Constantly evolving, but some I've had the pleasure to work with:
Steve Brooks, guitar, mandolin, harp /
Chico Oropeza, guitar, mandolin /
Jeffrye Glenn Tveraas, guitar /
Mary Cutrufello, guitar /
Fletcher Clark, guitar /
Jimmy Joe Natoli, guitar /
John William Davis, guitar /
Seymour Guenther, bass /
Charlie Irwin, bass /
Brad Taylor, bass /
Richard Bowden, violin /
Sofia Grey, harmony vocals.
Currently also appear as Paula Held and the Broken ArtZ (myself, Steve Brooks, Seymour Guenther); and as part of the duo, Brooks & Held (Steve Brooks, Paula Held).
Influences
Vocal influences: Joni Mitchell, Billie Holiday, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Bonnie Raitt, Etta James, Mary Chapin Carpenter and many others.
Early songwriter influences: Joni, Dylan, James Taylor, John Prine and many of the jazz greats: Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Rodgers and Hart. And my father, Art Custer. More recently: Cindy Walker, Michael Peter Smith, John Davis and many, many great, local established and semi-anonymous songwriters in and around Austin, as well as all the great Texas writers I'm starting to listen to.
Paula moved to Texas in November of 2005 from Florida's Panhandle, where she performed as a house musician at the Gibson Inn in Apalachicola. Her move to Austin was a step toward songwriting and performing full time. Since coming to Austin, she's carved out a small, but dedicated fan-base loyal to the charms of her music and a favorite South Austin singer/songwriter venue, ArtZ Rib House, where she performs regularly ... She's received accolades for her songwriting, most recently from her appearances at the Bugle Boy in La Grange, where she won their bi-monthly songwriting competition entitling her to perform in the venue's Bi-annual Best of Showcase Concert scheduled for November 1st, and where she'll be performing a concert sometime later this year. In November 2007, she opened for Folk maven Tom Kimmel at Wild Basin Preserve. She's appeared at the Frank Brown International Songwriter's Festival, and as a “local favorite” at the first Annual Apalachicola Jazz Festival in Apalachicola Florida. ... Friend, mentor and New Folk Winner John William Davis describes Paula thusly: “There are two kinds of music in the world, that with soul and that without. Put Paula Held in the former category. Her carefully crafted lyrics and surprising melodies are part of her magic, but the greater part
is the full-bodied soul of her delivery. Go see her. You will be enchanted by this rising star.” ... Paula performs regularly in and around Austin as herself, with her band Paula Held and the Broken ArtZ, and with folksinger and songwriter Steve Brooks as the duo, Brooks and Held. ... She's currently heavily involved with assisting her Mom's recent move to Austin, but plans to go into pre-production by the end of the year on a debut, full-length album. ... Paula lives in South Austin and is very grateful to have discovered Austin and become a part of this wonderful music community.
We shoul do a show together!It's been way too long since I've heard some Paula Held live, AND got to play in the same night! See you around my friend...
Tumbleweed Heart is rolling around in my head and won't stop. There's seems to be nothing I can do about it and I've tried everything. I guess I'll just let it stay for a while.
