Paul Curreri
Encyclopedia
Paul Curreri, an American
musician
and songwriter
who performs mainly in the folk
and blues
music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia
. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married songwriter
/guitarist
Devon Sproule
in May 2005 and resided with her for several years in Charlottesville, Virginia
. They often appear and tour together, performing duets—most famously for Valentine's Day
. He and his wife moved to Berlin, Germany in September 2011.
. He was raised in Richmond, Virginia
, where he first put bands together and performed as a musician. He was high-school buddies with fellow musician Drew Gibson, who now lives in Falls Church, Virginia
, "from ages 13 to 18, playing in bands together, writing songs and encouraging each other." Though he grew up playing music, telling band members in high school that "he saw things in colour," he ended up enrolling at Rhode Island School of Design
(RISD) to pursue painting and film. While his experiences at art school
helped develop his ability to observe and record the visual world, his true passion again rose to the surface.
By the time Curreri graduated from RISD he'd composed "more than 200 songs" on guitar
and piano
. Turning down a job at MTV
, he set out on a life as a musician
. Following a spot at New York
's Knitting Factory
in 2001, he received several tour invites from Kelly Joe Phelps
. Over the next four years, the two would play over 100 concerts together.
Paul now makes his home in Charlottesville with songwriter
/guitarist
Devon Sproule
; the two were married in May 2005. They met while Devon was performing at a show in Charlottesville when Curreri leapt on stage. Today they perform with each other, known especially for their duets. Curreri also contributes electric guitar to his wife's back-up bands.
s), have become semi-legendary. Independent Brooklyn
-based label City Salvage Records released Curreri's first album, From Long Gones to Hawkmoth in April 2002. In June 2003, City Salvage Records released Curreri's second album
, Songs for Devon Sproule dedicated to his future wife
. Recorded by Kelly Joe Phelps
, in the same studio
he had recorded his own Roll Away The Stone and Shine Eyed Mister Zen albums, over the space of just two evenings, Songs for Devon Sproule captured Curreri at his simplest, and proved to be his most popular record to date. The album found Curreri accompanying himself on acoustic guitar
, creating a sound similar to his concert performances. However, Phelps did play guitar
on "Beneath A Crozet Trestle Bridge."
The resulting effort was an album of primarily original material nourished by, but not slavish to, the country blues
and folk
traditions which lie at the heart of Curreri's musical influence.
The Spirit Of The Staircase, Curreri's 2004 release saw the return of Jeff Romano, who produced and performed on 2002's From Long Gones To Hawkmoth. The title of the record comes from a French expression l'esprit d'escalier, the things you think to say after you are already out the door. His first live album, Are You Going To Paul Curreri, was released in 2006. Recorded at Charlottesville's (now-defunct) Gravity Lounge in late January, it was backed by two Charlottesville, Virginia
musicians – Randall Pharr (bass), and Spencer Lathrop (drums
).
Curreri's fifth album, The Velvet Rut, was released in the UK on Tin Angel Records in June 2007. It was released in the States
in October 2007, again on Brooklyn
's City Salvage Records. Uncut Magazine gave it four stars, while Mojo
gave it five stars. The Velvet Rut features a mass of sound surrounding eloquent guitar work with Curreri playing all the accompanying instruments himself.
His sixth album, California, was released in November 2009 by Tin Angel Records in the United Kingdom
, and in April 2010 through Hi-Ya in the United States. The "Hometown Release Concert" for the album was held August 7, 2010 at the Jefferson Theater
in Charlottesville, Virginia
. Sam Wilson performed on guitar, Jonathan Mills on bass, and Todd Wellons on drums—with Nathan Moore
opening.
Following college, after appearing at New York
's Knitting Factory
in 2001, he was invited to tour from Kelly Joe Phelps
and would appear with him over 150 times in coming years. After moving to Charlottesville, Virginia
in 2001, and meeting his future wife Devon Sproule
on stage, the now-defunct Gravity Lounge became something of a home venue for both. Curreri gave the first official concert at that venue. Many times over the years he and his wife performed together there, receiving particular acclaim for their Valentine's Day
duets. They both tour and perform in the UK extensively, where they have developed a considerable following.
