paul bettencourt

The eighth child of ten in the most influential musical family on the lush, rural island of Terceira-and possibly throughout all of the Azores-Paul Bettencourt's musical roots run deep. Spending his childhood on the island, surrounded by song and sea, music and the ocean are intertwined in Paul's heart and pulse through his veins. Music, whether creating it or listening to it, was an integral part of everyday life for the Bettencourt family. The Beatles could always be heard somewhere in the household and were an important influence on Paul's musical style, second only to the influences of his family. The Bettencourts moved to Boston when Paul was nine. Singing and making music with his family while growing up, he sang in a couple of rock bands as a teenager. In the mid-80s, Paul and some previous band mates formed the band Flesh, a rock band with spurts of funk, which would be his musical focus for the next decade. Through constant touring, recording and moving from coast to coast and back again living their dream, Flesh developed a large and loyal following. They released a record on an independent label, Colorblind Records, and secured a publishing deal with EMI in 1992. Flesh eventually disbanded in 1997. After some soul searching, Paul recorded and toured with his brother Nuno, playing rhythm guitar and providing backup vocals through much of 1998. When Paul returned from touring Japan, he decided it was time to venture out on his own and try a solo career. Today's Paul is a softer, wiser voice. A combination of lilting harmonies and beautiful melodies, Paul draws his music from life. He weaves a web of heartache and joy, of love and loss, creating a tapestry of modern pop.