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Paul Nelson (musician)

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This article is about the rock guitarist. For other uses, seePaul Nelson.
Paul Nelson
Background information
Born(1960-10-18)October 18, 1960
New York City, New York,U.S.
DiedMarch 10, 2024(2024-03-10)(aged 63)
GenresBlues,rock,pop,funk,jamR&B
Occupations
  • Musician
  • songwriter
  • arranger
  • record producer
  • performer
InstrumentGuitar
LabelsSony, Virgin, Sony Japan, EMI, Megaforce, Mascot, Universal, Friday Music, Warner, Metal Blade, Lion, Century Media, Drive-Thru, Cleopatra Records, NBC, WWE, TNN
Formerly ofPaul Nelson Band
Websitepaulnelsonguitar

Paul Nelson(October 18, 1960 – March 10, 2024) was an American, Grammy Award winning blues and rock guitarist, record producer and songwriter.[1][2][3][4]He played and or recorded alongside artists such as Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and members of the Allman Brothers Band. He was the hand-picked guitarist to joinJohnny Winter's band in 2010,[5][6][7][8]performing on and producing several of Winter's albums, including theGrammy Award-nominatedI'm a Blues Man,Roots,andStep Back,which won theGrammy Award for Best Blues Album,[9][10][11]debuted at number one on theBillboardchartfor Blues Albums,[12]andIndependent Albums,[13]and debuted at number 16 on theBillboard200 albums chart, marking the highest spot in Winter's career. Nelson was also aBlues Music Awardrecipient for Best Rock Blues Album,[14]and was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame[15]and was a recipient of the KBA award from theBlues Foundation.[16]He received a Grammy nomination for his work as producer and performer onJoe Louis Walker's,Everybody Wants a Piece.

Career

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Paul Nelson was credited as being a composer and performer for music heard on international and national television broadcasts such as NBC, TNN, and UPN, as well as for the WWE and was featured in many publications such asRolling Stone,Billboard,USA Today,Guitar World,Guitar Player,Premier Guitar,Classic Rock,andVintage Guitarmagazines. His solo guitar work can be heard on his first solo CD, entitled "Look "and his Sony/EMI album release "Badass Generation" He also performed on theHalifaxsong "Anthem For Tonight" from their albumThe Inevitability of a Strange World,and featured on the Xbox 360 gamePrey.Nelson also produced many albums, including 14 albums for Johnny Winter'sLive Bootlegseries (all breaking the top 10 in the Billboard Blues Chart); plusMartin Barre'sLive at the Factory Underground.

Nelson produced and performed onJoe Louis Walker's,Everybody Wants a Piece;for which he received a Grammy Nomination, a James Montgomery album featuring Jimmy Vivino (Conan B'Brien), Mark Naftalin (Paul Butterfield Blues Band), Grace Kelly (Stephen Colbert) and the Uptown Horns (Rolling Stone, James Brown); He also produced albums for Leo "Bud" Welch album;Lance LopezLive From NYC;Tyler Morris —Next in Line,Otis —Eyes of the Sun.

Nelson executive produced and appeared in the Johnny Winter documentaryDown And Dirty,directed by Greg Oliver and also appeared in the documentarySidemen: Long Road To GloryalongsideGregg Allman,Bonnie Raitt,Elvin Bishop,Pinetop Perkins,andHubert Sumlin.

Early years

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Nelson was born inManhattan,New York,his love for music and the guitar started at an early age listening to and playing blues, rock, pop, jazz, fusion, country, funk, and Southern rock, becoming inspired by guitar playersBilly Gibbons,Jeff Beck,Robben Ford,Larry Carlton,Johnny Winter,Albert Collins,Freddie King,Stevie Ray Vaughan,Joe Satriani,Jimi Hendrix,B.B. King,andDuane Allman.Wanting to pursue music as a career he enrolled intoBerklee College of Music,quickly discoveringMiles Davis,John Coltrane and Wes Montgomery. It was soon after he began studying privately with Steve Vai, Mike Stern, and Steve Khan. Nelson soon built an name for himself as an "A" list session player and was on the first call list for guitar spots for many national and international performing artists this later on led to his teaming up with Rock/Blues Icon Johnny Winter.

