Paul Brady
Encyclopedia
Paul Joseph Brady is an Irish
singer-songwriter
, whose work straddles folk
and pop
. He was interested in a wide variety of music
from an early age. During his career he has passed through several major bands
and on to a successful solo
phase.
in County Tyrone
, on the border with County Donegal
. He was educated at Sion Mills Primary School, St. Columb's College, Derry and University College Dublin
. He is prominently featured in the documentary film The Boys of St. Columb’s.
He began learning piano around age six and by the age of eleven he had begun to play guitar, spending hours of his school holidays learning every tune the Shadows
and The Ventures
recorded, and was also strongly influenced by Chuck Berry
. In 1963, Brady began performing as a hotel piano
player in Bundoran
, Donegal
. He attended University College Dublin
in October 1964 and performed with a string of RnB
groups, covering songs by the likes of Ray Charles
and James Brown
. The first of these was 'The Inmates' (late 1964-about April 1965), who evolved into 'The Kult' (about April–December 1965), featuring Brady, Jackie McAuley (ex-Them
, and future Belfast Gypsies and Trader Horne), Brendan Bonass, and Dave Pennefather. Brady can be seen in the film Charlie Is My Darling waiting outside Dublin's Adelphi Theatre for the Rolling Stones
' 3 September 1965 concert. He next joined 'Rootzgroup' (late 1965-May 1966) and 'Rockhouse' (about May–December 1966).
when Michael Johnston left in May 1967. They moved to London
, UK in 1969 and subsequently to New York City
in 1972 to expand their audience. Despite some success, Brady returned to Ireland
in 1974 to join the Irish group Planxty
. This was the band that was to launch the solo careers of Andy Irvine
, Liam O'Flynn
, Dónal Lunny
, and Christy Moore
. Planxty
dissolved and from 1976 to 1978 he played as a duo with Andy Irvine
, a relationship which produced Andy Irvine and Paul Brady. The album was hugely successful and garnered much critical acclaim. The next few years saw him establish his popularity and reputation as one of Ireland
's best interpreters of traditional songs. His versions of ballads like Arthur McBride
and The Lakes of Pontchartrain
were considered definitive and are still popular at concerts today. In 1975 in New York he recorded three albums for Shanachie Records
as guitar accompanist to resident Irish fiddlers Andy McGann, Paddy Reynolds and John Vesey
. He also recorded a 1976 album for the same label with Irish fiddler Tommy Peoples
.
. It won him critical acclaim and it was awarded the Melody Maker Folk Album of the Year, however, it would prove to be Brady's last album with traditional material. He decided to delve into pop
and rock music
, and released his first album of this genre
in 1981, Hard Station
. The completely self-penned record received mixed reviews, some fans of his older traditional material were not convinced, while the majority recognised his great talent of writing rock music
. Brady released a number of successful solo albums throughout the 1980s, True For You
(1983), Back to the Centre
(1985), and Primitive Dance
(1987). By the end of the decade, Brady was recognised and accepted as a respected performer and songwriter. His songs were being covered by a number of other artists, including Santana
and Dave Edmunds
. For a full list of artists who have covered his songs see his own website http://www.paulbrady.com . Contrary to what is often written, Brady doesn't write for other artists but for his own self-expression. Other artists pick up on his songs because of the inherent quality. When Tina Turner heard a demo of his song 'Paradise Is Here' she recorded it for her Break Every Rule
album of 1986. By now he was a favourite songwriter among such artists as Bob Dylan
and Bonnie Raitt
, who would do a duet with Brady on his 1991 LP
, Trick or Treat
. A couple of Brady songs soon appeared on Raitt's album Luck of the Draw
, including the title track.
Bob Dylan was sufficiently impressed by Brady's work to name-check him in the booklet of his 1985 box set "Biograph'. The actual quote was “..people get too famous too fast these days and it destroys them. Some guys got it down- Leonard Cohen, Paul Brady, Lou Reed, secret heroes,- John Prine, David Allen Coe,Tom Waits. I listen more to that kind of stuff than whatever is popular at the moment. They’re not just witchdoctoring up the planet, they don’t set up barriers…". Again, contrary to what has become accepted fact, Bob Dylan never said that Paul Brady was 'one of the five artists worth getting out of bed for'. That was a paraphrase of the original quote by a journalist in an 80's UK music paper.
