Alan Paul (author)
Encyclopedia
Alan Robert Paul is an award-winning journalist, author, musician and blogger.
. He was subsequently raised in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
, graduating from Taylor Allderdice High School
in 1984.
While attending the University of Michigan
, working for The Michigan Daily student newspaper, he met his future wife, fellow journalist Rebecca Blumenstein. Paul worked a variety of positions at the Daily, including Arts Editor, Weekend Magazine Editor and columnist, writing under the pseudonym “Fat Al". Paul worked at the Hudson Reporter
in Hoboken, NJ for one year after graduating in 1988. Upon Blumenstein's graduation in 1989, the couple moved to Tampa Bay, Florida to begin their professional careers. Paul became a stringer
at the St. Petersburg Times
.
In 1990, while writing a feature on the reunion of the Allman Brothers Band for Pulse! Magazine
, he met and befriended many key members of the ABB family, including Gregg Allman
, Dickey Betts
, Warren Haynes
, Allen Woody
, Tom Dowd
, and Phil Walden
. This article was a precursor to his hiring by Guitar World Magazine
as Managing Editor in 1991.
Working with Editor-in-Chief Brad Tolinski
, Paul transformed Guitar World from a third-ranked musical trade into a best-seller magazine within one year of taking over management. Guitar World still holds that position today, nearly twenty years later.
The couple would then move to Detroit, Michigan
in 1996, when Blumenstein was hired by the Detroit Bureau of the Wall Street Journal. Paul stepped down into a senior writer position, also handling Online Editor duties, and began branching out more, writing for diverse publications such as SLAM Magazine
, The New Yorker
, People
, and Entertainment Weekly
.
In 1998, the couple settled in Maplewood, New Jersey
as they celebrated the birth of their first child, Jacob. Both continued to develop their writing careers as they welcomed son Eli in 2000 and daughter Anna in 2003.
Bureau Chief position with the WSJ. As the family settled into The Riviera residential development (located in Beijing
's Chaoyang District
), Paul became a trailing spouse
, yet the family was able to afford two daily domestic workers. This combination of factors afforded Paul a new-found sense of freedom and time, allowing him to eventually start two online writing endeavors- his personal Alan Paul in China blog and The Expat Life column for the WSJ.com. In addition to the great expansion of writing he was undertaking, he decided to begin making more music for himself.
Woody Allen
. By September, the group had added bassist Zhang Yong and drummer Lu Wei (drummer).
In May 2008, Woodie Alan was named Beijing Band of the Year in City Weekend Magazine's
readers poll.
Building off their momentum, the group began recording sessions for an album that would eventually be released in June 2008 as Beijing Blues.
Beach Festival for more than 5,000 people. Their performance was recorded and later broadcast throughout the Fujian Province on television to more than 44 million people. They then traveled to Changsha, where they appeared live on three radio shows as well as performed live.
In November, they toured Nanjing
, Suzhou
, and Hangzhou
, at which they performed at the Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival
in front of nearly 2,000 spectators. But, as momentum was building, Blumenstein's expatriate assignment ended in December, and the family moved back to their home in Maplewood.
for Big in China: My Unlikely Adventures Raising a Family, Playing the Blues, and Becoming a Star in Beijing, his memoir about his family's nearly four years spent in Beijing.
's Montecito Pictures
to start development for a cinematic adaptation of the work.
's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
, a parenting memoir that describes Chua's personal approach to parenting, which had been criticized as being extreme.
As his essay gained momentum, Paul was interviewed on The Today Show
by host Matt Lauer
on April 6, 2011.
, People
, Entertainment Weekly
, Sports Illustrated
, and others.
, SI.com and Rolling Stone Online, as well as other sites.
King,), A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan (1997)
Biography
Paul was born September 7, 1966 in Anchorage, AlaskaAnchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. He was subsequently raised in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
, graduating from Taylor Allderdice High School
Taylor Allderdice High School
Taylor Allderdice High School, also referred to by the Pittsburgh Public Schools as “Pittsburgh Allderdice” or informally by students as "Dice", is a public high school located in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh’s East End. Allderdice is the "largest of the Pittsburgh Public Schools'...
in 1984.
