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Paul deLay
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Since rejoining the music scene in January 1995 after a three-year "writing sabbatical," legendary harmonica ace Paul deLay has taken the Pacific Northwest by storm, selling out major blues venues and headlining festivals throughout the region. Reunited with his band -- a unit West Coast Blues Review calls "easily the best of all the West Coast backup units" -- deLay continues to prove why he ranks as one of the greatest blues harmonica players, songwriters and vocalists alive.
In two decades touring the West Coast blues circuit, opening on larger stages for numerous national acts, and releasing a half-dozen acclaimed recordings of its own, The Paul deLay Band became known throughout the Pacific Northwest for its hard-hitting blues and R&B. The Portland-based group earned a reputation that extends far beyond the region: band leader deLay is ranked among the finest blues harmonica players alive, and his work on the chromatic harp is considered by many to be unrivaled.
Following his much publicized drug bust in January 1990, deLay spent nearly two years awaiting trial-playing, singing and writing like there was no tomorrow. During that period, he produced The Other One (1991) and Paulzilla (1992), his finest recordings to that point, and ones that established him as a formidable songwriter as well as a harmonica virtuoso. deLay began serving a 41-month sentence at the Federal Penitentiary in Sheridan, Oregon on May 15, 1992. (For a thorough, finely written account of Paul deLay's rise, fall, drug bust and recovery, see "Paul deLay: Groovin' In Limbo," the cover story in Blues Access Fall 1991).
Upon his release in January 1995, deLay was rejoined by the core of his band---Louis Pain on Hammond organ, Chicago-born Peter Dammann on guitar, and Dan Fincher on tenor sax---with new members John Mazzocco on bass (formerly with John Lee Hooker and Curtis Salgado), and Mike Klobas on drums (formerly with Lloyd Jones Struggle). Since its debut in January '95, this ensemble has drawn raves for its seamless arrangements and fiery musicianship.
Major Appearances
* Notodden Blues Festival (Norway)
* Monterey Bay Blues Festival (Monterey CA)
* Pocono Blues Festival (Blakeslee PA)
* New York Blues Festival (Syracuse NY)
* San Francisco Blues Festival
* Waterfront Blues Festival (Portland OR)
* San Francisco Battle of the Harmonicas
* Ravenna Blues Festival (Ravenna, Italy)
* Mt. Hood International Blues Festival
* Bumbershoot Festival (Seattle)
* Mt. Hood Jazz Festival (Portland OR)
* Winthrop (WA) Blues Festival
* Long Beach (CA) Battle Of The Harps
Awards
* Handy Award Nominee, Instrumentalist (Harmonica)
* Portland Music Association Crystal Award, Recording of the Year (1992), Paulzilla
* Cascade Blues Association Muddy Awards: Best Recording 1991 (The Other One); Best Recording 1992 (Paulzilla); Best Harmonica 1988-'95; Lifetime Achievement Award 1995; Best Guitar 1990.
Recordings
The Paul deLay Band's six recordings on the independent Criminal Records label have been charted on blues radio playlists in the U.S. as well as Europe. The band's album sales in Europe continue to earn deLay new fans in Holland, England, Germany and Italy. A "The Best Of Paul deLay" compact disc, You're Fired! was released on the British Red Lightning label in May 1990. The Norwegian Blue Wolf label licensed and released The Other One in 1992. Paulzilla, released in May 1992, featured ten deLay originals and received both the Cascade Blues Association Muddy Award and Portland Music Association Crystal Award for Album of the Year. Ocean of Tears, a new recording of deLay originals, is due for release on the independent Evidence Records label in September 1996. Evidence released Take It From The Turnaround, a compilation of material from Paulzilla and The Other One, in May 1996.
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