In the interim, he produced approximately ten records, including the debut album for the English trio Don't Move!, a soundtrack for a Discovery Channel
documentary
on young farmers called "Greenhorns", and his wife, Devon Sproule's third official album, Don't Hurry For Heaven. Additionally, he slowly assembled his sixth album, California, which was released 2009 in the UK, and 2010 in the US. He also arranged and performed an instrumental version of "We Three Kings
" for Our Christmas Present (2008) to support Our Community Place in Harrisonburg, Virginia
.
He could often be seen riding his vintage 1976 Honda CB750
motorcycle through the Virginia countryside, a bike which he said played an "enormous role" in his life during the injury; however, when he returned to playing music regularly in 2010, he sold the bike citing fears that it was only a matter of time before he crashed. In a recent interview, Curreri called the injury "a gift," saying, "I'm looking to expand my perspective. I'm looking to find what I didn't have time to find before. I'm looking to appreciate."
Award for songwriting she received in June 2010 (see video).
He and his wife perform live duets regularly, especially for Valentine's Day
. In addition to the music, he's an original humorist known for telling engaging comic stories between songs.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and 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 performs mainly in the 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 blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
music styles, was born in Seattle, WA in 1976 and raised in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. His brother Matt Curreri is also a performing musician. Paul married 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...
/guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
in May 2005 and resided with her for several years in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. They often appear and tour together, performing duets—most famously for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
. He and his wife moved to Berlin, Germany in September 2011.
History
Paul Curreri was born January 28, 1976 in Seattle, WashingtonSeattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
. He was raised in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, where he first put bands together and performed as a musician. He was high-school buddies with fellow musician Drew Gibson, who now lives in Falls Church, Virginia
Falls Church, Virginia
The City of Falls Church is an independent city in Virginia, United States, in the Washington Metropolitan Area. The city population was 12,332 in 2010, up from 10,377 in 2000. Taking its name from The Falls Church, an 18th-century Anglican parish, Falls Church gained township status within...
, "from ages 13 to 18, playing in bands together, writing songs and encouraging each other." Though he grew up playing music, telling band members in high school that "he saw things in colour," he ended up enrolling at Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design
Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
(RISD) to pursue painting and film. While his experiences at art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
helped develop his ability to observe and record the visual world, his true passion again rose to the surface.
By the time Curreri graduated from RISD he'd composed "more than 200 songs" on guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and 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...
. Turning down a job at MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
, he set out on a life as a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
. Following a spot at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Knitting Factory
Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
in 2001, he received several tour invites from Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps is an American musician and songwriter. His music has been characterized as a mixture of delta blues and jazz.-Career:...
. Over the next four years, the two would play over 100 concerts together.
Paul now makes his home in Charlottesville with 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...
/guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
; the two were married in May 2005. They met while Devon was performing at a show in Charlottesville when Curreri leapt on stage. Today they perform with each other, known especially for their duets. Curreri also contributes electric guitar to his wife's back-up bands.
Recordings
Two early demos, referred to simply as "the red one" and "the blue one," containing early versions of well-known songs like "Bees" and "Senseless As A Cuckoo" (as well as unreleased balladBallad
A ballad is a form of verse, often a narrative set to music. Ballads were particularly characteristic of British and Irish popular poetry and song from the later medieval period until the 19th century and used extensively across Europe and later the Americas, Australia and North Africa. Many...
s), have become semi-legendary. Independent Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
-based label City Salvage Records released Curreri's first album, From Long Gones to Hawkmoth in April 2002. In June 2003, City Salvage Records released Curreri's second album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
, Songs for Devon Sproule dedicated to his future wife
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
. Recorded by Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps is an American musician and songwriter. His music has been characterized as a mixture of delta blues and jazz.-Career:...
, in the same studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
he had recorded his own Roll Away The Stone and Shine Eyed Mister Zen albums, over the space of just two evenings, Songs for Devon Sproule captured Curreri at his simplest, and proved to be his most popular record to date. The album found Curreri accompanying himself on acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
, creating a sound similar to his concert performances. However, Phelps did play guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
on "Beneath A Crozet Trestle Bridge."
