Kevin Pauls
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Kevin Pauls

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | INDIE

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada | INDIE
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"Gospel Artist Comes to New Hamburg"



Christmas is always a special time for singer Kevin Pauls.

This year the holidays promise to offer something a little more for the well-respected independent vocalist.

The veteran gospel artist is celebrating the season with the release of his Christmas single "The Spirit of Christmas and will be in town to perform a special Christmas concert at the New Hamburg Christian Centre on Dec. 13 starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $5 at the door.

In January he will release his new cd in a distribution deal that should help catapult the solo vocalist into the mainstream spotlight.

In his more than two decades on stage, Pauls has released seven independent albums, won the Hamilton Music Scene Award for Canadian Recording of the year (2005) and has been honoured with multiple award nominations by the Canadian Gospel Music Association.

Signing a distribution deal with Icon/Universal is Pauls' first foray into the mainstream.

His upcoming cd release True has him joining forces with some powerhouses in the industry, including producer David Foster, who co-wrote Pauls' new single Make Forever Stay.

Originally from Hamilton, Pauls and his family has lived in Waterloo Region for years. About eight months ago they moved to Baden. His wife Wendy grew up in the area.

One of Kevin's biggest influences, his dad, Frank Pauls, was a member of a gospel quartet that sang in the first all night gospel concert at Massey Hall in 1958.

"Music has just been a part of my life since I was a kid," he says.

Aside from the musical influence of his family, Pauls has been a fan of gospel singer/songwriter Andrae Crouch since he was a kid. Bill Gaither was another big gospel influence and Pauls had the opportunity to connect with American singer and tour with them around the country.

Pauls said being able to tour with The Gaithers over the last five years, playing major arenas across Canada, has provided a huge boost to his career.

Pauls has also been a fan of mainstream artists like James Taylor and Michael Bolton, to name a few.

His new album promises to reflect those mainstream influences while staying true to his Christian roots.

"We call it life affirming," Pauls says of the message he wants to get across in his

music, some of which has less of a contemporary Christian feel than his previous work.

"I want to make a message that has more universal appeal," he says, adding he's not about to change what he believes or what he represents to achieve that goal.

Getting a mainstream distribution deal doesn't mean Pauls will abandon the smalltown rural audience that has supported him at concerts across the country.

Going from 10,000 seat theatres to a small church venue has its appeal. Pauls says a large venue provides a surreal experience that's loud and full of energy. In small, intimate venues, there's a better sense of connecting with the audience, but the same thrill of performing applies.

"I did a cross-Canada tour with the Gaithers and on Friday and Saturday we were in the Saddledome, the next night a church with 50 people.

"I can honestly tell you I enjoy it every bit as much," he says. "I absolutely love getting on stage."

Anyone unable to catch Pauls in New Hamburg this week can see him as the featured vocalist at The Greatest Gift -- The Christmas Musical at the Centre in the Square on Dec. 16 at 7:30 p.m.
- New Hamburg Independant


"Local artist envoke spirit of Christmas through song"

December 04, 2009
By Valerie Hill, Record staff

Baden singer Kevin Pauls is certain he has finally landed a formula for success.

“We have the right connections, the right opportunities and we have some really great songs,” said Pauls, who has been performing professionally for 20 years, full time for the past eight years.

Pauls will perform at two local events: the CHYM FM Tree of Hope Adopt a Family Radiothon on Thursday, Dec. 10, and at a Spirit of Christmas concert at the Registry Theatre on Sunday, Dec. 20.

Like most Canadian artists, Pauls has had a long hard struggle to gain recognition but little by little, he’s managed to work his way into the hearts of music lovers with his rich vocals and by making connections with such luminaries as producer David Foster, who wrote a song for Pauls’ newest mainstream CD, True to be released spring 2010.

“I’ve been flying under the radar a long time,” admits the singer, a married father of three teenagers.

Pauls is equally excited about the ongoing success of his single, The Spirit of Christmas, a top hit on CHYM FM for the third year in a row, he said. The song seemed to have a life of its own from the beginning.

“I had a really good buddy of mine, he lives in Calgary,” said Pauls. “He came to me and said ‘I’ve got this Christmas song.’ He wrote it 10 years ago and never did anything with it.” Pauls knew exactly what to do with the lovely melody and decided to include the song in a mainstream Christmas recording. Before the full CD was finished, however, he offered the single to CHYM FM.

“A lot of radio stations were looking for Canadian content for Christmas,” he said, noting the sound engineer did such an outstanding job with the recording; the radio station snatched it up. “They ended up liking it more than we thought.”

The Christmas CD, also called The Spirit of Christmas, was finally ready for release this November, a bit of a side project for Pauls, who has long been known as a gospel artist. He has toured with The Gaithers, released seven independent albums and in 2005 the singer was awarded the Hamilton Music Scene Award for Canadian Recording of the Year. Pauls has also received numerous nominations from the Gospel Music Association Canada. He really struck gold when he was signed to a record deal with SPF, distribution through Sony Music for his upcoming CD True.

“When you have a guy like David Foster (writing songs), it doesn’t hurt your credibility,” he added with a laugh.

For more details, visit www.kevinpauls.com

Dec. 10, 4 p.m. at Fairview Mall fundraising CHYM FM Tree of Hope Adopt A Family Radiothon.

Sunday, Dec. 20, 7 p.m., The Spirit of Christmas concert, The Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St., Kitchener, Centre in the Square box office 519-578-1570 or toll free 1-800-265-8977 - The Record - Kitchener, Ontario


Discography

1992 - Daystar (solo)
1996 - Sonshine City (gospel quartet)
1999 - Foundations - (solo)
2001 - At The Cross (Grammy Award nominated group The Torchmen)
2004 - Simple (solo)
*nominated for Insirational Album of the Year (GMA Canada)
*Religious recording of the Year (Hamilton Music Scene Awards)
2005 - Forgiven (Beyond The Veil)
*Canadian Recording of the Year (Hamilton Music Scene Awards)
*nominated for Religious Recording of the Year, Hamilton Music Scene Awards)
2009 - The Spirit Of Christmas - including the TOP 40 Hit "The Spirit of Christmas"

Canadian Radio Charts:
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS - #37 AC R&R Charts, Christmas 2007
MAKE FOREVER STAY - #71 AC R&R Charts, June 2008

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Bio

Kevin is a musical veteran, with over 20 years in the music industry. Kevin early on was very influenced by music of the 70's. Early on bands like, The Eagles - the songwriting of James Taylor - the funky grooves of Earth Wind & Fire along with the pop of Chicago started to shape Kevin's vocal style. Add in the gospel roots of Andre Crouch, The Archers and Russ Taff...when you mix it all up you get Kevin Pauls!

This new project has Kevin writing with Bill Champlin of Chicago, working with the songwriting of David Foster, Chris Eaton, the production of Chris Omartian (Pink, Hillary Duff) and Marshall Hall (Gaither Vocal Band), the orchestration of Michael Omartian (Amy Grant, Peter Cetera, Donna Summer)

Kevin has been fortunate enough to have some of the industries finest musicians and songwriters pour themselves into this new sound...I think you will like what you hear!