Joe Perry
Perry in 2012, photo by Prphotos.com
Birth Name: Anthony Joseph Perry
Place of Birth: Lawrence, Massachusetts, U.S.
Date of Birth: September 10, 1950
Ethnicity:
*Madeiran Portuguese (father)
*Italian (mother)
Joe Perry is an American musician. He has been a guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for legendary rock band Aerosmith, of which he is a founding member. Steven Tyler is also a member of Aerosmith. He has also been a member of rock band The Joe Perry Project, and rock supergroup Hollywood Vampires, the latter with Alice Cooper and Johnny Depp.
Joe is the son of Mary (Ursillo) and Anthony Perry, Sr. His father is of Portuguese descent, originally from Madeira. His grandfather changed the family’s surname from Pereira to Perry upon arriving in the United States. His mother is of Italian descent, specifically Neapolitan.
Joe is married to Billie. He has a son with his former wife Elyssa Jerret; and two children with Billie.
Joe’s paternal grandparents likely were named José/Joseph Domingos Pereira/Perry and Maria/Mary Viera Pitta. They were Portuguese.
Joe’s maternal grandfather was Luigi/Louis John Ursillo (the son of Constantino Ursillo and Assunte “Susie” Sciacca). Luigi was born in Marzano Appio, Provincia di Caserta, Campania, Italy. Constantino was the son of Luigi “Louis” Ursillo.
Joe’s maternal grandmother was Anna P. Feole (the daughter of Gabriele Giuseppe Feole and Matilda Senzi). Anna was from Campania. Gabriele was born in Roccamonfina, Provincia di Caserta, Campania, the son of Giacomo Feole and Marianna Dilonardo.
Sources: Genealogy of Joe Perry – https://www.geni.com
Joe’s mother on the 1940 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org
is there some doubt about his paternal grandmother not being Portuguese?
I’m almost certain this is his father:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQPW-4G1
Both of his parents, Joseph Domingos Pereira and Maria Viera Pitta, are Portuguese.
You are 99% right.
The frequency of surname Pereira did not help.