The resulting effort was an album of primarily original material nourished by, but not slavish to, the country blues
Country blues
Country blues is a general term that refers to all the acoustic, mainly guitar-driven forms of the blues. It often incorporated elements of rural gospel, ragtime, hillbilly, and dixieland jazz...
and 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....
traditions which lie at the heart of Curreri's musical influence.
The Spirit Of The Staircase, Curreri's 2004 release saw the return of Jeff Romano, who produced and performed on 2002's From Long Gones To Hawkmoth. The title of the record comes from a French expression l'esprit d'escalier, the things you think to say after you are already out the door. His first live album, Are You Going To Paul Curreri, was released in 2006. Recorded at Charlottesville's (now-defunct) Gravity Lounge in late January, it was backed by two Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
musicians – Randall Pharr (bass), and Spencer Lathrop (drums
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
).
Curreri's fifth album, The Velvet Rut, was released in the UK on Tin Angel Records in June 2007. It was released in the States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in October 2007, again on Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
's City Salvage Records. Uncut Magazine gave it four stars, while Mojo
Mojo (magazine)
MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
gave it five stars. The Velvet Rut features a mass of sound surrounding eloquent guitar work with Curreri playing all the accompanying instruments himself.
His sixth album, California, was released in November 2009 by Tin Angel Records in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and in April 2010 through Hi-Ya in the United States. The "Hometown Release Concert" for the album was held August 7, 2010 at the Jefferson Theater
Jefferson Theater
Built in 1912, this combination vaudeville house/cinema is one of the major performing venues in Charlottesville, Virginia. Operated most recently as one of the dollar theaters, it is currently closed for renovations and is now owned by Coran Capshaw, who is overseeing restoration.It was designed...
in Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
. Sam Wilson performed on guitar, Jonathan Mills on bass, and Todd Wellons on drums—with Nathan Moore
Nathan Moore (United States musician)
Nathan Moore is a United States-based folk music guitarist and singer-songwriter best known for being a founding member of both ThaMuseMeant and Surprise Me Mr. Davis. Moore has also released numerous solo albums on Frogville Records, an independent record company he co-owns with John Treadwell...
opening.
Performance
Curreri began performing in rock bands while still in middle school. In interviews, he has given credit to his parents. First, they spent "a minor fortune, which they didn't have" to buy him a sequencing keyboard for Christmas ("There was nothing under the tree for me. I didn't know what was going on. But we were raised to be polite, so I was trying to enjoy my brother's and sister's gifts. Eventually, my parents shifted where they were standing to reveal this incredible keyboard -- an Ensoniq VFX-sd, complete with Peavey amp. I burst into tears.") And second, they opted to ignore Paul's grandmother's advice that joining a rock band would likely lead to "sex and drugs." Early "hilarious" band names included The End, P.A. Loyalties, Cross-eyed Grandma, and Sun 21. "Yeah, I've rocked my fair share of Jewish community centers," he said in 2007.Following college, after appearing at New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
's Knitting Factory
Knitting Factory
The Knitting Factory is a music venue and concert house with locations in Brooklyn, Boise, Reno, and Spokane. The club originally specialized in jazz and experimental music and has expanded to showcasing all genres of music, performing arts and comedy....
in 2001, he was invited to tour from Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps
Kelly Joe Phelps is an American musician and songwriter. His music has been characterized as a mixture of delta blues and jazz.-Career:...
and would appear with him over 150 times in coming years. After moving to Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
in 2001, and meeting his future wife Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule
Devon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
on stage, the now-defunct Gravity Lounge became something of a home venue for both. Curreri gave the first official concert at that venue. Many times over the years he and his wife performed together there, receiving particular acclaim for their Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
duets. They both tour and perform in the UK extensively, where they have developed a considerable following.
Throat injury
In July 2008, Curreri suffered a major throat injury, which caused him to cancel the majority of his remaining concerts for the year. As he describes it:In the interim, he produced approximately ten records, including the debut album for the English trio Don't Move!, a soundtrack for a Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel
Discovery Channel is an American satellite and cable specialty channel , founded by John Hendricks and distributed by Discovery Communications. It is a publicly traded company run by CEO David Zaslav...
documentary
Documentary
A documentary is a creative work of non-fiction, including:* Documentary film, including television* Radio documentary* Documentary photographyRelated terms include:...
on young farmers called "Greenhorns", and his wife, Devon Sproule's third official album, Don't Hurry For Heaven. Additionally, he slowly assembled his sixth album, California, which was released 2009 in the UK, and 2010 in the US. He also arranged and performed an instrumental version of "We Three Kings
We Three Kings
"We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns...
