Paul Marturano (Paula Abdul's Stalker from American Idol) Solo Piano Act

Bucks' Paul Marturano struck a ringing note in his 'Idol' audition. But how far will it take him?
By Kristin E. Holmes
Philadelphia Inquirer Staff Writer

Paul Marturano, of Upper Makefield, had two choices when he decided to audition for American Idol.
He could be Paul, of Paul and the Toasty Walkers, and work his Billy Joel-flavored nightclub stylings. Or, he could be a comedian and clown his way in front of the cameras.
If you saw - or heard of - the man who sang about stalking Paula Abdul, then you know which one he chose.
The guy who found so many ways to rhyme "stalk her," including "caulk her" and Good Times' "Jimmie Walker," has serenaded his way into American Idol infamy.
For Marturano, that's a good thing.
"I've done nearly 100 radio interviews, Access Hollywood, I had to increase the bandwidth on my Web site," said Marturano, 32. "Actually, I need five of me."
Marturano's American Idol performance during the Philadelphia auditions has so far proven to be a career bonanza, even without winning a trip to Hollywood. The singer/songwriter is working hard to capitalize on that two-minute moment when over 33 million saw him rise above the it-factor and ditz-factor singers that crowd American Idol's early rounds.
Two days after his American Idol appearance, Marturano was kneeling in front of his sofa, playing his guitar and singing his "stalker" song into a cell phone. It was yet another radio reprise of the ditty he wrote.
But that's only one side, although an admittedly warped one, of a Cabrini College graduate who grew up in a three-bedroom house in Drexel Hill, the youngest of 11 children. The other side is the singer/songwriter Paul Marturano. He began taking piano lessons when he was 5 and played in church at St. Bernadette's Parish in Drexel Hill.
"We have 11 children, 28 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren," said Marturano's mother, Pauline, 80. "Some of them are the same ages as Paul and they were his playmates.
Marturano was a staple in high school and college plays and began playing piano like a grown-up in some clubs while at the same time playing for laughs.
As Paul of Paul and the Toasty Walkers, Marturano is a a pop storyteller. He performs at local colleges and nightclubs, and records CDs like his most-recent Bucks County, named for the place he moved to five years ago. "I love it," Marturano said. "It's quiet, it's peaceful."
Marturano settled in Bucks County after he had spent two years as a contestant coordinator on the game show Who Wants to be a Millionaire. He lived in a New York hotel where the contestants were housed.
"It was great fun for a while," Marturano said. "But then you've got to decide whether you're going to have a life or work 80 hours a week."
He eventually left the show and settled in Bucks County in a sizable Upper Makefield house. He, and his "very good friend" Susan Vescera, who works for Marturano's company, Off the Edge Productions, L.L.C., manage Paul and singer Milo "No Sex Allowed" Turk, whose audition also aired during American Idol's Philadelphia show.
Marturano and Vescera started a nonprofit animal rescue called Loli's Place, named for Marturano's dog Loli who died while the singer was away on a gig.
Marturano's career remains schizophrenic: straight Paul, crazy Pauly. Before American Idol, the comedic Paul appeared on TLC and did a pilot with VH-1 that didn't get picked up. He got gonged on the Extreme Gong game show, and a video rendition of a comedic song called “Sheila E” was aired on Magic Johnson's former talk show but didn't win the contest for a date with singer/drummer Sheila E.
Before the memory of Marturano's performance gets replaced by next wacky audition guy, Marturano is hoping to turn the flash into something that burns longer. There's a lot of talk with entertainment big wigs about future projects, Marturano said.
"Whatever the future brings, I'm happy," Marturano said. "If it's 15 minutes and it's over that's fine, and if it launches my career, that's great."