While attending the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
, working for The Michigan Daily student newspaper, he met his future wife, fellow journalist Rebecca Blumenstein. Paul worked a variety of positions at the Daily, including Arts Editor, Weekend Magazine Editor and columnist, writing under the pseudonym “Fat Al". Paul worked at the Hudson Reporter
Hudson Reporter
The Hudson Reporter Assoc., L.P. is a newspaper chain based in Hoboken, New Jersey. It is the only weekly newspaper chain in Hudson County, and one of only two newspaper companies in this busy metropolitan area. The Hudson Reporter publications focus on local politics and community news. In...
in Hoboken, NJ for one year after graduating in 1988. Upon Blumenstein's graduation in 1989, the couple moved to Tampa Bay, Florida to begin their professional careers. Paul became a stringer
Stringer (journalism)
In journalism, a stringer is a type of freelance journalist or photographer who contributes reports or photos to a news organization on an ongoing basis but is paid individually for each piece of published or broadcast work....
at the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
.
In 1990, while writing a feature on the reunion of the Allman Brothers Band for Pulse! Magazine
Pulse!
Pulse! was a tabloid magazine published by Tower Records which contained record reviews, interviews and advertising. Initially, it was given away free in their stores to promote their record sales. After nine years, in 1992, the magazine began national distribution with a cover price of $2.95,...
, he met and befriended many key members of the ABB family, including Gregg Allman
Gregg Allman
Gregory Lenoir Allman , known as Gregg Allman, is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia...
, Dickey Betts
Dickey Betts
Forrest Richard "Dickey" Betts is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter, and composer best known as a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and also won with the band a best rock performance Grammy Award for his...
, Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes
Warren Haynes is an American rock and blues guitarist, vocalist and songwriter. Haynes is best known for his work as long time guitarist with The Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov't Mule. Early in his career he was a guitarist for David Allan Coe and The Dickey...
, Allen Woody
Allen Woody
Douglas Allen Woody was bass guitarist best known for his tenure in the rock groups The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule, The Artimus Pyle Band, The Peter Criss Band, Blue Floyd, and Montage.-Biography:...
, Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd
Tom Dowd was an American recording engineer and producer for Atlantic Records. He was credited with innovating the multi-track recording method. Dowd worked on a virtual "who's who" of recordings that encompassed blues, jazz, pop, rock and soul records.- Early years :Born in Manhattan, Dowd grew...
, and Phil Walden
Phil Walden
Phil Walden was co-founder of the Macon, Georgia-based Capricorn Records with his younger brother Alan Walden and a good friend and former Atlantic Records executive, Frank Fenter....
. This article was a precursor to his hiring by Guitar World Magazine
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
as Managing Editor in 1991.
Working with Editor-in-Chief Brad Tolinski
Brad Tolinski
Brad Tolinski is the Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World Magazine . He also serves as Editorial Director of Future US’s music division, which also includes Guitar Aficionado and Revolver.- Early career :...
, Paul transformed Guitar World from a third-ranked musical trade into a best-seller magazine within one year of taking over management. Guitar World still holds that position today, nearly twenty years later.
The couple would then move to Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
in 1996, when Blumenstein was hired by the Detroit Bureau of the Wall Street Journal. Paul stepped down into a senior writer position, also handling Online Editor duties, and began branching out more, writing for diverse publications such as SLAM Magazine
SLAM Magazine
SLAM Magazine is an American basketball magazine in circulation since 1994, published by Source Interlink. SLAM publishes nine issues a year to its circulation of over 500,000 readers worldwide.-History:...
, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
, and Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
.
In 1998, the couple settled in Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood, New Jersey
Maplewood is a township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 23,867.-History:...
as they celebrated the birth of their first child, Jacob. Both continued to develop their writing careers as they welcomed son Eli in 2000 and daughter Anna in 2003.
Beijing expatriation
It was from Maplewood that the Paul-Blumenstein family left in 2005, when Rebecca accepted the ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
Bureau Chief position with the WSJ. As the family settled into The Riviera residential development (located in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
's Chaoyang District
Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chaoyang District is a district of Beijing, China.Chaoyang is home to the majority of Beijing's many foreign embassies, the well-known Sanlitun bar street, as well as Beijing's growing CBD. The Olympic Park, built for the 2008 Summer Olympics, is also in Chaoyang...
