal action in response, alleging that the combination of gentrification and the performance restriction ordinances threatened to destroy the atmosphere and commerce that made Venice Beach the social mecca for which it was famous.

Harry Perry had numerous cameo appearances in several films and television programs, such as: Fletch (1985), Dragnet (1987),White Men Can't Jump (1992) and its 2023 remake, Gift and Point of No Return (1993) - for which he also performed one song on the soundtrack[16] -, Marching out of Time (1993), Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny (2006) and Starstruck (2010), as well as the television shows CSI, Vengeance Unlimited, Heroes and In the Heat of The Night (episode "No Country Boy").

[17] He appeared in the music videos for Michael Nesmith's "Cruisin'", found on his 1981 Elephant parts DVD, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie" from their 2011 album I'm with You.