Since his Hard Station
album (1981) Brady has been on various major labels until the late 90s when he started his own label, PeeBee Music. He released three albums in the 1990s, Trick or Treat
, a remixed compilation of earlier songs 'Songs And Crazy Dreams' and Spirits Colliding
. They were met with critical acclaim. Trick or Treat was on Fontana
/Mercury Records
, and received a lot of promotion. As a result, some critics considered it his debut and noted that the record benefited from the expertise of experienced studio
musicians as well as producer Gary Katz
, who worked with the rock group Steely Dan
. Rolling Stone, after praising Brady's earlier but less-known solo records, called Trick or Treat Brady's "most compelling collection."
To date (Nov 2010) Brady has gone on to record several other albums (15 in total since he went solo in 1978) and collaborated with Bonnie Raitt
and Richard Thompson to name but two. For a complete list of his many collaborations see his own website. In 2006 he collaborated with Cara Dillon
on the track The Streets of Derry from her album After the Morning. He has also worked with Fiachra Trench
.
He performed Gaelic
songs as a character in the 2002 Matthew Barney
film Cremaster 3. He also played tin whistle on the single "One" by Greg Pearle in 2008, from the album Beautiful You
a collaboration between Greg Pearle and John Illsley
. This song "One" featured in the 2008 film Anton, directed by Graham Cantwell.
Brady's fifteenth studio album 'Hooba Dooba' was released in March 2010. Widely acclaimed as one of his finest (see reviews on his website) he continues to tour, record and collaborate in a variety of creative projects around the globe.
of Doctor of Letters
from the University of Ulster
in recognition of his services to traditional Irish music and songwriting.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, whose work straddles folk
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
and pop
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
. He was interested in a wide variety of music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
from an early age. During his career he has passed through several major bands
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
and on to a successful solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
phase.
Background
Brady was born in the small town of StrabaneStrabane
Strabane , historically spelt Straban,is a town in west County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It contains the headquarters of Strabane District Council....
in County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
, on the border with County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He was educated at Sion Mills Primary School, St. Columb's College, Derry and University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
. He is prominently featured in the documentary film The Boys of St. Columb’s.
He began learning piano around age six and by the age of eleven he had begun to play guitar, spending hours of his school holidays learning every tune the Shadows
The Shadows
The Shadows are a British pop group with a total of 69 UK hit-charted singles: 35 as 'The Shadows' and 34 as 'Cliff Richard and the Shadows', from the 1950s to the 2000s. Cliff Richard in casual conversation with the British rock press frequently refers to the Shadows by their nickname: 'The Shads'...
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...
recorded, and was also strongly influenced by Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
. In 1963, Brady began performing as a hotel piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
player in Bundoran
Bundoran
Bundoran is a town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in the north of Ireland. The town is located on the N15 road near Ballyshannon, 3 hours drive from Dublin and around two and a quarter hours drive from Belfast...
, Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. He attended University College Dublin
University College Dublin
University College Dublin ) - formally known as University College Dublin - National University of Ireland, Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's largest, and Ireland's second largest, university, with over 1,300 faculty and 17,000 students...
in October 1964 and performed with a string of RnB
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
groups, covering songs by the likes of Ray Charles
Ray Charles
Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
and James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...
. The first of these was 'The Inmates' (late 1964-about April 1965), who evolved into 'The Kult' (about April–December 1965), featuring Brady, Jackie McAuley (ex-Them
Them (band)
Them were a Northern Irish band formed in Belfast in April 1964, most prominently known for the garage rock standard "Gloria" and launching singer Van Morrison's musical career...
, and future Belfast Gypsies and Trader Horne), Brendan Bonass, and Dave Pennefather. Brady can be seen in the film Charlie Is My Darling waiting outside Dublin's Adelphi Theatre for the Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
' 3 September 1965 concert. He next joined 'Rootzgroup' (late 1965-May 1966) and 'Rockhouse' (about May–December 1966).