), Paul became a trailing spouse
Trailing spouse
The term trailing spouse is used to describe a person who follows his or her life partner to another city because of a work assignment. The term is often associated with people involved in an expatriate assignment but is also used by academia on domestic assignments.The earliest citation of the...
, yet the family was able to afford two daily domestic workers. This combination of factors afforded Paul a new-found sense of freedom and time, allowing him to eventually start two online writing endeavors- his personal Alan Paul in China blog and The Expat Life column for the WSJ.com. In addition to the great expansion of writing he was undertaking, he decided to begin making more music for himself.
Woodie Alan and Beijing Blues
By March 2007, Paul had already held his first jam session with saxophonist (and US Diplomat) Dave Loevinger and guitarist/repair technician Woodie Wu. Paul would christened the group Woodie Alan, in honor of the late Allen Woody, as well a pop-culture nod to American film autuerAuteur theory
In film criticism, auteur theory holds that a director's film reflects the director's personal creative vision, as if they were the primary "auteur"...
Woody Allen
Woody Allen
Woody Allen is an American screenwriter, director, actor, comedian, jazz musician, author, and playwright. Allen's films draw heavily on literature, sexuality, philosophy, psychology, Jewish identity, and the history of cinema...
. By September, the group had added bassist Zhang Yong and drummer Lu Wei (drummer).
In May 2008, Woodie Alan was named Beijing Band of the Year in City Weekend Magazine's
City Weekend
City Weekend is a free, bi-weekly entertainment event and venue listing magazine based out of China.. Its on-line edition is both autonomous and complimentary to the print magazine - City Weekend is "reader-powered" and sources most of its information directly from the expat community.City Weekend...
readers poll.
Building off their momentum, the group began recording sessions for an album that would eventually be released in June 2008 as Beijing Blues.
An award-winning columnist
Paul was named Online Columnist of the Year by The National Society of Newspaper Columnists in honor of his The Expat Life column. One month later, he began covering the Beijing Olympic Games for NBC.com, as the "Beijing Blooger". as well for the WSJ. He would go on to write hundreds of posts, covering the Games and events, and how the Olympics were being viewed in Beijing.Woodie Alan tours and the family returns to Maplewood
In September 2008, Woodie Alan toured outside of Beijing for the first time, headlining the XiamenXiamen
Xiamen , also known as Amoy , is a major city on the southeast coast of the People's Republic of China. It is administered as a sub-provincial city of Fujian province with an area of and population of 3.53 million...
Beach Festival for more than 5,000 people. Their performance was recorded and later broadcast throughout the Fujian Province on television to more than 44 million people. They then traveled to Changsha, where they appeared live on three radio shows as well as performed live.
In November, they toured Nanjing
Nanjing
' is the capital of Jiangsu province in China and has a prominent place in Chinese history and culture, having been the capital of China on several occasions...
, Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, and Hangzhou
Hangzhou
Hangzhou , formerly transliterated as Hangchow, is the capital and largest city of Zhejiang Province in Eastern China. Governed as a sub-provincial city, and as of 2010, its entire administrative division or prefecture had a registered population of 8.7 million people...
, at which they performed at the Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival
Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival
Asia Pacific Harmonica Festival is one of the world's largest harmonica events. It is held every two years. The first APHF was held in Taipei in 1996.-List of APHF:-External links:* * * * *...
in front of nearly 2,000 spectators. But, as momentum was building, Blumenstein's expatriate assignment ended in December, and the family moved back to their home in Maplewood.
Big in China
In November 2009, Paul signed a deal with HarperCollinsHarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
for Big in China: My Unlikely Adventures Raising a Family, Playing the Blues, and Becoming a Star in Beijing, his memoir about his family's nearly four years spent in Beijing.
Release and film option
The book was released on March 1, 2011 to widespread acclaim and strong reviews. Big in China was optioned on March 22, 2011 by Ivan ReitmanIvan Reitman
Ivan Reitman, OC is a Canadian film producer and director. He is known for the comedies he has directed and produced, especially in the 1980s and 1990s.He is the owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 2000.-Early life:...
's Montecito Pictures
The Montecito Picture Company
The Montecito Picture Company is a film production company owned by Ivan Reitman.-Filmography:*Road Trip *Evolution *Alienators: Evolution Continues *Killing Me Softly *Old School...
to start development for a cinematic adaptation of the work.