Later career

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Nelson toured the world sharing the stage and or recording with top artists such asBuddy Guy,Johnny Winter,Eric Clapton,Billy Gibbons,Vince Gill,Slash,Brian Setzer,Joe Perry,Derek Trucks,Edgar Winter,Ben Harper,Hubert Sumlin,Rick Derringer,Robben Ford,Joe Bonamassa,James Cotton,Steve Vai,Sonny Landreth,Earl Slick,Bob Margolin,Dickey Betts,Mark Knopfler,Bobby Rush,Joe Walsh,Pat Travers,Brent Mason,Larry Carlton,Elvin Bishop,Derek St. Holmes,Kim Simmonds/Savoy Brown,Gov't Mule,Anders Osborne,Quinn Sullivan,Los Lobos,Lucky Peterson,Samantha Fish,Ana Popović,Jon Herington,Ronnie Baker Brooks,JT Taylor,Joe Louis Walker,Popa Chubby,Bobby Rush,Ricky Byrd,Mark Naftalin,Ronnie Earl,Susan Tedeschi,G-Love,Jeff Timmons,Jerry Portnoy,Samantha Fish,Uptown Horns,Harvey Brooks,Steven Seagal,Bill Evans,Magic Slim,Coco Montoya,Reese Wynans,Kid Ramos,Scott Sharrard,Ray Davies,George Lynch,Kenny Wayne Shepherd,Ana Popović,Anthony Jackson,Tom Hambridge,Junior Brown,John Medeski,Ron Holloway,Jimmy VivinoofLate Night With Conan O'Brien,Paul Schaffer'sCBS Orchestra,and the Blues Brothers Horns. He appeared onLate Night With David LettermanandJimmy Kimmel Live.Nelson released his first solo instrumental album entitledLookand then signed with Sony Music Group for The Paul Nelson Band album,Badass Generation,and tours internationally.

Nelson producedShaw Davis & the Black Tiesthird album,Red Sun Rebellion(2021).[17]

On March 12, 2024, Nelson's management, Bullseye Management, announced on Instagram that he had died from a heart attack, on March 10, aged 63, while on the road touring.[18][19]

Selected discography

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  • The Worldwide Mega-Book of Heavy Metal Bands (Rock & Roll Reference Series)(book)(feat. Artist)
  • Wacken Open Airdocumentory(Feat.Guitarist/interview)
  • Look– Paul Nelson BWB Records (Solo Album)
  • Warmth in the Wilderness: A Tribute to Jason Becker– Lion Records "Blue" (feat Guitarist)
  • Gigs From Hell: True Stories From Rock and Roll's Frontline(book) (Feat. Story)
  • A Return To Fantasy: A Tribute To Uriah HeepCentury Media Records – various artists (feat Artist)
  • A-Z of Power Metal (Rockdetector)(book/CD) Feat. Artist)
  • Beyond Inspiration: A Tribute to Uli Jon Roth– Lion Music "Pagannini Paraphrase (Feat. Guitarist)
  • I'm a BluesmanVirgin Records –Johnny Winter(Guitarist/Writer)
  • The Collector's Guide To Heavy Metal(book) (Feat. Artist)
  • Prey– Xbox 360
  • The Mob(Producer)
  • The Inevitability of a Strange World–HalifaxDrive Thru Records (guest Guitarist)
  • PigswearEMI/Virgin (Producer)
  • Johnny Winter Live Bootleg Series Volume 1(Producer)
  • Warmth in the Wilderness, Vol. II: A Tribute to Jason Becker– various artists (Feat. Guitarist)
  • Johnny Winter Live Bootleg Series Volume 2(Producer)
  • Johnny Winter Live Bootleg Series Volume 3(Producer)
  • Johnny Winter Live Bootleg Series Volume 4(Producer)
  • Raisin' Cain: The Wild and Raucous Story of Johnny Winter(book) (feat. Artist)
  • Live On The Legendary Rhythm & Blues Cruise–Joe Louis Walker(guest guitarist)
  • Johnny Winter Plays The BluesCherry Lane (instructional Book/CD) (guest guitarist)
  • Roots– Johnny Winter Megaforce Records (guitarist/Producer)
  • Live From Japan– Johnny Winter – DVD EMI (guitarist/Producer)
  • True to the Blues: The Johnny Winter Story– Johnny Winter Sony Legacy (Ex. Producer)
  • Step BackSony/Megaforce – Johnny Winter (guitarist/Producer)
  • Everybody Wants a Piece–Joe Louis WalkerMascot Records (guest guitarist/Producer)
  • Blues ChristmasCleopatra Records – various artists
  • Southern Rock ChristmasCleopatra Records – various artists
  • XFL Televised Football LeagueNBC TNN UPN (Guitarist/Music Composer)
  • Live From NYCCleopatra Records –Lance Lopez(Producer)
  • Badass GenerationSony Records/EMI – Paul Nelson Band (solo album)
  • Johnny Winter: Down and DirtyMegaforce/EMI documentary (Feat. Artist)
  • Sidemen: Long Road To Glorydocumentary Feat. Artist
  • The James Montgomery Blues BandCleopatra Records –James Montgomery(guest guitarist/Producer)
  • Life of a DreamerBlue Canoe Records – Yonrico Scott (Derek Trucks) (guest Guitarist)
  • 10,000 Feet BelowE H Records –Eliza Neals"Cold Cold Night (feat. Paul Nelson)"
  • InstrumentHead– Michael Weintrob Photography Book (feat Artist)
  • Eyes of The SunCleopatra Records – Otis (guest Guitarist/Ex.Producer)
  • Next in LineVizztone Records – Tyler Morris (Producer)
  • Live At The UndergroundPilot Light Records – Martin Barre (Producer)
  • All I Got for Christmas was the Blues and a Broken Heart– (Paul Nelson and Anthony Krizan - Spin Doctors)
  • Rise Up– (Harper and The Midwest Kind) (guest Guitarist)
  • Borrowed Time– (Memphis Lightning) (guest Guitarist)
  • Consider ThisThread City Records – (Patty Tuite) (guest guitarist/Producer)
  • Red Sun RebellionSony – (Shaw Davis & the Black Ties(Producer)
  • Hard Case of The BluesThread City Records – Patty Tuite (guitarist/Producer)
  • Prestidigitation– Tobin Mueller (Guitarist)
  • My Time To Shine– Jureesa McBride (guitarist/Producer)
  • Grab Brothers(Pilot Light Records) – Grab Brothers (guest guitarist/Producer)
  • It Ain't Easy(Pilot Light Records) – Joshua Morris (guest guitarist/Producer)
  • InstrumentHead Revealed– Michael Weintrob Photography Book (feat Artist)
  • Too Much Blues(Pilot Light Records) – Willie J Laws (guest guitarist/Producer)
  • Guitar Head(Deko Records/Warner) – Marcus Rezak (Producer)
  • Ready To Rock(For the Love of King/Bootsy Collins Foundation Album #11 with Paul McCartny) (Various Artists)
  • Traces Of Yesterday(Deko/Warner) - Zero One Zero (Producer)[20]

