SINGER+
SONGWRITER
NASHVILLE EXPERIENCE
I didn’t officially add “singer” to “songwriter” until I went to Nashville and was encouraged by my mentors, George N. Stein and Steven L. Sharp, to perform the songs that I was writing. It’s easy to be part of a 4-piece band, hand your songs off to a capable singer and melt into the shadows. Just you and your acoustic guitar, well, that’s a completely different dynamic. I’ve come to embrace the possibilities that this frontier provides. I also work with a bassist and drummer when I want to add an electric element to the songs.
In addition to songwriting for my own releases, I’ve had the great opportunity to compose for musical theater and to create sonic beds for dance, film, radio and television. Known collectively as a “music library”, I have recorded a multitude of instrumental tunes of varied genres for these background, or foreground applications. This is the commerce part of what I do.
SONGWRITER REPRESENTATION and WRITER DEVELOPMENT - 2006 - 2010
Steven L. Sharp, SHARP OBJECTS Publishing and Song Plugging, Nashville, Tenn.
Steven, who once worked as a radio promoter for Dwight Yoakum, formed this music company with his brother Randy Sharp and Randy’s daughter, Maia. Both Randy and Maia are highly regarded songwriters and performers. Their songs have been cut by major recording artists including Bonnie Raitt and Emmylou Harris.
Steven became a dear friend of mine and he championed my songs tirelessly. I was primarily a Rock and Americana songwriter when I joined his team. My immersion into the songwriting scene there was immediate.
Upon my arrival on Music Row, I had numerous co-write opportunities lined up with established songwriters, performance opportunities and more importantly, the chance to absorb the rich musical history of Nashville.
I flew down to Nashville quarterly. But to make major inroads in the business, Steven said that I truly needed to move there. This was not in the cards. I was a devoted father to two young daughters and husband to my wife, Lisa. I chose love over gold.
Although a native Oregonian, I was known to my co-writers as the “guy from New York”. I embraced this. It was George N. Stein, the legendary music attorney from NYC who connected me with the Nashville scene. George is credited for the discovery and subsequent management of Jeff Buckley. (Buckley is widely known for his version of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah”)
With the help of George, those once closed doors flew open. My music caught his ear and he provided me with every opportunity to be heard. I’m forever grateful for his guidance.
My songs were pitched to major label artists such as Keith Urban, Martina McBride, Hank Williams Jr., Blake Shelton, Tim McGraw, Blaine Larsen, Montgomery Gentry, Alan Jackson, Mark Chesnutt, George Straight and Billy Currington to name a few.
Sadly, Steven L. Sharp passed away after a prolonged illness. He died the day I finished recording “Welcome Home”a song dedicated to my deceased brother, Jeff.
I was sending the song to Steven for preview when I heard the news of his passing.
Welcome Home, Steven.
musical theater composition
with Integrity Productions - 1999 -2019
“ELEEMOSYNARY” 1999
MUSIC COMPOSITION AND SOUND DESIGN- Greg Paul
“BETTER LIVING” 2000
SOUND DESIGN- Greg Paul
with JANE a Theater Company “The Hullabaloo”
“RED GOES GREEN” 2008, 2010, 2013
BOOK by KIM BOGUS
MUSIC and LYRICS , ORCHESTRATIONS and SOUND DESIGN- Greg Paul
PAMTA Nomination for Outstanding Song- “I Can’t Find My Way Home”
“HANSEL AND GRETEL” 2009
BOOK by KIM BOGUS
MUSIC and LYRICS, ORCHESTRATIONS and SOUND DESIGN- Greg Paul
PAMTA Nominations for Outstanding Song- “Bad Economy”, “Pilates of the Caribbean” and “Something Sweeter”
PAMTA AWARD WINNER (Portland Area Musical Theater Awards)
OUTSTANDING ORIGINAL SONG 2009 - “Something Sweeter”
“FRANKENSTEIN, THE LITTLE MONSTER” 2011
BOOK by KIM BOGUS
MUSIC and LYRICS, ORCHESTRATIONS and SOUND DESIGN- Greg Paul
PAMTA AWARD WINNER (Portland Area Musical Theater Awards)
Outstanding Original Orchestrations
“THE PRINCESS AND THE PEA” 2012
BOOK by KIM BOGUS
MUSIC and LYRICS, ORCHESTRATIONS and SOUND DESIGN- Greg Paul
PAMTA Nominations for Outstanding Orchestrations, Outstanding Original Song,
Outstanding Original Score and Outstanding Original Music
“GOLDILOCKS AND THE THREE BEARS” 2014
BOOK by KIM BOGUS
MUSIC and LYRICS, ORCHESTRATIONS and SOUND DESIGN- Greg Paul
with JANE a Theater Company and BrunDog Productions
“ALICE IN WONDERLAND” 2019
BOOK by KIM BOGUS
“Your One and Only Queen” and “Your Tweetin’ Heart
MUSIC AND LYRICS – Greg Paul
“THIS TOWN” The Richard Foreman Mini-Fest 2012
Directed by Catherine Egan
Choreographed by Catherine Egan and Keyon Gaskin
Music by Greg Paul and Catherine Egan
Actors- Anna Sorce, Keyon Gaskin and Greg Paul
TELEVISION
2010 - 2011
KOIN “STUDIO 6”
CONTRACT SOUND ENGINEER AND RECORDIST - GREG PAUL
40 LOCAL, REGIONAL AND NATIONAL MUSICAL ACTS PERFORMING IN THE STUDIO. Live Broadcast.
THEME SONG AND BUMPER MUSIC - GREG PAUL
INTERNET RADIO
2004 - 2006
CROWCHOW RADIO (live 365)
LIVE MONTHLY BROADCAST OF MUSICAL ACTS
OVER 25 SHOWS FEATURING A VARIETY OF NW BANDS
LIVE SOUND ENGINEER AND RECORDIST - GREG PAUL
HOST- BOAN JONES
INTERNET GURU- FALENCHEK
THEME SONG- GREG PAUL
ARTIST IN RESIDENCY
2005 - 2006
ROSE CITY PARK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
What’s not to love about writing and recording songs with kids. I worked with hundreds of students from kindergarten through 5th grade, helping them craft original music and lyrics. At the end of each term, the budding songwriters performed their own songs for teachers, guardians, parents and family members in the school auditorium. Their results were met with thundering applause.
This was a gratifying and humbling experience, not only for me, but for the students, as well.