Paul Warren
Encyclopedia
Paul Warren is an American
blues/rock guitar player, and is the touring guitar player for the English rock star Rod Stewart
.
Paul Warren was born on December 22nd 1953 in Garden City, Michigan
, to Pearl Elwanda Gribble and Walter Wayne Warren. He started to play guitar at twelve years old, and by seventeen, he was discovered by Norman Whitfield
of Motown Records
. Soon after, he became a regular session player for the famed studios. The first song he ever played on was "Papa was a Rolling Stone" by The Temptations
. That year the album won five Grammy Awards. After playing on numerous albums, when Motown moved offices to California they paid for him to move so they could continue using his services as a session guitar player. He soon joined the group Rare Earth
and is credited as being co-writer on three songs from the Back to Earth album. After quitting Motown as a studio player in 1975, Ray Manzarek
of The Doors
employed Paul to become lead guitarist for his new band Nite City
. By their second album Paul had also become the lead singer and wrote a number of songs on the Album Golden Days Diamond Night
. The band had separated by the release of their second album. Paul Warren by 1978 had formed his own band Paul Warren and Explorer - and was a regular on the Sunset Strip scene playing almost every weekend at either the Roxy, Whiskey a Go Go, the Starwood, and Madame Wongs in China Town - among many others. He was signed by RSO Records
and released his first solo album One of the Kids in 1980. Later that year RSO Records folded and Paul Warren found himself unemployed. He began being a guitar player for hire between the years 1981 and 1987, working for such greats and The Ventures
, Tina Turner
and Prism. He is also credited as producing a number of records in this era. In 1987 he joined Richard Marx
at the beginning of his career soon after the first release of his first song from his debut album. Paul was Richard Marx's Musical Director for seven years before quitting in 1994, as his career as an artist was coming to an end. The day after quitting Richard he went straight out on the road to work as lead guitarist for Joe Cocker
. The "Have a Little Faith Tour" lasted eighteen months. In 1996 he was then employed by Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti
. His guitar playing for Eros lasted eleven years before quitting for good in 2005. In the interim in 1999 he was employed in between tours with Eros to work as guitarist for Rod Stewart. He has now been playing for Stewart for eleven years. In late 2010 he is releasing his first solo album in over a decade to be entitled Round Trip with his band The Paul Warren Project
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
blues/rock guitar player, and is the touring guitar player for the English rock star Rod Stewart
Rod Stewart
Roderick David "Rod" Stewart, CBE is a British singer-songwriter and musician, born and raised in North London, England and currently residing in Epping. He is of Scottish and English ancestry....
.
Paul Warren was born on December 22nd 1953 in Garden City, Michigan
Garden City, Michigan
Garden City is a city in Wayne County of the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,692. The city is part of the Metro Detroit region.- History :...
, to Pearl Elwanda Gribble and Walter Wayne Warren. He started to play guitar at twelve years old, and by seventeen, he was discovered by Norman Whitfield
Norman Whitfield
Norman Jesse Whitfield was an American songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Berry Gordy's Motown label during the 1960s...
of Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
. Soon after, he became a regular session player for the famed studios. The first song he ever played on was "Papa was a Rolling Stone" by The Temptations
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
. That year the album won five Grammy Awards. After playing on numerous albums, when Motown moved offices to California they paid for him to move so they could continue using his services as a session guitar player. He soon joined the group Rare Earth
Rare Earth (band)
Rare Earth is an American rock band affiliated with Motown's Rare Earth record label , who prospered in 1970-1972. Although not the first white band signed to Motown, Rare Earth was the first big hit-making act signed by Motown that consisted only of white members...
and is credited as being co-writer on three songs from the Back to Earth album. After quitting Motown as a studio player in 1975, Ray Manzarek
Ray Manzarek
Raymond Daniel Manzarek, Jr., better known as Ray Manzarek , is an American musician, singer, producer, film director, writer, co-founder and keyboardist of The Doors from 1965 to 1973, Nite City from 1977–1978 and Manzarek-Krieger since 2001.Manzarek is listed #4 on Digital Dreamdoor's "100...
of The Doors
The Doors
The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, California, with vocalist Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, drummer John Densmore, and guitarist Robby Krieger...
employed Paul to become lead guitarist for his new band Nite City
Nite City
Nite City were a rock group from Los Angeles, USA. Nite City was The Doors keyboardist Ray Manzarek’s super-group featuring vocalist Noah James and former Blondie bassist Nigel Harrison...
. By their second album Paul had also become the lead singer and wrote a number of songs on the Album Golden Days Diamond Night
Golden Days Diamond Night
Golden Days Diamond Nights was the final album by Nite City, a band that included former Doors' member Ray Manzarek.-Track listing:# "Riding on The Wings of Love" # "The Dreamer"...
. The band had separated by the release of their second album. Paul Warren by 1978 had formed his own band Paul Warren and Explorer - and was a regular on the Sunset Strip scene playing almost every weekend at either the Roxy, Whiskey a Go Go, the Starwood, and Madame Wongs in China Town - among many others. He was signed by RSO Records
RSO Records
RSO Records was a record label, formed by rock and roll and musical theatre impresario Robert Stigwood in 1973. The "RSO" stands for the Robert Stigwood Organisation. The company's main headquarters were at 67 Brook Street, in London's Mayfair...
and released his first solo album One of the Kids in 1980. Later that year RSO Records folded and Paul Warren found himself unemployed. He began being a guitar player for hire between the years 1981 and 1987, working for such greats and The Ventures
The Ventures
The Ventures is an American instrumental rock band formed in 1958 in Tacoma, Washington. Founded by Don Wilson and Bob Bogle, the group in its various incarnations has had an enduring impact on the development of music worldwide. With over 100 million records sold, the group is the best-selling...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
and Prism. He is also credited as producing a number of records in this era. In 1987 he joined Richard Marx
Richard Marx
Richard Noel Marx is an American adult contemporary and pop/rock singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He had a string of hit singles in the late 1980s and 1990s, including "Endless Summer Nights", "Right Here Waiting", "Now and Forever", and "Hazard"...
at the beginning of his career soon after the first release of his first song from his debut album. Paul was Richard Marx's Musical Director for seven years before quitting in 1994, as his career as an artist was coming to an end. The day after quitting Richard he went straight out on the road to work as lead guitarist for Joe Cocker
Joe Cocker
John Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...
. The "Have a Little Faith Tour" lasted eighteen months. In 1996 he was then employed by Italian singer Eros Ramazzotti
Eros Ramazzotti
Eros Luciano Walter Ramazzotti , known simply as Eros Ramazzotti, is an Italian singer and songwriter. Ramazzotti is enormously popular in Italy, and is well known in most non-English-speaking European countries and in the Spanish-speaking world, as he has released most of his albums in both...
. His guitar playing for Eros lasted eleven years before quitting for good in 2005. In the interim in 1999 he was employed in between tours with Eros to work as guitarist for Rod Stewart. He has now been playing for Stewart for eleven years. In late 2010 he is releasing his first solo album in over a decade to be entitled Round Trip with his band The Paul Warren Project