Gary James' Interview With
Henry Paul
You might have known that someone from Florida would title their record "Feel The Heat". That someone is Henry Paul.
Henry Paul makes his home in Tampa, Florida. He's just come off a successful tour with The Allman Brothers Band and as a headlining act in three 5,000 seat venues. Best known for his association with
The Outlaws, his friendship with Lynyrd Skynyrd, Henry Paul is trailblazing across America with his own group.
Q - Henry, what's it like to be the leader of your own band?
A - It's a demanding schedule for sure. I'm assuming responsibilities to the nth degree. I don't mind it. I don't have to be doing this. I could be a record producer, but we're gonna take this group to the top. We plan to be around for awhile in 1983, 1987, hell, even 1989. We're gonna be dogmatic. We're gonna be persistent.
Q - Where do you find musicians you can get along with both on and off stage?
A - The first thing you have to remember is the abundance of talent where I come from. I've known these guys in my band for a number of years. I know what they're made of, their strengths, their weaknesses and they're personalities. We don't have any problems. If a problem comes up, there's no doubt in their minds that they can come to me with it. Those guys are a bunch of Injuns, brave ones, good ones.
Q - In concert, you let the other guys share the spotlight.
A - Everybody's got a role in this band. Billy Crain and David Fiester are two of the finest guitarists you'll ever hear. I've got the finest rhythm section around. I want them to have an important role in this band. They are gonna be the stars of tomorrow!
Q - How did you survive when you left Florida for New York and worked as a Folk singer?
A - Well, let's see. A studio apartment in Washington City Square went for $150 a month (In 1978). I worked there four nights a week and made $100 a week. That's $400 a month. So, I made it.
Q - Many of the groups around today say they can't tour even though they might have one or two hit records because of the high costs involved. How does that work for you?
A - There's a difference between a tour to support a record and to tour extensively like we do. We maintain a full-time band and crew. Say if it takes eight to ten grand a week to keep this band on the road, we can make it. We can make that easily. We're always on the road. We're always paying bills, but we're making money.
Q - You knew Ronnie Van Zant and all of the guys in Lyrnyrd Skynyrd pretty well, didn't you?
A - I knew Ronnie for six or seven years. He was the Founding Father of Southern Rock. Ronnie was primarily responsible for The Outlaws discovery. He brought us to the attention of people who could make us stars. We shared identical roles in our respective bands. We were both the standard bearers, singers and leaders of our groups.
Q - And like The Atlanta Rhythm Section, you'll dedicate a song to Skynyrd.
A - And I'll dedicate songs to the Allman Brothers too. The only reason I don't dedicate songs to Elvis or Janis Joplin is I don't know where they're coming from. I know their names.
Q - If a kid sees you onstage and says, "That's what I want to do," what would you tell him?
A - Stay with it or you're never going to make it.
Official Website: www.HenryPaul.com
© Gary James. All rights reserved.
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