Henry Paul (musician)
Encyclopedia
Henry Paul is an American
southern rock
and country
singer/songwriter
who was a founding member of the Southern rock band Outlaws, the front man and founder of the Henry Paul Band and the lead singer for the country band BlackHawk
.
, but when his father and mother divorced, Henry, his two sisters, Anselma and Helen and his mother moved to the Temple Terrace suburb of Tampa, Florida as a young boy. At the age of 17, he played his first music gigs at High School folk festivals and playing at the 18th String Coffee House and Music Emporium in Tampa, and by 1969, he had moved back north to Greenwich Village
, New York
, to pursue a career in music. While living in New York he retraced the footsteps of his hero Bob Dylan
and played on the streets to make a living while cutting demos for Epic Records
. With an invitation to play a concert in his hometown, he returned to Tampa
in 1971. There, Henry and Jim Fish formed the country rock group Sienna with future Outlaw members Monte Yoho and Frank O'Keefe.
. By 1974 they were on the road opening shows for several established Southern rock groups including Lynyrd Skynyrd
. Clive Davis
of Arista Records
discovered them and signed the group to their first record deal; they became the fledgling label's first rock band. Their self-titled debut album quickly went gold on the success of hits like "Green Grass and High Tides
," and "There Goes Another Love Song." In 1977, after recording two more albums with the Outlaws, Henry left to pursue a solo career.
After several short lived "reunions" and the death of Hughie Thomasson, the Outlaws 2008 came to fruition due to the efforts of Henry Paul and Monte Yoho.
. Henry Paul told Songfacts that he wrote "Lonely Dreamer" while visualizing a painting of a girl with the words "Lonely Dreamer" underneath. The band recorded three more albums including Feel The Heat, which had more of a rock edge and included the title track as well as "Whiskey Talkin'." Their third album, Anytime, included the top-40 hit "Living Without Your Love" and live show highlight "Crazy Eyes." Henry's last, self-titled album with the Henry Paul Band featured the haunting song "Tragedy."
In 1983 the Henry Paul Band disbanded as Henry reunited with Hughie Thomasson of The Outlaws. Their collaboration led to the 1986 release of The Outlaws' Soldiers of Fortune. He remained with the band until 1989, when he left again to start a new career in country music, founding BlackHawk in 1991. Van Stephenson
and Dave Robbins joined Henry in BlackHawk to create a new blend of country music, using three-part harmonies and introspective songs.
, Strong Enough
, Love & Gravity
, The Sky's the Limit, Spirit Dancer
and one compilation album, Greatest Hits
. In 2002, the group left Arista for Columbia Records
, with one album — 2002's Spirit Dancer — being released on that label before the group was dropped in 2003. The 2008 lineup is signed to Radiance Records.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
southern rock
Southern rock
Southern rock is a subgenre of rock music, and genre of Americana. It developed in the Southern United States from rock and roll, country music, and blues, and is focused generally on electric guitar and vocals...
and country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer/songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
who was a founding member of the Southern rock band Outlaws, the front man and founder of the Henry Paul Band and the lead singer for the country band BlackHawk
Blackhawk (band)
Blackhawk is an American country music group founded in 1992 by Henry Paul , Van Stephenson , and Dave Robbins...
.
Early life
Henry was born in Kingston, New York and lived on a farm in nearby HurleyHurley, New York
Hurley, New York may refer to:In Ulster County, New York, United States of America:* Hurley , New York, a hamlet and census designated place* Hurley , New York, a town....
, but when his father and mother divorced, Henry, his two sisters, Anselma and Helen and his mother moved to the Temple Terrace suburb of Tampa, Florida as a young boy. At the age of 17, he played his first music gigs at High School folk festivals and playing at the 18th String Coffee House and Music Emporium in Tampa, and by 1969, he had moved back north to Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, to pursue a career in music. While living in New York he retraced the footsteps of his hero Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
and played on the streets to make a living while cutting demos for Epic Records
Epic Records
Epic Records is an American record label, owned by Sony Music Entertainment. Though it was originally conceived as a jazz imprint, it has since expanded to represent various genres. L.A...
. With an invitation to play a concert in his hometown, he returned to Tampa
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
in 1971. There, Henry and Jim Fish formed the country rock group Sienna with future Outlaw members Monte Yoho and Frank O'Keefe.
The Outlaws
In 1972 the group Sienna disbanded and Paul joined the group "The Outlaws" which had been formed in 1967. They started playing clubs around the Tampa area and added Billy JonesBilly Jones
William "Billy" Jones , a seasoned veteran of the steam era who established the Wildcat Railroad in Los Gatos, California, was born the son of a teamster in the town of Ben Lomond, California, USA....
