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PAUL’S PERSONAL BIO:
Through the years of my career, I've written many artist bio's for press record companies, promoters, managers, etc.. This is the first personal bio I've ever written. Since my artistic stature is not of superstar size, I'll try not to make it a novel.
I was born in 1955 in Elyria, OH. This is the same year Rock-n-roll was officially born and inonically in Cleveland the same area. My Mother, Carolyn Pope, was born and raised in the same area. My Father, John Paul Pope grew up in Washington, D.C.. This is why I was given the name Paul Pope (my Grandfather's name). Originally his name was Paul Papay, but he Americanized the name to Pope in order to get a job in D.C. during the depression
I grew up in a family of five boys. I was the middle child. My older brothers were identical twins. They were two years older than me. So my clothes were two years out of style and I could wear the same outfit all week long and still have it clean everyday!! As far as music in my family, my Mother was a majorette in high school and my Father played the harmonica. They both loved music. They spent time and money for me and all my four brothers to play music. I started playing the guitar at the age of eight and took lessons till13 years old. In fifth grade I played the french horn and played for a total of three years. It was with my older brothers (the twins) Tim and Tom that I formed my first band. Even on my first solo album both participated.
In 1968 my Father passed away. It was a devistating time of my life. I was 13. My brother Dan was nine and John was two. My older brothers, Tim and Tom were 15and in the seminary. The Pope's Catholic? Yes, as a matter of fact, I was voted as the President of the altar boys that year. I played guitar during church mass on Sundays.
As far as sports in my life, I played baseball. Had I not pursued music, I would have pursued baseball. Since my Mother was by herself to raise five boys after my Father passed, she allowed me to have band practice while she collected tolls at the Ohio Turnpike. She trusted me. Here was the deal: You go to school every day on time and get good grades and you can play in a band. This was good because while my older brothers were away at the seminary, I could be home with my younger brother and my Mom could go to work to support our family. It turned out to be a good situation.
At the age of 15 on Christmas Day I made my connection with Molkie Cole. Here was four guys in college and me 15 years old. Again, my Mom said “You miss school or get bad grades...no music”. I played with the band two times a week and I went to school everyday. It was at this point I wrote the song “Did You Know I Love” “Untitled” about my Father's passing. The ironic part of Untitled is I wrote it after seeing a band named Glass Harp, (John Sferra). Shortly after that, the barn that Molkie Cole practiced in caught fire and burned down. Hence, the Molkie Cole album cover. Had it not been for the fact I lost every bit of musical equipment I owned except for my “55” Gibson, Les Paul, I would have hung it up right then and there.
So in the meantime, I went back to work at the local greenhouse. After this all happened the band thing was in limbo. Molkie Cole members dropped out and I was trying to save money for a new ? amps, pa system, lights and also recrute new players. So being young with an entertainers attitude, my theater class teacher asked me to try out for the school play. So I did. The play was “Your a Good Man Charlie Brown”. Guess who I was? That's right, I was “Snoopy”. For those not familiar with it, it's a musical. Well to make a long story short, I recevied a scholarship from Kent State University for music and theater. Which I have to mention, Robbie Rist, who by the way shares the same birthday as me, played “Charlie Brown” in the same high school play ten years later!!
So guess what happened. I didn't take the scholarship and instead went on the road with a rock band. Molkie Cole started touring Western New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
The music scene escalated rapidly with Molkie Cole. We soon then signed with Janus Records. Janus Records was a spin off label from the previous Chess-Janus Records. Chess Records was an early blues label, When the Molkie Cole album was released we were in a tough situation with the label. The Al Stewart “Year of the Cat” was released at the same time. Janus had thousands invested in this record, especially since they paid big bucks for the production hand of Alan Parsons. The exact amount I do not know, but it was better then $250,000. Since the company hold sucha small staff, we ended up on a back burner record. We also had production problems. I saw this problem coming. One song that we demoed was Winter. Janus loved it. When we recoded the album the producer had us redo it. He added a harmonica solo and featured more keyboard. By the way, to this day it still bugs the hell out of me!!!!! I spent the whole album arguing about the sounds. But what I was to know, I was only 19 year old. It was at this time I knew I had to learn record production.
It was also at this time my brother, Tom, was working radio in the Cleveland area. His knowledge of the industry and his keen sense of sound was a great guidance. The Molkie Cole extravaganza did take to the world of Rock-n-roll. Molkie Cole opened for acts such as Kansas, Meatloaf, CheapTrick, Ted Nugent, Dr. Hook, etc.. The whole escapade took seven years of my life. The grand finale happened when Molkie Cole was scheduled to appear at the Navy Pier in Chicago. At the time I had come down with mono and a hernia. (Lookin Back). Well the band leader cancelled the appearance using that as the excuse. The fact as we were getting paid $200 too play in front of 80-150 thousand people. Great exposure and lots of record sales. Previously we had cancelled opening for Michael Stanley Band at Clinton Civic Auditorium in Canton, OH. I was willing to perform in my condition. I was cancelled without my vote so I quit. To this day Michael still talks to me. I don't know about the other members.
So life in Rock-n-roll goes on.............
After leaving the band and recuperating from my hernia operation, my manager at that time was the former manager of the Monkeys, of whom I won't mention. But if he is every found in the state of Ohio had a warrant for his arrest because of legal judgments on his behalf. The one thing he did do for my career was connect me with a bass player Tom Kriss, who played on the first James Gang Album.
Tom helped me form the first Paul Pope Band. Tom introduced me to a guitar player named Billy Sullivan. I'll never forget Billy's audition. His mom drove him to it and I asked why did you get a ride. He said his mom needed the car. Here to find out he was only 15 years old. It didn't matter His talent surpassed all of my 23 years. The rest is spectacular history!!!!!!
Working with Billy or as of here on in I'll refer to him as Willie has been a musical chemistry that is unsurpassed. We have not had any major hit songs, but we will. This guy and I have grown together with music magically.
Once we started as the Paul Pope Band we were opening for acts such as Truimph, Richie Blackmore, Rainbow, Steppenwolf, Guess Who. We did GREAT.
In the beginning of the Paul Pope Band I forgot to mention I got married. My wife Suzie went on the road with me for a year. Then she decided to stay home while I was on the road. After four years the departures became to much so this was when I decided to say home and become domestic. So I built a recording studio in Ohio. It went very well. My best friend Willie and I were doing commercials and demos. Life was pretty good. I was home for once spending time with my wife. Then one night I did a session which John Sferra played drums (from Glass Harp, my heroes) I asked John to drum on two demo tracks. He did a great job and the song came out awesome. He said he would play on the rest of the album if he could do the supporting tour. I would have been the biggest fool in the world if I said no. So we did The Paul Pope Band first album. The featured single “I Can't Stand It” was made into video. This was in the early years of MTV. I believe we got one play and that was it. None the less it was a temporary step into stardome. The current line up: Billy Sullivan, John Sferra, Bill Lohr and me were the Bishops of Bop. We endured another three years. Then came the 21 year old drinking age law of the U.S.A. We struggled but it was no avail the touring money wasn't there. We were a bar band with no bars. Money didn't support us anymore.
California Dreamin! Well, when all else fails go to an entertainment city. I had no relations in New York City. I had a full set of teeth so Nashville was out of the question. I had family in L.A. so I moved. While in a Santa Monica hotel I was told by my wife”I don't love you anymore”. Great. “Broken Hearts”, “Wait Up Friend”. TO BE CONTINUED...
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