Panda Dad
During a book tour for Big in China, Paul wrote an essay for the WSJs Idea Market section, detailing his disagreements with author, and Yale Professor of Law, Amy ChuaAmy Chua
Amy L. Chua is the John M. Duff, Jr. Professor of Law at Yale Law School. She joined the Yale faculty in 2001 after teaching at Duke Law School. Prior to starting her teaching career, she was a corporate law associate at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton...
's Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother is a book by Amy Chua published in 2011. The complete subtitle of the book is: “This is a story about a mother, two daughters, and two dogs. This was supposed to be a story of how Chinese parents are better at raising kids than Western ones...
, a parenting memoir that describes Chua's personal approach to parenting, which had been criticized as being extreme.
As his essay gained momentum, Paul was interviewed on The Today Show
The Today Show
Today is an iconic American morning news and talk show airing every morning on NBC. Debuting on January 14, 1952, it was the first of its genre on American television and in the world. The show is also the fourth-longest running American television series...
by host Matt Lauer
Matt Lauer
Matthew Todd "Matt" Lauer . is an American television journalist best known as the host of NBC's The Today Show since 1997. He was previously a news anchor in New York and a local talk-show host in Boston, Philadelphia, Providence and Richmond...
on April 6, 2011.
Primary or major contributor
- 1985-1988: The Michigan Daily, University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
; Arts Editor, Weekend Magazine Editor, Columnist (writing under the pseudonym “Fat Al"), various other positions. - 1988-1989: The Hudson ReporterHudson ReporterThe Hudson Reporter Assoc., L.P. is a newspaper chain based in Hoboken, New Jersey. It is the only weekly newspaper chain in Hudson County, and one of only two newspaper companies in this busy metropolitan area. The Hudson Reporter publications focus on local politics and community news. In...
(Hoboken, New JerseyHoboken, New JerseyHoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
); Editor. - 1991-current: Guitar World MagazineGuitar WorldGuitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
; Managing Editor (1991–1996) Online Editor (1996–2003), Senior Writer (1996-current). - 1998-current: SLAM MagazineSLAM MagazineSLAM Magazine is an American basketball magazine in circulation since 1994, published by Source Interlink. SLAM publishes nine issues a year to its circulation of over 500,000 readers worldwide.-History:...
; Senior Writer (1998-current). - August 2005-current: Alan Paul in China Blog
- December 2005-June 2009: The Expat Life online column, awarded 2008 Best Online Column by The National Society of Newspaper Columnists
- August 2008: "The Beijing Blogger", Paul's NBC.com coverage of 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics
- March 1, 2011: Big in China: My Unlikely Adventures Raising a Family, Playing the Blues, and Becoming a Star in Beijing is released by HarperCollins PublishersHarperCollinsHarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
Various magazine contributions
Paul has also contributed, in varying amounts, to the following publications: The New YorkerThe New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, People
People (magazine)
In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
, Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, and others.
Book contributions
The Rolling Stone Jazz and Blues Guide; The Insider’s Guide to BeijingOnline contributions
Paul has been a past regular contributor to Guitar World Online, NBC.com, ESPN.comESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
, SI.com and Rolling Stone Online, as well as other sites.
Select liner notes contributions
- Gregg AllmanGregg AllmanGregory Lenoir Allman , known as Gregg Allman, is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia...
, One More Try: An Anthology (1997) - Stevie Ray VaughanStevie Ray VaughanStephen Ray "Stevie Ray" Vaughan was an American electric blues guitarist and singer. He was the younger brother of Jimmie Vaughan and frontman for Double Trouble, a band that included bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton. Born in Dallas, Vaughan moved to Austin at the age of 17 and...
, SRV box set (2000) - Various Artists (including Jimmie Vaughan Eric Clapton, B.B.
King,), A Tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan (1997)
- Luther AllisonLuther AllisonLuther Allison was an American blues guitarist. He was born in Widener, Arkansas and moved with his family, at age twelve, to Chicago in 1951. He taught himself guitar and began listening to blues extensively. Three years later he began hanging outside blues nightclubs with the hopes of being...
, Live in Chicago (1999) - The Allman Brothers BandThe Allman Brothers BandThe Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
, A Decade of Hits 1969–1979 (1991)