- Philadelphia Inquirer

The Idol Countdown: Five Essential Moments From Last Night’s “American Idol”
1/16/08, 11:08 am EST
American Idol’s seventh season kicked off last night with the Philadelphia auditions, and while the show made an effort to soften Simon Cowell’s cantankerous image—he was actually kinda nice!—and Paula Abdul’s crazy image—she was actually kinda lucid!—audiences were not spared the requisite parade of weirdos (girl decked out in Star Wars garb; guy in unfortunate belly dancer get-up), recent immigrants (Alaa Youakeem from Egypt, who learned that Americans engage in premarital sex) and awkward Ryan Seacrest interactions (perving out with a pair of grandmas, picking up a new handbag). But for the five best moments from last night’s episode, check out these quick clips:
5. Man undergoes tongue-ectomy just before singing “Go Down Moses”
4. An unintentional tribute to Britney Spears‘ butchered version of “I Love Rock and Roll”
3. Alexis Cohen, the woman who didn’t just look like an acid trip—she managed to re-create one in two minutes: I’m happy and sparkly! I’m singing Jefferson Airplane! I’m okay with your criticism. I am confused! I am angry!! (Oh, and who sang “Allentown” again?)
2. The feel-good story of the night: Angela Martin, the mother of a sick child who could be a real contender
1. Paula Abdul’s crazed psycho-fan Paul Marturano, who like a Beastie Boy rhymed “stalker” with “Peter Falk-er” and “Jimmy Walker”
- Rolling Stone

Paula Abdul's Stalker Cashes In

Paul Marturano, who once made waves singing that "Stalker Song" during the American Idol auditions and gave Paula Abdul the chills, has generated a lot of money selling his song, aptly entitled "Stalker" and another 'original' audition song "No Sex Allowed" by Milo Turk as ringtones. Both songs will be making more money as they will soon be released on iTunes.

Paul Marturano is a comic and a pianist from Philadelphia who owns Off The Edge Productions, LLC. His song and Turk's will be released to over 450 radio stations in the USA, and both have agreed to donate a portion of their sales to Idol Gives Back, American Idol's charity. Marturano became an American Idol reviewer for Clear Channel Radio, and has appeared on several TV shows. Currently, he is in talks with record companies and licensing companies that will spread merchandise and his songs across the nation, and he is on the verge of getting his own TV show currently being peddled by a well known TV production company.

Not bad for Marturano who claims that his goal "was to make America laugh and give them something that they will never forget seeing."
- Idol Phillipines

Marturano's company Off the Edge Productions, LLC has signed a ringtone deal that will make his song, "Stalker", and Milo Turk's song, "No Sex Allowed", available on most major carriers and has released new audio and video versions of the songs on Itunes with the help of producers that have worked with several major artists. The songs will be released to over 450 radio stations nationwide and a portion of sales will be donated to IDOL GIVES BACK!
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 2, 2008 -- Paul Marturano, the off-the-wall comic/accomplished pianist from Philadelphia who recently appeared on American Idol and caught the nation's attention as Paula Abdul's 'Stalker', is reaping the benefits. Marturano's company, Off The Edge Productions, LLC, which also manages No Sex Allowed singer, Milo Turk, has generated thousands of dollars on the internet, CDbaby, and iTunes with CD and digital song sales through its website http://www.offtheedgeproductions.net.
Marturano has signed a ringtone deal that will make Stalker and No Sex Allowed available on most major carriers and has released new audio and video versions of Stalker (Stalker 08) and No Sex Allowed (No Sex Allowed 08) on iTunes with the help of producers that have worked with several major artists. The songs will be released to over 450 radio stations nationwide and a portion of sales will be donated to IDOL GIVES BACK!
Marturano has used his celebrity status for charity by adopting homeless animals out to loving homes on a Philadelphia radio station and has performed and appeared at several events for animals for not only his organization, Loli's Place, Inc, but for other animal organizations as well.
According to Marturano, he is grateful to American Idol for all of the success which is "greater than he could have dreamed." Marturano reviewed American Idol each week for Clear Channel Radio, has appeared on several TV shows, is in talks with record companies and licensing companies that will spread merchandise and his songs across the nation, and this fall you will most likely see him starring in his own TV show. The show is currently being pitched to cable and major networks by a well known, top TV production company.
Marturano's agent began booking Paul's outlandish comedy duo on the comedy circuit and Watch Out! because Marturano's completely clean Billy Joelesque band Paul Marturano and the Toasty Walkers will be touring the college circuit come this fall. Milo Turk will also be making college appearances.
Marturano states, "When I went on American Idol, my goal was to make America laugh and give them something that they will never forget seeing. I think I've accomplished that. So far America and, because of Youtube, the world, has only had the chance to know the comedian inside of me. Now, I am working to entertain them with the rest of who I am."
- Emediawire.com