" for Our Christmas Present (2008) to support Our Community Place in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
.
He could often be seen riding his vintage 1976 Honda CB750
Honda CB750
The Honda CB750 is a motorcycle built in several model series between 1969 and 2003 and 2007 that is recognized as a milestone for Honda's successful introduction of a transverse, overhead camshaft inline four-cylinder engine that has ever since been the dominant sport bike configuration...
motorcycle through the Virginia countryside, a bike which he said played an "enormous role" in his life during the injury; however, when he returned to playing music regularly in 2010, he sold the bike citing fears that it was only a matter of time before he crashed. In a recent interview, Curreri called the injury "a gift," saying, "I'm looking to expand my perspective. I'm looking to find what I didn't have time to find before. I'm looking to appreciate."
Return
2009 also saw Curreri & Sproule travel to Kenya to collaborate with Kenyan legends Joseph Kamaru & Ochieng Nelly. He also did a few tours in Europe as Devon Sproule's guitar player. 2010 has seen a return to touring for Paul. He performed with his wife at the award ceremony for the ASCAP Foundation Sammy CahnSammy Cahn
Sammy Cahn was an American lyricist, songwriter and musician. He is best known for his romantic lyrics to films and Broadway songs, as well as stand-alone songs premiered by recording companies in the Greater Los Angeles Area...
Award for songwriting she received in June 2010 (see video).
Move to Berlin
In September 2011 Curreri and Sproule moved to Berlin, Germany after years of traveling to Europe to perform. "There have been a fair numbers of years where our careers have just primarily existed overseas," says Curreri. "The territories are so much smaller," he says, "and the access to national media is much easier. Because the territories are smaller, it's easier word-of-mouth-wise.". He also released his eighth album, The Big Shitty, which was recorded in Berlin at Tricone Studios in January of 2011. His regular English rhythm section -- Euan Rodger on drums, and Joe Carvell on bass -- provided the backing, and Curreri, true to form, filled in the remaining instruments. Devon Sproule also played clarinet on one track.Style and sound
Paul Curreri performs mainly in the folk and blues music styles. Known best for his solo acoustic performances, he also contributes electric guitar stylings to his wife's band, and has fielded his own band at times. He is renowned for intricate guitar work, and often plays all accompanying instruments himself on his recordings. Since the release in 2002 of his debut CD, Long Gones to Hawkmoth, as the Washington Post states: "he's been collecting critical praise ever since for his bluesy Americana tunes and wild-eyed tales." Other media reflections on his style and sound include . .He and his wife perform live duets regularly, especially for Valentine's Day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
. In addition to the music, he's an original humorist known for telling engaging comic stories between songs.
Discography
- From Long Gones to Hawkmoth (2002) City Salvage — ASIN: B000CAFYYK
- Songs for Devon Sproule (2003) Tin Angel / City Salvage — ASIN: B0015HQGLE
- The Spirit Of The Staircase (2004) City Salvage — ASIN: B000CAGHZK
- Are You Going To Paul Curreri (2006) City Salvage — ASIN: B000FTB30C
- The Velvet Rut (2007) Tin Angel / City Salvage — ASIN: B000RPCEBG
- Valentine's Duets with Devon SprouleDevon SprouleDevon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
(2007) - California (2009) Tin Angel / Hi-Ya — ASIN: B002ONEIOK
Compilations
- King of My Living Room (2003) King of My Living Room recorded at Old Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, September 5, 2003; performed "Don't Chew Me Up"—ASIN: (unknown)
- Our Christmas Present (2008) Our Community Place, arranged and performed an instrumental version of "We Three KingsWe Three Kings"We Three Kings", also known as "We Three Kings of Orient Are" or "The Quest of the Magi", is a Christmas carol written by the Reverend John Henry Hopkins, Jr., who wrote both the lyrics and the music. It is suggested to have been written in 1857 but did not appear in print until his Carols, Hymns...
