Paul Cauthen
{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (born 1986)}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Paul Cauthen
| image = Paul Cauthen 9.10.21.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Cauthen playing a show at Pappys and Harriet's in Pioneertown, California in 2021
| birth_name = Paul Mark Cauthen
| alias = Paul Cauthen's Big Velvet Revue
| birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|33|2019|09|06}}
| birth_place = Tyler, Texas, U.S.
| genre = {{Hlist|Country rock|neotraditional country|alternative country|outlaw country|Americana}}
| occupation = Singer-songwriter
| instrument = {{Hlist|Vocals|guitar|piano}}
| years_active = 2009–present
| associated_acts = Beck & Cauthen
Sons of Fathers
Texas Gentlemen Unrighteous Brothers
| website = {{URL|paulcauthenmusic.com}}
| spouse = Elizabeth Cauthen
}}
Paul Mark Cauthen{{cite web|url=http://repertoire.bmi.com/Catalog.aspx?detail=writerid&page=1&fromrow=1&torow=25&keyid=550137447&subid=0|title=Songwriter/Composer: Cauthen Paul Mark, Current Affiliation: BMI CAE/IPI #: 596003250|work=BMI}} (born 1985/1986){{cite news|last1=Liptak|first1=Carena|title=Interview: Paul Cauthen Worked Through 'a Hollow Moment' to Create New Album 'Room 41'|url=https://theboot.com/paul-cauthen-room-41-album-2019/|work=The Boot|date=September 6, 2019|language=en}} is an American singer-songwriter from East Texas. He started his music career in an Americana/indie folk rock duo called Sons of Fathers, before turning solo. He has released three albums and an EP as a solo artist, the most recent being Country Coming Down released in April 2022. Cauthen's fourth solo album, Black on Black is set to release on 25 October, 2024.
Early life
Cauthen was born in Dallas, Texas.{{cite news|last1=Maynard|first1=Calvin|title=Concert-raffle event at Stanley's to benefit PATH|url=https://tylerpaper.com/concert-raffle-event-at-stanley-s-to-benefit-path/article_a5a989da-8889-5d57-9a26-498cf2aac093.html|work=Tyler Morning Telegraph|date=December 22, 2017|language=en}} He grew up in a religious household. His father was a song leader in the conservative Christian Church of Christ,{{cite news|last1=Brooks|first1=Chaz|title=Interview: Paul Cauthen talks influences, musical upbringing, touring, not getting married, his latest album, Cadillacs, God and timpani drums|url=https://buildingourownnashville.com/2017/07/18/interview-paul-cauthen-talks-influences-musical-upbringing-touring-not-getting-married-his-latest-album-cadillacs-god-and-timpani-drums/|work=Building Our Own Nashville|date=July 18, 2017|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Domenighini|first1=Annalise|title=The Gospel According to Paul Cauthen|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-gospel-according-to-paul-cauthen/|work=VICE|date=October 10, 2016|language=en}} and his father's twin brother was the preacher there. Cauthen's father and uncle sang as a musical duo in church.{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Michel |last2=DeSoto |first2=Dustin |last3=Bowman |first3=Emma |last4=Ermyas |first4=Tinbete |date=September 22, 2019 |title=TexasCountry Rocker Paul Cauthen Preaches The Good, The Bad And The Prickly |language=en |work=All Things Considered |publisher=NPR |format=Includes audio interview |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/09/22/758710895/texas-country-rocker-paul-cauthen-preaches-the-good-the-bad-and-the-prickly |via=KERA (FM)}} Cauthen has said that the church he grew up in did not allow instruments, so the focus was on a cappella singing of what he called "heavenly highway hymns, the old hymnals", but that if he was active in the church, he would be a fifth-generation song leader/preacher.
