Ellis Paul

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Ellis Paul : biography

January 14, 1965 –

When asked to describe the difference between writing songs for children and song for adults, Paul said: "The difference between writing a kids’ song and an adult song is that in the kids’ songs you tend to use primary colors and the words are brighter and the tempos are always upbeat. There’s a nuance to the adult songs that is different. It’s still the story telling, but its different shades and angles. You read between the lines more."

Paul continues playing close to 200 dates annually on the folk circuit. His songs have appeared on more than 50 compilation CDs, and he has made nearly 40 guest appearances on the albums of artists including Lori McKenna, David Wilcox and Mark Erelli. When asked if he would rather play the 19,600-seat Fleet Theater or the 900-seat Somerville Theater – both in Boston, Paul replied, "I prefer to keep it intimate. That way people can see the whites of your eyes. I’d love to write a hit song and have it on the radio like "American Pie" or something, but I’m just gonna do what I do and take what I can and run with it, because it’s a hard business to have even what I have. So I don’t have pie-in-the-sky Springsteen-esque hopes. I just want to write great songs."Soroff, Jonathan. Soroff on Ellis Paul. Improper Bostonian. April 6–19, 2005, p. 16.

In a review for the Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange, Roberta Schwartz said, "Ellis Paul is one of the best singer/songwriters of his generation. And for many of us he is the face of contemporary folk music—few are as smart, as literate and as poetic as Paul. He has spun his story songs for nearly twenty years now, and has eleven studio recordings (with an additional two early recordings on cassette—now available on CD) to his credit. I cannot think of another artist on the acoustic music scene who is better-loved by fans, or more respected by his contemporaries."Schwartz, Roberta. . Folk and Acoustic Music Exchange, 2006. Retrieved January 13, 2007.

Early career: 1987–1990

Paul majored in English at Boston College where he continued to participate in track. His best time in the 10,000 meters (30:18:50) remains the fourth best men’s outdoor record in Boston College history.Boston College Track & Field. Retrieved April 21, 2008. When a knee injury in his junior year sidelined him from athletics, Paul picked up an acoustic guitar to pass the time. He taught himself to play guitar with the help of a Hits of the 70s songbook, and began to write songs. Boston radio included a classic hits station that played the music of Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young and James Taylor; artists who were mostly unfamiliar to Paul. Within a few years they became major influences. Having a career in music was the furthest thing from Paul’s mind at that point, but as his playing and writing improved it became a bigger focus in his life. In an interview with FolkWax journalist Arthur Wood, Paul stated:

"I started playing and learned a few songs by other writers to begin with. I started writing originals within a few months. My songs were pretty horrendous to begin with. They kept getting better and better. When I graduated, I started playing at open mics in bars in Boston. Eventually discovered that there were folk clubs where people were actually listening, and not drinking and carousing while you played. I got involved in that circuit. I think that’s why I’ve become so lyric conscious — because of those listening rooms, where you really have to rely on words in those situations."

The open mic circuit in the Boston area included The Nameless Coffeehouse in Cambridge, Westborough’s Old Vienna Kaffeehouse and The Naked City Coffeehouse in Allston. Paul became a regular face at those clubs along with other young folk musicians such as Shawn Colvin, Patty Griffin, Dar Williams and Vance Gilbert. In 1989 he won the Nameless Coffeehouse’s New Songwriter Award. Paul played Cambridge’s Club Passim, a venue that would become his "home" venue, for the first time when he opened for John Gorka in October 1989. Less than four years later he performed his first shows at Passim as a headliner. The three consecutive nights of shows took place on February 19–21, 1993.