. By 1974 they were on the road opening shows for several established Southern rock groups including Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Lynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
. Clive Davis
Clive Davis
Clive Davis is an American record producer and music industry executive. He has won five Grammy Awards and is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a non-performer. From 1967 to 1973 he was the President of Columbia Records. He was the founder and president of Arista Records from 1975...
of Arista Records
Arista Records
Arista was an American record label. It was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment and operated under the RCA Music Group. The label was founded in 1974 by Clive Davis, who formerly worked for CBS Records...
discovered them and signed the group to their first record deal; they became the fledgling label's first rock band. Their self-titled debut album quickly went gold on the success of hits like "Green Grass and High Tides
Green Grass and High Tides
"Green Grass and High Tides" is a song by the southern rock band Outlaws. It is the tenth and final track on the band's debut album, Outlaws. The song is one of their best known, and has received extensive play on album-oriented radio stations, although it was never released as a single...
," and "There Goes Another Love Song." In 1977, after recording two more albums with the Outlaws, Henry left to pursue a solo career.
After several short lived "reunions" and the death of Hughie Thomasson, the Outlaws 2008 came to fruition due to the efforts of Henry Paul and Monte Yoho.
Henry Paul Band
Within a year after leaving The Outlaws Henry founded the Henry Paul Band, debuting in 1979 with the album Grey Ghost. It included songs such as "So Long" and "Grey Ghost", which was dedicated to the memory of Lynyrd Skynyrd's Ronnie Van ZantRonnie Van Zant
Ronald Wayne "Ronnie" Van Zant was an American lead vocalist, primary lyricist, and a founding member of the Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd...
. Henry Paul told Songfacts that he wrote "Lonely Dreamer" while visualizing a painting of a girl with the words "Lonely Dreamer" underneath. The band recorded three more albums including Feel The Heat, which had more of a rock edge and included the title track as well as "Whiskey Talkin'." Their third album, Anytime, included the top-40 hit "Living Without Your Love" and live show highlight "Crazy Eyes." Henry's last, self-titled album with the Henry Paul Band featured the haunting song "Tragedy."
In 1983 the Henry Paul Band disbanded as Henry reunited with Hughie Thomasson of The Outlaws. Their collaboration led to the 1986 release of The Outlaws' Soldiers of Fortune. He remained with the band until 1989, when he left again to start a new career in country music, founding BlackHawk in 1991. Van Stephenson
Van Stephenson
Van Wesley Stephenson was an American singer-songwriter. He scored two US Billboard Hot 100 hits in the 1980s as a solo artist, and later became tenor vocalist in the country music band BlackHawk in the 1990s. In addition, Van co-wrote several singles for other artists, such as Restless Heart...
and Dave Robbins joined Henry in BlackHawk to create a new blend of country music, using three-part harmonies and introspective songs.
Blackhawk
Blackhawk's #11 debut, "Goodbye Says It All", was heavily promoted on CMT during 1994. Following the platinum success of their self-titled debut album, they developed into a touring band. They have produced five studio albums, BlackhawkBlackhawk (album)
Blackhawk is the first studio album by the American country music group Blackhawk. Released in 1994 on Arista Nashville, it was certified 2× Multi-Platinum by the RIAA for shipping two million copies. The album produced the singles "Goodbye Says It All", "Every Once in a While", "I Sure Can...
, Strong Enough
Strong Enough (Blackhawk album)
Strong Enough is the second studio album by the American country music band BlackHawk, released in 1995. It features the singles "I'm Not Strong Enough to Say No", "Like There Ain't No Yesterday", "Almost a Memory Now", "Big Guitar", and "King of the World", which respectively reached #3, #11, #17...
, Love & Gravity
Love & Gravity
Love & Gravity is the third studio album released by the American country music group Blackhawk. It features the singles "Hole in My Heart" and "Postmarked Birmingham", which peaked at #31 and #37, respectively, on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks charts in 1997.All of the songs center...
, The Sky's the Limit, Spirit Dancer
Spirit Dancer
Spirit Dancer is the fifth studio album recorded by country music band BlackHawk. It was also their only album on the Columbia Records label, and the first recorded after the death of former member Van Stephenson. The tracks "Days of America" and "One Night in New Orleans" were released as singles...
and one compilation album, Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (BlackHawk album)
Greatest Hits is the first greatest hits package released by the country music band Blackhawk. It features hits from their first four studio albums, as well as the newly recorded "It Takes a Woman", "I Need You All the Time", and "Ships of Heaven". "I Need You All the Time" was released as a single...
. In 2002, the group left Arista for Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
, with one album — 2002's Spirit Dancer — being released on that label before the group was dropped in 2003. The 2008 lineup is signed to Radiance Records.