1960s and 1970s
During his time at college in Dublin, the country saw a huge rise in interest in traditional Irish music. Brady joined the popular Irish band The JohnstonsThe Johnstons
The Johnstons were an Irish close-harmony folk band, originally founded in Slane, County Meath, Ireland, consisting of Adrienne, Lucy and Michael Johnston. They began performing in the early 1960s in Slane....
when Michael Johnston left in May 1967. They moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK in 1969 and subsequently to New York City
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...
in 1972 to expand their audience. Despite some success, Brady returned to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1974 to join the Irish group Planxty
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
. This was the band that was to launch the solo careers of Andy Irvine
Andy Irvine (musician)
Andrew Kennedy 'Andy' Irvine is a folk musician, singer, and songwriter, and a founding member of the popular band Planxty. He is an accomplished player of the mandolin, bouzouki, mandola, guitar-bouzouki, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy....
, Liam O'Flynn
Liam O'Flynn
Liam O'Flynn is a master uilleann piper and prominent Irish folk musician. In addition to an impressive solo career and his work with the Irish traditional group Planxty, O'Flynn has recorded with many prominent international musical artists, including Mark Knopfler, the Everly Brothers, Enya,...
, Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny
Dónal Lunny is an Irish folk musician. Lunny has been at the forefront of the evolution of traditional Irish music for more than thirty-five years and has participated within the renaissance of traditional Irish music in that time period...
, and Christy Moore
Christy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
. Planxty
Planxty
Planxty is an Irish folk music band formed in the 1970s, consisting initially of Christy Moore , Dónal Lunny , Andy Irvine , and Liam O'Flynn...
dissolved and from 1976 to 1978 he played as a duo with Andy Irvine
Andy Irvine (musician)
Andrew Kennedy 'Andy' Irvine is a folk musician, singer, and songwriter, and a founding member of the popular band Planxty. He is an accomplished player of the mandolin, bouzouki, mandola, guitar-bouzouki, harmonica and hurdy-gurdy....
, a relationship which produced Andy Irvine and Paul Brady. The album was hugely successful and garnered much critical acclaim. The next few years saw him establish his popularity and reputation as one of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
's best interpreters of traditional songs. His versions of ballads like Arthur McBride
Arthur McBride
"Arthur McBride" is an Irish folk song. It was first collected around 1840 in Limerick, Ireland by Patrick Weston Joyce; also in Donegal by George Petrie. Several versions are found in Scotland, Suffolk and Devon - the tunes differing slightly...
and The Lakes of Pontchartrain
The Lakes of Pontchartrain
The Lakes of Pontchartrain is an Irish ballad about an unfortunate immigrant from Ireland who is given shelter by a beautiful Louisiana Creole woman...
were considered definitive and are still popular at concerts today. In 1975 in New York he recorded three albums for Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records
Shanachie Records was founded in 1976 by Richard Nevins and Dan Collins. According to Harvey Pekar , it is one of the largest independent record labels in the world, and is currently distributed by E1 Music. Starting as a label that specialized in fiddle music, they began releasing work by Celtic...
as guitar accompanist to resident Irish fiddlers Andy McGann, Paddy Reynolds and John Vesey
John Vesey
John Vesey or Veysey was an English bishop.-Life:He was born John Harman, probably about 1462, the son of a yeoman farmer, in a farmhouse now known as Moor Hall Farm, Sutton Coldfield...
. He also recorded a 1976 album for the same label with Irish fiddler Tommy Peoples
Tommy Peoples
Tommy Peoples is an Irish fiddler.He was born near St. Johnston, a village in the Laggan district in the east of County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. He has been a member of well known traditional Irish music groups, including 1691 and The Bothy Band as well as performing...
.