Cauthen has said that his family is from Texas on both sides. His grandmother's family was from West Texas as well as part of New Mexico because her father sold drill bits for oil wells. Cauthen's father is a fifth-generation Texan via Montgomery, Alabama, where Cauthen's paternal grandfather went to school with Hank Williams.{{cite news|last1=Lupetin|first1=Z.|last2=Cauthen|first2=Paul|title=Episode 42: The Show on the Road – Paul Cauthen|url=https://thebluegrasssituation.com/read/the-show-on-the-road-paul-cauthen/|work=The Bluegrass Situation|date=September 18, 2019|format=Audio podcast interview}}
Although his maternal grandfather Jim Paul Cauthen died when he was 10 years old, Cauthen was deeply influenced by his grandfather, who gave him a guitar and was a songwriter himself. Cauthen was his only male grandchild. Cauthen's grandfather also taught him – and his two sisters – how to sing harmonies at a very young age. Cauthen's grandmother taught him piano.{{cite news|last1=Mollotova|first1=Molly|title=Paul Cauthen Cuts Out the Fat and Finds His Own Brand of Gospel|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/paul-cauthen-cuts-out-the-fat-and-finds-his-own-brand-of-gospel-8803619|work=Dallas Observer|date=October 14, 2016}} Jim Paul Cauthen had spent time in the 1950s with Buddy Holly and The Crickets and was good friends with Holly's bandmate Sonny Curtis, who later fronted The Crickets.{{cite magazine|last1=Gage|first1=Jeff|title=Why Texas Troubadour Paul Cauthen Is Country Music's Wildman Preacher|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/why-texas-troubadour-paul-cauthen-is-country-musics-wildman-preacher-666081/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 19, 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Moore|first1=Rick|title=Portraits: Paul Cauthen, Walking Through the Fire|url=https://shorefire.com/images/uploads/client/PAULCAUTHEN_AmericanSongwriter_Sept.jpg|work=American Songwriter|date=September 2019}}
Career
= Sons of Fathers =
Cauthen got his start playing in an Americana/indie folk rock band singer-songwriter duo with musician David Beck. Cauthen met Beck, whose father was Bill Whitbeck, long-time Robert Earl Keen bass player, in San Marcos, Texas in 2009.{{cite news|last1=Haupt|first1=Melanie|title='Burning Days' and nights with Sons of Fathers|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2013-03-29/the-prodigy-and-the-prodigal/|work=The Austin Chronicle|date=March 29, 2013}} They got to know each other at a regular local songwriter's night series at Cheatham Street Warehouse.{{cite news|last1=Smyers|first1=Darryl|title=David Beck and Paul Cauthen of Sons of Fathers: "We've Had Some Crazy Experiences in Dallas"|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/david-beck-and-paul-cauthen-of-sons-of-fathers-weve-had-some-crazy-experiences-in-dallas-7073364|work=Dallas Observer|date=November 25, 2013}} Beck gave deejay Jessie Scott their demo, who gave their demo to manager Marty Schwartz, who came out of retirement to manage the duo. The band was initially called Beck & Cauthen but they later changed the name of the band to be Sons of Fathers when musician Beck sent a cease and desist letter. Sons of Fathers featured Beck on the upright bass and Cauthen on guitar, with both singing vocals.{{cite news|last1=Mills|first1=Rachel|title=Sons of Fathers|url=https://www.steammagazine.net/sons-of-fathers|work=Steam Magazine|date=December 2013|language=en}}
Both their 2011 and 2013 Sons of Fathers records, the self-titled Sons of Fathers and Burning Days, were produced by Lloyd Maines. Burning Days featured Regan Schmidt on lap steel/electric guitar, Dees Stribling on drums, Bryan Mammel on keyboards/accordion, Tony Browne on guitar/mandolin. The record also features Maines on pedal steel and Corby Schaub on guitar.
The duo also had a studio called Fast Horse Studios where they produced records by local bands like Canvas People, Carson McHone, Luke Bell, Pake Rossi, and others.{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=William Harries|title=Sons of Fathers Residency|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/music/2014-01-14/sons-of-fathers-residency/|work=The Austin Chronicle|date=January 14, 2014}}
In April 2014, after five years together, the Sons of Fathers broke up. Cauthen cited differing musical focuses.{{cite news|last1=Freeman|first1=Doug|title=Paul Cauthen's Deep Country Gospel|url=https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2016-11-25/paul-cauthens-deep-country-gospel/|work=The Austin Chronicle|date=November 25, 2016}}
= Solo career =
File:Paul Cauthen Live in Kansas City 2022.jpg