Baltimore Sun

Paul Marturano of New Hope, Pa., sings a love song he wrote for Paula Abdul -- it's a song about breaking into her house and trying on her underwear. "I'm not much of a talker, so I guess I'll stalk her. If she was a doggie, I would walk her. If she was a blackboard, I would chalk her. ... If she was a bathtub, I would caulk her." He gets kicked out of the room. Simon says it was really creepy, and he really wants him to leave. But that was the most hilarious moment of the whole night. Edit: Rumor is, that was all an act. Which isn't surprising, but it's still funny.
- Baltimore Sun

Reviewed by Kit Burns
Paul Marturano/Bucks County

Paul Marturano will perhaps be always known for his appearance on American Idol, singing his “Stalker” tune to Paula Abdul. But Marturano is surprisingly a fine pianist and a serious singer/songwriter, too. His 2007 release, Bucks County, is an emotionally involving collection of songs for the dumped. Drawing similarities with Billy Joel, Elton John, and Ben Folds, Marturano nevertheless crafts these tunes with his own seemingly heartbroken vision. The spiteful “Strings Attached” finds Marturano at the peak of his angst, yelling “You can take your love and shove it” with the wounded venom of somebody who isn’t putting up with any more shit. “Hello Again” details the ups and downs of an off-again, on-again relationship. “All You Have to Be” finds Marturano simply looking for the right girl and most likely not finding her.
Those expecting demented chuckles won’t find much of that here. Marturano is an excellent musician, though, and his piano playing can be quite cinematic, especially on “Strings Attached.” On “Me and Joe” and “The Man,” Marturano switches to Americana, complete with jangling guitars on the former. There’s more feeling on this record than anything you’ll hear on American Idol.
- Overground Underground

'MARTURANO, PAUL'
'Bucks County'

- Label: Off the Edge Productions, LLC
- Genre: 'Pop' - author: Adam Harrington 007'
Our Rating:

Clearly Paul Marturano (http://www.paulmarturano.com) was too good for "American Idol." Recorded prior to his infamous "American Idol" bit of performing his song "Stalker" to Paula Abdul, "Bucks County" sounds like the work of a different artist. There are no goofball antics on this record; in fact, it's pretty somber, reflecting on love lost and found. It can be caustic, too, as on "Strings Attached," wherein Marturano busts out of a one-sided, suffocating romantic relationship. Those who miss Billy Joel's edgier side (no, not "Uptown Girl") will be able to spot the influence here.

Marturano is actually a pianist - and a stellar one at that. Actually, his piano playing is better than his singing, which is fine but not extraordinary. If Elton John was seriously bummed out, I could imagine him doing "Maybe Tomorrow," a slow, sorrow-stricken track wherein Marturano is holding out for another day of possible fulfillment. "Hello Again" features some spirited piano playing although its lyrics are not as cheerful as the music is trying to illustrate. Marturano engages a bluesy delivery for "Checking Out the Goods," which is a lighthearted ode to girl watching.

"Bucks County" is much better than I expected from anybody associated with "American Idol." Even Abdul never put out a respectable LP such as this.

author: Adam Harrington
- Whisperin & Hollerin

Paul Marturano graduates from ‘American Idol’ with Billy Joel-esque CD
Reviewed by Brooke Curtis
Paul Marturano/Bucks County

He may have gotten the most recognition by appearing on American Idol, especially with his “Stalker” song for Paula Abdul, but if Paul Marturano wants r-e-s-p-e-c-t, he’ll need an album such as Bucks County to earn it. Released a year before the American Idol madness, Marturano is no short-lived novelty act on Bucks County. In fact, aside from the lusty “Checking Out the Goods,” this is a fairly depressing, low-key affair. Perhaps Marturano was just getting out of a relationship at the time. “The part of you I fell for/Is nowhere to be found,” Marturano laments on the lovelorn “Strings Attached.” Ouch. Nevertheless, Marturano moves us, finding the hurt that exists within us from past or present experiences.
Deft piano playing that recalls Billy Joel’s soulful shadings and Bruce Hornsby’s incandescent atmospherics lifts each track, even when Marturano is in despair like on “If You Believed in Me.” He tries to be hopeful on “Maybe Tomorrow” but clearly this is a man who has reached the end of his rope. Jazzy bass and percussion add spice to “Someday” and sizzling electric guitars inject “Hello Again” with life and energy. Laughs can be found on “Checking Out the Goods” but clearly Marturano is a real artist and not some American Idol gag.
http://www.paulmarturano.com

- Twang Town