Solo career
In 1978, Brady released his first solo album, Welcome Here Kind StrangerWelcome Here Kind Stranger
Welcome Here Kind Stranger is a 1978 album by Paul Brady.After leaving The Johnstons, Paul Brady toured with Planxty, but never recorded with them. His first solo album, Welcome Here Kind Stranger, from 1978, is his only solo folk album prior to his embarking on a successful, long-term foray into...
. It won him critical acclaim and it was awarded the Melody Maker Folk Album of the Year, however, it would prove to be Brady's last album with traditional material. He decided to delve into pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
, and released his first album of this genre
Genre
Genre , Greek: genos, γένος) is the term for any category of literature or other forms of art or culture, e.g. music, and in general, any type of discourse, whether written or spoken, audial or visual, based on some set of stylistic criteria. Genres are formed by conventions that change over time...
in 1981, Hard Station
Hard Station
Hard Station is a 1981 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his second solo album....
. The completely self-penned record received mixed reviews, some fans of his older traditional material were not convinced, while the majority recognised his great talent of writing rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
. Brady released a number of successful solo albums throughout the 1980s, True For You
True for You
True For You is a 1983 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his third solo album.-Side one:#"The Great Pretender" - 4:58#"Let It Happen" - 4:32#"Helpless Heart" - 4:27#"Dance the Romance" - 5:05-Side two:#"Steel Claw" - 4:03...
(1983), Back to the Centre
Back to the Centre
Back to the Centre is a 1985 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his fourth solo album. Eric Clapton was a guest guitarist.-Track listing:#Walk The White Lines - 5:05#Wheel Of Heartbreak - 5:09#Deep In Your Heart - 6:01#To Be The One - 4:50...
(1985), and Primitive Dance
Primitive Dance
Primitive Dance is a 1987 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his fifth solo album. The song "The Awakening" features the vocals of Irish singer Moya Brennan.-Track listing:#Steal Your Heart Away - 5:45#The Soul Commotion - 3:39...
(1987). By the end of the decade, Brady was recognised and accepted as a respected performer and songwriter. His songs were being covered by a number of other artists, including Santana
Santana (band)
Santana is a rock band based around guitarist Carlos Santana and founded in the late 1960s. It first came to public attention after their performing the song "Soul Sacrifice" at the Woodstock Festival in 1969, when their Latin rock provided a contrast to other acts on the bill...
and Dave Edmunds
Dave Edmunds
David 'Dave' Edmunds is a Welsh singer, guitarist and record producer. Although he is primarily associated with Pub rock and New Wave, and had numerous hits in the 1970s and early 1980s, his natural leaning has always been towards 1950s style rock and roll.-Early bands:As a teenager Edmunds first...
. For a full list of artists who have covered his songs see his own website http://www.paulbrady.com . Contrary to what is often written, Brady doesn't write for other artists but for his own self-expression. Other artists pick up on his songs because of the inherent quality. When Tina Turner heard a demo of his song 'Paradise Is Here' she recorded it for her Break Every Rule
Break Every Rule
Break Every Rule is the sixth solo album by Tina Turner, released on Capitol Records in 1986.-Overview:The album's predecessor, Private Dancer, set high commercial standards, yet Break Every Rule sold very well worldwide. It reached #4 on the Billboard 200, #2 on the UK albums chart and #1 in...
album of 1986. By now he was a favourite songwriter among such artists as 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 Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, who would do a duet with Brady on his 1991 LP
LP album
The LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
, Trick or Treat
Trick or Treat (Paul Brady album)
Trick or Treat is a 1991 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his sixth solo album.-Track listing:#Soul Child - 5:41#Blue World - 5:36#Nobody Knows - 4:43#Can't Stop Wanting You - 4:59#You and I - 4:35#Trick or Treat - 5:03...
. A couple of Brady songs soon appeared on Raitt's album Luck of the Draw
Luck of the Draw (album)
Luck of the Draw is the eleventh album by Bonnie Raitt, released in 1991 . After being nominated for Grammy awards in four different categories for the album Nick of Time, Raitt went for a creative retreat in Northern California to begin work on Luck of the Draw. "I did it on purpose to see if I...
, including the title track.
