Steve Paul
Encyclopedia
Steve Paul is particularly notable as the one-time manager of Johnny Winter
, among other related performers, as well as being the owner of Steve Paul's Scene and the founder of Blue Sky Records
.
review of Texas music by Larry Sepulvado, in which Winter was described as "the hottest item outside of Janis Joplin
". Based on Paul's negotiating abilities, Winter shortly thereafter in 1968 signed the then largest recording contract ever offered by Columbia Records
: $600,000, payable over five years.
Winter performed regularly at Steve Paul's New York club, The Scene, where various artists, such as Jimi Hendrix
, Jim Morrison
and Janis Joplin
, would make guest appearances. Many of these performances were of historic significance, such as the performance by Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles
and Johnny Winter in February 1969.
Johnny Winter appeared at Woodstock Music Festival
, but his performance was not included in the film or initial soundtrack recordings, due to unresolved contractual issues between Steve Paul and the festival organizers, prior to Winter's performance.
Steve Paul was Winter's manager for fifteen years. In 1970, Paul, who also managed The McCoys
, brought the artists together, resulting in Winter's successful Johnny Winter And
(1970), including the hit "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo
". The McCoys had first met Winter during their term as the resident house band at The Scene, commencing in 1969.
In 1973, Paul started Blue Sky Records
, a label promoted and distributed by Columbia Records
. Between 1973 and 1982, it became the principal recording label for Johnny Winter
, Edgar Winter
, Rick Derringer
and David Johansen
, all of whom were managed by Paul. Through Johnny Winter's involvement as a producer, the label is also credited with reviving the later career of Muddy Waters
. The label largely ceased operations with Winter's departure in 1983, which coincided with the termination of his management relationship with Steve Paul.
In later years, Paul developed Downtown TV, an online entertainment network.
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, among other related performers, as well as being the owner of Steve Paul's Scene and the founder of Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records was a custom label created by Steve Paul for Columbia Records, featuring acts managed by Steve Paul, primarily Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, David Johansen and Muddy Waters.-History:...
.
History
Steve Paul's initial reputation was as the owner of Steve Paul's The Scene, a popular New York City club in the 1960s and 1970s. In 1968, he became the manager of Johnny Winter. Paul had travelled from New York to Texas to successfully promote his managerial abilities to Winter, after reading a Rolling StoneRolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
review of Texas music by Larry Sepulvado, in which Winter was described as "the hottest item outside of Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
". Based on Paul's negotiating abilities, Winter shortly thereafter in 1968 signed the then largest recording contract ever offered by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
: $600,000, payable over five years.
Winter performed regularly at Steve Paul's New York club, The Scene, where various artists, such as Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
, Jim Morrison
Jim Morrison
James Douglas "Jim" Morrison was an American musician, singer, and poet, best known as the lead singer and lyricist of the rock band The Doors...
and Janis Joplin
Janis Joplin
Janis Lyn Joplin was an American singer, songwriter, painter, dancer and music arranger. She rose to prominence in the late 1960s as the lead singer of Big Brother and the Holding Company and later as a solo artist with her backing groups, The Kozmic Blues Band and The Full Tilt Boogie Band...
, would make guest appearances. Many of these performances were of historic significance, such as the performance by Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles
Buddy Miles
George Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.-Early life:George Allen Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on...
and Johnny Winter in February 1969.
Johnny Winter appeared at Woodstock Music Festival
Woodstock Festival
Woodstock Music & Art Fair was a music festival, billed as "An Aquarian Exposition: 3 Days of Peace & Music". It was held at Max Yasgur's 600-acre dairy farm in the Catskills near the hamlet of White Lake in the town of Bethel, New York, from August 15 to August 18, 1969...
, but his performance was not included in the film or initial soundtrack recordings, due to unresolved contractual issues between Steve Paul and the festival organizers, prior to Winter's performance.
Steve Paul was Winter's manager for fifteen years. In 1970, Paul, who also managed The McCoys
The McCoys
The McCoys were a rock group that started in Union City, Indiana, in 1962.-Career:The original members, all from Union City, were guitarist Richard Zehringer , his brother Randy on drums, and bassist Dennis Kelly. This first line-up was known as The Rick Z Combo, and later known as Rick and the...
, brought the artists together, resulting in Winter's successful Johnny Winter And
Johnny Winter And
Johnny Winter And is the fourth studio album by Texas blues guitarist Johnny Winter, released in 1970. This was the first album released with Rick Derringer as sideman...
(1970), including the hit "Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo
Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo
"Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo" is a rock song written by Rick Derringer. It was first recorded by Johnny Winter with Derringer in 1970. In 1973, Derringer recorded a solo version and it became his only Top 40 chart hit, peaking on the Billboard Hot 100 at #23...
". The McCoys had first met Winter during their term as the resident house band at The Scene, commencing in 1969.
In 1973, Paul started Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records was a custom label created by Steve Paul for Columbia Records, featuring acts managed by Steve Paul, primarily Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, David Johansen and Muddy Waters.-History:...
, a label promoted and distributed by Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. Between 1973 and 1982, it became the principal recording label for Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, Edgar Winter
Edgar Winter
Edgar Holland Winter is an American musician. He is famous for being a multi-instrumentalist. He is a highly skilled keyboardist, saxophonist and percussionist. He often plays an instrument while singing. He was most successful in the 1970s with his band, The Edgar Winter Group, notably with their...
, Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer
Rick Derringer is an American guitarist, vocalist, and entertainer.-1960s:When he was seventeen years old, his band The McCoys recorded "Hang on Sloopy" in the summer of 1965, which became the number one song in America before "Yesterday" by The Beatles knocked it out of the top spot. The song was...
and David Johansen
David Johansen
David Roger Johansen is an American rock, protopunk, blues, and pop singer, as well as a songwriter and actor. He is best known as a member of the seminal protopunk band The New York Dolls and also achieved commercial success under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter.-Early life:Johansen was born in...
, all of whom were managed by Paul. Through Johnny Winter's involvement as a producer, the label is also credited with reviving the later career of Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
. The label largely ceased operations with Winter's departure in 1983, which coincided with the termination of his management relationship with Steve Paul.
In later years, Paul developed Downtown TV, an online entertainment network.