"
Distinctions, honors, and awards
- His fifth album, The Velvet Rut (2007), received five stars from MojoMojo (magazine)MOJO is a popular music magazine published initially by Emap, and since January 2008 by Bauer, monthly in the United Kingdom. Following the success of the magazine Q, publishers Emap were looking for a title which would cater for the burgeoning interest in classic rock music...
and Uncut Magazine gave it four stars. - He was voted BEST LOCAL SOLO MUSICIAN 2001 in his hometown of Charlottesville, Virginia in the C-Ville Weekly "BEST OF 2001" issue.
- Danny SchmidtDanny SchmidtDanny Schmidt is an American singer-songwriter based in Austin, Texas where he was born and raised and now lives with fellow musician and singer-songwriter Carrie Elkin.-Biography:...
's "Two Guitars" on Man of Many Moons (2011) takes the form of a letter back to Curreri, lamenting "the state of their common 'careers' (having quit their day-jobs to become full-time artists)."
See also
- Devon SprouleDevon SprouleDevon Sproule is a musician based for many years in Charlottesville, Virginia. She married musician and singer-songwriter Paul Curreri in 2005. She shared the prestigious ASCAP Foundation Sammy Cahn Award for 2009 with Oren Lavie...
- Folk musicFolk musicFolk 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....
- Blues music
- Charlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville, VirginiaCharlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
- Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, VirginiaRichmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
- Singer-songwriterSinger-songwriterSinger-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...
- Rhode Island School of DesignRhode Island School of DesignRhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, Rhode Island. It was founded in 1877. Located at the base of College Hill, the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and...
External links
- Official Website Paul Curreri
- Myspace page Paul Curreri
- City Salvage Records
- Chondo Paul Curreri
Reviews, articles, interviews
- "Buzz-California dreams: Paul Curreri inspired, inquisitive on newest album" by Stephanie Garcia, July 27, 2010, in The Hook.
- "Folk Couples, Covered: Sproule & Curreri, Schmidt & Elkin, and Ritter & Landes" Cover Lay Down June 27, 2010.
- "Music Review: Paul Curreri - California" by David Bowling, April 7, 2010 in BC* *blogcritics.
- "Paul Curreri And Devon Sproule: A Couple Of Solo Artists" interviewed by Liane Hansen, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday, April 4, 2010.
- "Album: Paul Curreri, California (Hi-Ya / Tin Angel)" reviewed by Nick Coleman, 22 November 2009, in The Independent.
- "Paul Curreri: The Hamner Theater; Saturday, March 29" by Brendan Fitzgerald, in Issue #20.14 :: 04/01/2008 - 04/07/2008 of C-ville Weekly.
- "Live Review: Devon Sproule and Paul Curreri at the Boardwalk, Sheffield" by Allan Wilkinson, February 13, 2008.
- "MOJO Rising: Sweet Virginia whispers and guitar, off the top of his head." by Sophie Harris, 21 January 2008 in Wheels In Motion.
- "PAUL CURRERI & DEVON SPROULE this Tuesday at Anno Domini!" posted October 22, 2007 in Village Savant.
- Live! Paul Curreri, Drew Gibson and Devon Sproule June 27, 2007 at Jammin Java, Vienna—June 21, 2007 in The Washington Post.
- "Paul Curreri @ The Spitz, London, 23/06/2007" by jacoustic in Seen Live in 2007 (with brief reviews) 24 Jun 2007 last.fm.
- "Paul Curreri - The Velvet Rut (Tin Angel)" by Danuta Kean, UK release date: 11 June 2007, (four out of five stars) in MusicOMH.com.
- The Velvet Rut by Jessica Star Rockers for Seattle.net (2007).
- review of The Velvet Rut on Sound Generator.
- "SONGS FOR DEVON SPROULE (City Salvage) • Paul Curreri review in Puremusic..
- review of From Long Gones to Hawkmoth on Bitmunk.
- "Long night: Music better in small bites. Meredith Bragg, Paul Curreri, and James Mason @ Tokyo Rose Thursday, June 5" MUSIC REVIEW by Mark Grabowsky, published June 12, 2003 in issue #0223 of The Hook.
- "Sonic boom: Local sound scene doesn't just rock" COVER STORY by Mark Grabowski, published July 28, 2002, in issue #25 of The Hook.