Bob Dylan was sufficiently impressed by Brady's work to name-check him in the booklet of his 1985 box set "Biograph'. The actual quote was “..people get too famous too fast these days and it destroys them. Some guys got it down- Leonard Cohen, Paul Brady, Lou Reed, secret heroes,- John Prine, David Allen Coe,Tom Waits. I listen more to that kind of stuff than whatever is popular at the moment. They’re not just witchdoctoring up the planet, they don’t set up barriers…". Again, contrary to what has become accepted fact, Bob Dylan never said that Paul Brady was 'one of the five artists worth getting out of bed for'. That was a paraphrase of the original quote by a journalist in an 80's UK music paper.
Since his Hard Station
Hard Station
Hard Station is a 1981 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his second solo album....
album (1981) Brady has been on various major labels until the late 90s when he started his own label, PeeBee Music. He released three albums in the 1990s, Trick or Treat
Trick or Treat (Paul Brady album)
Trick or Treat is a 1991 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his sixth solo album.-Track listing:#Soul Child - 5:41#Blue World - 5:36#Nobody Knows - 4:43#Can't Stop Wanting You - 4:59#You and I - 4:35#Trick or Treat - 5:03...
, a remixed compilation of earlier songs 'Songs And Crazy Dreams' and Spirits Colliding
Spirits Colliding
Spirits Colliding is a 1995 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his seventh solo album.-Track listing:#I Want You to Want Me #Trust in You #World Is What You Make It #Marriage Made in Hollywood...
. They were met with critical acclaim. Trick or Treat was on Fontana
Fontana Records
Fontana Records is a record label which was started in the 1950s as a subsidiary of the Dutch Philips Records; when Philips restructured its music operations it dropped Fontana in favor of Vertigo Records. In the seventies PolyGram acquired the dormant label....
/Mercury Records
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
, and received a lot of promotion. As a result, some critics considered it his debut and noted that the record benefited from the expertise of experienced studio
Studio
A studio is an artist's or worker's workroom, or the catchall term for an artist and his or her employees who work within that studio. This can be for the purpose of architecture, painting, pottery , sculpture, scrapbooking, photography, graphic design, filmmaking, animation, radio or television...
musicians as well as producer Gary Katz
Gary Katz
Gary Katz is an American music producer, best known for his work with Steely Dan.-Steely Dan:Katz is most famous for his work as a producer on every Steely Dan album recorded during the first run of their career, from Can't Buy A Thrill in 1972 to Gaucho in 1980, as well as the Donald Fagen solo...
, who worked with the rock group Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
. Rolling Stone, after praising Brady's earlier but less-known solo records, called Trick or Treat Brady's "most compelling collection."
To date (Nov 2010) Brady has gone on to record several other albums (15 in total since he went solo in 1978) and collaborated with Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
and Richard Thompson to name but two. For a complete list of his many collaborations see his own website. In 2006 he collaborated with Cara Dillon
Cara Dillon
Cara Dillon is an Irish folk singer. In 2001, she launched her career as a solo artist in the UK with the eponymous Cara Dillon album...
on the track The Streets of Derry from her album After the Morning. He has also worked with Fiachra Trench
Fiachra Trench
Fiachra Terence Wilbrah Trench is a musician and composer from Drogheda, County Louth in Ireland....
.
He performed Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
songs as a character in the 2002 Matthew Barney
Matthew Barney
Matthew Barney is an American artist who works in sculpture, photography, drawing and film. His early works were sculptural installations combined with performance and video...
film Cremaster 3. He also played tin whistle on the single "One" by Greg Pearle in 2008, from the album Beautiful You
Beautiful You (John Illsley album)
Beautiful You is the result of a two-year collaboration between John Illsley, the bass player for Dire Straits, and Irish singer-songwriter Greg Pearle...
a collaboration between Greg Pearle and John Illsley
John Illsley
John Illsley is an English musician who rose to fame as the bass guitarist of the critically acclaimed rock band, Dire Straits...
. This song "One" featured in the 2008 film Anton, directed by Graham Cantwell.
