Eric Paul (record producer)
Eric Paul is an American producer. Paul has produced two Grammy-nominated albums for Townes Van Zandt including Van Zandt's posthumous A Far Cry From Dead and the Van Zandt tribute album Poet. He also served as engineer on Texas Rain: The Texas Hill Country Recordings, an album of duets between Townes Van Zandt and other artists.
Career
Eric Paul is a twice Grammy nominated, American Record Producer and Engineer. Paul's two Grammy nominations include Townes Van Zandt albums, "Poet" and "A Far Cry From Dead". Paul earned a bachelor's degree in music and sound recording from Fredonia State University, in New York. His first break came in 1980 right out of college when legendary hit making producer Phil Ramone took a chance and gave him a staff position at A&R Recording inc., New York City. At A&R he worked with hit artists including, Dave Grusin, Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Steely Dan, Karen Carpenter, Steve Forbert, The Romantics, and on John Lennon's seminal last project Double Fantasy.
Paul moved to Nashville in 1981 and continued as an engineer for Jimmy Bowen at Sound Stage Studio. While there he worked with acts including Hank Williams Jr., Merle Haggard and cajun/country crooner Eddy Raven. In 1982 Eric became manager and head engineer of Glaser Sound Studio. During this period he worked on projects with the Glaser Brothers, Johnny Cash, Mel Tillis, Merle Haggard, George Bowers, (Christopher the Christmas Tree, animated feature), Jack Clement, Skip Stevenson, Loretta Lynn, Waylon Jennings and many other country artists.
In 1986 Norbert Putnum (producer Dan Fogelberg, Jimmy Buffet) invited Eric to join him to engineer at his Tennessee studio; The Bennett House/Digital Recorders. He worked with artists including Emmylou Harris, Michael Card (resulting in Paul’s first Dove award win), Dan Fogelberg, K. D. Lang, Alabama, Barbara Mandrell, and others. It was also during this time that Paul met Fred Foster who was producing a Willie Nelson project. He asked Eric to engineer Nelson's Horse Called Music CD. This project introduced Paul to Austin, Texas, home of Willie Nelson's Pedernales Recording Studio. Paul then moved to Austin to engineer at Willie's studio. He produced the project, "Honky Tonk Heroes" with the ensemble cast, Billy Joe Shaver, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Kris Kristofferson. He also produced an album for Willie Nelson titled "The Hungry Years", and recorded and produced many projects with Willie and his friends.
At Farm Aid in 1990, Paul recorded and mixed Elton John's live piano vocal version of "Candle in the Wind" which Elton had sung as a tribute to young aids victim and advocate Ryan White. Eric moved back to Nashville in 1991, At that time producer Ken Mansfield asked Eric to engineer, Bill Gaither's multi-million selling CD, "Homecoming", garnering a second Dove award. During this time he engineered and produced sessions at, Woodland Studio, Imagine Studio, Music Mill, and many other Nashville studios. Artist Paul worked with from 1990 onward include, David Gates (Bread), Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, Tom Astor, Crystal Gayle, Linda Gail Lewis, Victoria Shaw, Billy Dean, Don Walser, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Steve Earl, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Ray Wilie Hubbard, and Jerry Jeff Walker including the posthumous CD of the late Townes Van Zandt called "A Far Cry From Dead".
Eric now splits his time between Nashville and Austin, producing and engineering in both cities. Recent projects include, Townes Van Zandt, "Beautiful", Pat Waters, and Charlie McCoy, this includes not-yet-released works from Townes Van Zandt and Pat Waters.
Artists Paul worked with from 1990 onward include, David Gates (Bread), Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, Tom Astor, Crystal Gayle, Linda Gail Lewis, Victoria Shaw, Billy Dean, Don Walser, Joe Ely, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Steve Earl, Guy Clark, Lyle Lovett, Ray Wilie Hubbard, and Jerry Jeff Walker including the posthumous CD of the late Townes Van Zandt called "A Far Cry From Dead".
Other ventures
Paul has started an additional career, maintaining his involvement in the music recording business, in real estate. Eric works in Austin, Texas with the Engel & Völkers brokerage. He specializes in real estate for those in the music industry and luxury properties.