Paul & Win Grace

Leela & Ellie Grace
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Paul got his first guitar at the age of fourteen and was soon playing and singing Kingston Trio songs. He comes from a long line of "hams" and singers. Like Paul, there is nothing his family appreciates more than a good joke! His grandfather was in Vaudeville, while both his mother and father are church soloists. Paul has been a singer all his life--singing in church choirs, barbershop quartets, choral groups, and school musicals. He is a by-ear, completely self-taught musician. In 1973, he began to teach himself mandolin, and a year later he began on the fiddle. Having previously played folk (The Kingston Trio!) and soft rock music on the guitar, he soon discovered the joys of American old time music on the fiddle and mandolin. His love of singing led him to work on mastering singing and fiddling simultaneously--an initially painful (He had to go out and practice behind the woodshed!), but eventually rewarding skill. Paul plays the mandolin and guitar in a cross-picking style, and he plays a rhythmic Appalachian or shuffle-style fiddle.

Paul was a radio D.J. for KOPN Radio in Columbia for 10 years. He programmed two shows during this time: a bi-weekly, 3-hour show ("Woody's Children") featuring folk music of all types from contemporary singer/songwriters to bluegrass, traditional folk, American old time, and sometimes, even a little Irish or world music. He also programmed a half-hour show of Cajun music ("Les Bon Temps Roule"). He kept his finger on the pulse of the folk community by programming from the albums that were sent to the station, by showcasing music from the wonderful musicians he had met in his travels, and by extensive reading of the many folk music publications.

Paul lives, breathes, and has fun with his music. When Paul and Win were first courting, their walks in the woods were accompanied by Paul on the harmonica. (Perhaps this was to slow him down a bit so that Win could keep up!) Paul has a great sense of rhythm and his deep-seated love of and enjoyment of music shines through in performance.

Paul maintains and drives the motorhome that the band travels in, and is the band's sound engineer, meteorologist, and joker.