In 2016, in a shift from singing as a duo to lead vocals, Cauthen released his first solo record called My Gospel on Lightning Rod Records. Parts of the record were recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and features the work of Los Angeles-based multi-instrumentalist, Gus Seyffert. The song, "As Young As You'll Ever Be" is about the death of Cauthen's friend, the San Marcos, Texas-based singer-songwriter Victor Holk.{{cite news|last1=Wallace|first1=Christian|title=Before the fire, after the flood: Friends remember Victor Holk|url=https://lonestarmusicmagazine.com/lsm-song-premiere-tribute-in-memory-of-victor-holk/|work=Lone Star Music Magazine|date=January 30, 2016}} My Gospel was listed as number 23 of Rolling Stone magazine's top 40 country records of 2016.{{cite magazine|last1=Moss|first1=Marissa R.|title=40 Best Country Albums of 2016|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country-lists/40-best-country-albums-of-2016-117269/paul-cauthen-my-gospel-122340/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 7, 2016}}
In 2018, Cauthen released the EP, Have Mercy. The EP, recorded live at Modern Electric in Dallas, was produced by Beau Bedford, whose band the Texas Gentlemen appears on the record. A notable song off the EP was the opening track, "Everybody Walking This Land", which calls out hate and complicit racism.{{cite magazine|last1=Freeman|first1=Jon|title=Hear Paul Cauthen's Haunting New Song 'Everybody Walkin' This Land'|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/hear-paul-cauthens-haunting-new-song-everybody-walkin-this-land-630361/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 26, 2018}} That song, "Everybody Walking This Land", was used in the end credits to the season 2 opener of the Starz network TV show, American Gods.{{cite news|title=Watch Live! Paul Cauthen Studio Session|url=https://www.facebook.com/austin360/videos/2543641939013038|work=Austin American-Statesman|via=Facebook|date=September 5, 2019|language=en|format=Video performance with interview}}
On June 22, 2018, Cauthen made his Grand Ole Opry debut as a solo artist.{{cite news|last1=Nicholson|first1=Jessica|title=Industry Ink: ACM, Anderson Benson, SOLID, Grand Ole Opry|url=https://musicrow.com/2018/06/industry-ink-acm-anderson-benson-solid-grand-ole-opry/|work=MusicRow|date=June 26, 2018|language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Naranjo|first1=Jacqueline|title=Paul Cauthen's Opry Debut|url=https://www.musicconnection.com/paul-cauthens-opry-debut/|work=Music Connection|date=June 26, 2018}} Cauthen had previously played the Opry twice with Sons of Fathers.
In 2019, Cauthen released his second solo record called Room 41. At one point Cauthen considered calling the record Holy Ghost Fire after that track on the album, but eventually settled on Room 41. The title of the record is in honor of the room number where Cauthen lived at the Belmont Hotel in West Dallas, Texas, for almost two years while he wrote the record.
Room 41 was the culmination of a dark period in Cauthen's life, prompted by the end of a long-term relationship in Wichita Falls, Texas. Cauthen relocated to Dallas and while writing prolifically, went through a period of alcohol and drug abuse.
The first video from Room 41 was for the track "Cocaine Country Dancing" was filmed at the Electric Cowboy Fort Worth country music venue in Fort Worth, Texas.{{cite news|last1=Dearmore|first1=Kelly|title=Paul Cauthen's All About 'Cocaine Country Dancing' in His New Video|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/paul-cauthen-releases-new-video-for-cocaine-country-dancing-11689994|work=Dallas Observer|date=June 19, 2019}} In September 2019, the video was nominated by the Dallas Observer{{'s}} Music Awards for Best Music Video.{{cite news|last1=Raggio|first1=Eva|title=Announcing the 2019 Dallas Observer Music Awards Nominees|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/announcing-the-2019-dallas-observer-music-awards-nominees-11756242|work=Dallas Observer|date=September 19, 2019}}
The second video from Room 41 was for the track "Prayed for Rain", which is about the struggles of sharecroppers from the bleak period of 1930s Dust Bowl. The song was co-written by Cauthen, Beau Bedford (Texas Gentlemen), Jason Burt (Medicine Man Revival) and singer-songwriter Ward Davis. The video was shot at Tate Farms in Rockwall, Texas.{{cite news|last1=Fletcher|first1=David|title=Exclusive Premiere: Paul Cauthen's Video 'Prayed for Rain' Is an Ode to Hardscrabble Existence|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/watch-the-premiere-of-paul-cauthens-new-music-video-prayed-for-rain-11744352|work=Dallas Observer|date=August 30, 2019}}
In 2019, Cauthen and the Texas Gentlemen produced Elaina Kay's record, Issues.{{cite news|last1=Bostick|first1=Nicholas|title=Elaina Kay Is Ready to Express Herself in an Album Produced by Paul Cauthen|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/elaina-kay-is-ready-to-express-herself-in-an-album-produced-by-paul-cauthen-11665502|work=Dallas Observer|date=May 16, 2019}}
In 2020 Cauthen teamed up with Orville Peck to release a pair of Righteous Brothers cover songs billed as the Unrighteous Brothers for Record Store Day.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/orville-peck-and-paul-cauthen-cover-the-righteous-brothers-listen/|title=Orville Peck and Paul Cauthen Cover the Righteous Brothers|website=Pitchfork|date=September 24, 2020}} The pair recorded "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling".