Brady's fifteenth studio album 'Hooba Dooba' was released in March 2010. Widely acclaimed as one of his finest (see reviews on his website) he continues to tour, record and collaborate in a variety of creative projects around the globe.
Awards
In 2009 Brady received an honorary degreeHonorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
of Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
from the University of Ulster
University of Ulster
The University of Ulster is a multi-campus, co-educational university located in Northern Ireland. It is the largest single university in Ireland, discounting the federal National University of Ireland...
in recognition of his services to traditional Irish music and songwriting.
Solo discography
- Welcome Here Kind StrangerWelcome Here Kind StrangerWelcome Here Kind Stranger is a 1978 album by Paul Brady.After leaving The Johnstons, Paul Brady toured with Planxty, but never recorded with them. His first solo album, Welcome Here Kind Stranger, from 1978, is his only solo folk album prior to his embarking on a successful, long-term foray into...
(1978) - Hard StationHard StationHard Station is a 1981 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his second solo album....
(1981) - True for YouTrue for YouTrue For You is a 1983 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his third solo album.-Side one:#"The Great Pretender" - 4:58#"Let It Happen" - 4:32#"Helpless Heart" - 4:27#"Dance the Romance" - 5:05-Side two:#"Steel Claw" - 4:03...
(1983) - Back to the CentreBack to the CentreBack to the Centre is a 1985 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his fourth solo album. Eric Clapton was a guest guitarist.-Track listing:#Walk The White Lines - 5:05#Wheel Of Heartbreak - 5:09#Deep In Your Heart - 6:01#To Be The One - 4:50...
(1985) - Full MoonFull Moon (Paul Brady album)Full Moon is a 1986 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his first live album.-Track listing:#Hard Station#Not The Only One#Take Me Away#Busted Loose#Dance The Romance#Crazy Dreams#Helpless Heart#Steel Claw...
(1986) - Primitive DancePrimitive DancePrimitive Dance is a 1987 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his fifth solo album. The song "The Awakening" features the vocals of Irish singer Moya Brennan.-Track listing:#Steal Your Heart Away - 5:45#The Soul Commotion - 3:39...
(1987) - Trick or TreatTrick or Treat (Paul Brady album)Trick or Treat is a 1991 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his sixth solo album.-Track listing:#Soul Child - 5:41#Blue World - 5:36#Nobody Knows - 4:43#Can't Stop Wanting You - 4:59#You and I - 4:35#Trick or Treat - 5:03...
(1991) - Songs & Crazy DreamsSongs & Crazy DreamsSongs & Crazy Dreams is a 1995 compilation album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady.-Track listing:#Crazy Dreams#Dancer In The Fire#Nothing But The Same Old Story#Walk The White Line#Deep In Your Heart#Follow On#The Island#The Homes Of Donegal...
(CompilationCompilation albumA compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
) (1992) - Spirits CollidingSpirits CollidingSpirits Colliding is a 1995 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his seventh solo album.-Track listing:#I Want You to Want Me #Trust in You #World Is What You Make It #Marriage Made in Hollywood...
(1995) - Nobody Knows: The Best of Paul BradyNobody Knows: The Best of Paul BradyNobody Knows: The Best of Paul Brady is a compilation album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his second. First released in 1999 by Rykodisc, it was re-released in 2002 by Compass Records...
(Compilation) (1999) - Oh What a World (2000)
- 'The Paul Brady Songbook' (album and DVD) Live recordings for RTE TV series (2002)
- 'The (Missing) Liberty Tapes' (2003) [Recorded Live at Liberty Hall, Dublin, July 21, 1978]
- Say What You FeelSay What You FeelSay What You Feel is a 2005 album by Irish singer/songwriter Paul Brady, his ninth solo album.-Track listing:#Smile#Don't Try To Please Me#Love In A Bubble#I Only Want You#Living For The Corporation#Say What You Feel#Locked Up In Heaven...
(2005) - 'Hooba Dooba' (2010)
DVDs
- The Transatlantic Sessions Series 3 (2007) (various artists)
- The Paul Brady Songbook (2002)