References

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  1. ^Prato, Greg."Paul Nelson: Biography",AllMusic.Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  2. ^McAvinchey, Dan (February 2002)."Interview with Paul Nelson",Guitar Nine. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  3. ^Philippov, Mike."Guitar PracticeInterview with Paul Nelson ",PracticeGuitarNow. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  4. ^Limnios, Michael (September 16, 2011)."Interview with Guitarist Paul Nelson, of Johnny Winter and One of the Most Emerging Producers",Blues.Gr. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  5. ^Rubin, Dave (April 20, 2006)."Johnny Winter's Journey Through the Blues",Guitar Player.Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  6. ^Cecolini, Vinny (February 2013)."Johnny Winter: The Blues, Down to the Roots"Archived2015-03-11 atarchive.today,Jam Magazine Online. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  7. ^Feenstra, Pete (April 2007)."Interview with Guitarist Paul Nelson, Producer of Blues Rock Guitarist Johnny Winter",Get Ready to Rock. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  8. ^Wright, Jeb (2012)."Johnny Winter and Paul Nelson: His Saving Grace",Classic Rock Revisited. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  9. ^Gallo, Phil (March 14, 2014)."Johnny Winter Sets NewRootsAlbum with Eric Clapton, Joe Perry, Ben Harper ",Billboard.Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  10. ^Tobias, Mike (February 8, 2015)."Winter'sStep BackWins Grammy for Best Blues Album ",The Beaumont Enterprise.Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  11. ^Maloni, Joshua (March 5, 2015)."Step BackProducer, Guitarist Paul Nelson Remembers His Friend, Johnny Winter ",Niagara Frontier Publications. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
  12. ^"Blues Albums: September 20, 2014",Billboard.Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  13. ^"Independent Albums: September 20, 2014",Billboard.Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  14. ^Mehr, Bob."Bishop, Rush Among Blues Music Award Winners",The Commercial Appeal.Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  15. ^"Paul Nelson",New York Blues Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  16. ^"Keeping the Blues Alive Award Recipients Announced",BluesWebzine, November 15, 2010. Retrieved August 11, 2015.
  17. ^"ABOUT".Shawdavisblackties.RetrievedSeptember 24,2022.
  18. ^"Bullseye Management regrets to announce that Paul Nelson passed away on March 10, 2024 from a heart attack while on the road and touring".Paul Nelson Official on Instagram.Retrieved2024-03-13.
  19. ^"Paul Nelson, Grammy-winning CT guitarist who played with legends, dies".CT Insider. 14 March 2024.Retrieved14 March2024.
  20. ^"Paul Nelson | Credits".AllMusic.Retrieved16 July2023.
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