Cauthen often plays with and has collaborated with Cody Jinks.{{cite news|last1=Thurmond|first1=Sarah|title=ACL Fest Q&A: Paul Cauthen|url=https://www.austinmonthly.com/Blog/October-2017/ACL-Fest-Q-A-Paul-Cauthen/|work=Austin Monthly|date=October 20, 2017|language=en}} Cauthen and Jinks have recorded two covers together, Chris Cornell{{'s}} "Black Hole Sun", which they cut at Echo Lab studios,{{cite magazine|last1=Parton|first1=Chris|title=See Cody Jinks, Paul Cauthen Sing Live 'Black Hole Sun' for Chris Cornell|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/see-cody-jinks-paul-cauthen-perform-live-black-hole-sun-for-chris-cornell-126940/|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 22, 2018}} and the Waylon Jennings song, "Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)".{{cite news|last1=Hicks|first1=Tyler|title=Cody Jinks and Paul Cauthen Take You to 'Luckenbach, Texas' with Waylon Jennings Cover|url=https://www.dallasobserver.com/music/listen-to-north-texans-cody-jinks-and-paul-cauthen-cover-waylon-jennings-for-amazon-9733642|work=Dallas Observer|date=August 4, 2017}} Cauthen has also toured with and sang with Margo Price,{{cite news|last1=Stecker|first1=Liv|title=WATCH: Margo Price and Paul Cauthen Cover Lynn / Twitty Classic|url=https://theboot.com/margo-price-paul-cauthen-youre-the-reason-our-kids-are-ugly/ |work=The Boot|date=February 26, 2018|language=en}} and has worked closely with the Texas Gentlemen, among a local community of other musicians.
Personal life
Cauthen is nicknamed Big Velvet for his distinctive baritone voice.{{cite news|last1=Tingle|first1=Lauren|title=Americana Week Descends on Nashville|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1798765/americana-week-descends-on-nashville/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913000234/http://www.cmt.com/news/1798765/americana-week-descends-on-nashville/|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 13, 2018|work=CMT|date=September 12, 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Hostetter|first1=Alaena|title=Paul Cauthen Will Make You a Believer|url=https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/2017/november/paul-cauthen-my-gospel-country-music/|work=D Magazine|date=November 2017}} "Big Velvet" is also a song on Room 41.{{cite news|last1=Ferguson|first1=Maeri|title=Rock-bottom Reality Inhabits Paul Cauthen's 'Room 41'|url=https://www.nodepression.com/album-reviews/rock-bottom-reality-inhabits-paul-cauthens-room-41/|work=No Depression|date=September 4, 2019}}
Cauthen lives in Tyler, Texas{{cite news|last1=Mooney|first1=Thomas|title=Paul Cauthen's 'Room 41' Resides In Between Vulnerability and Swagger|url=https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/paul-cauthen-room-41-dallas-belmont-hotel-country/|work=Texas Monthly|date=September 12, 2019|language=en}} with his wife Elizabeth Cauthen and their 3 dogs.
Discography
= Sons of Fathers =
- 2011: Sons of Fathers (self-released)
- 2012: Whiskey Christmas EP (self-released)
- 2013: Burning Days (Blanco River Music)
- 2014: "What Kind of Girl Are You" by Ray Charles single (self-released)
- 2014: "Hell and Back" single (self-released)
= Unrighteous Brothers =
- 2020: "Unchained Melody" and "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" (single)
= Paul Cauthen =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| rowspan="2" style="width:8em;"| Title
! rowspan="2" style="width:17em;"| Album details ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2" style="width:9em;"| Sales |
|---|
| style="font-size:smaller;"
! style="width:4em;"| US ! style="width:4em;"| US ! style="width:4em;"| US |
| scope="row"|My Gospel
|
| 50 | — | — | |
| scope="row"|Have Mercy EP
|
| — | 22 | — | |
| scope="row"|Room 41
|
| — | 2 | 18 | |
| scope="row"|Country Coming Down
|
| — | — | — | |
| colspan="6" style="font-size:8pt"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Official website}}
- [https://lightningrodrecords.com/artists/paul-cauthen/ Paul Cauthen] at Lightning Rod Records
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cauthen, Paul}}
Category:American country rock singers
Category:American country singer-songwriters
Category:American male singer-songwriters
Category:Country musicians from Texas
Category:Singer-songwriters from Texas
Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters