"The Brown Sugar Band" (1976)
Paul deLay - Harmonica, Vocals
Jim Mesi - Guitar
Al Kuzen - Bass
Lloyd Jones - Drums, Vocals
"The Paul deLay Blues Band" (1980's)
Any combination of the following:
Paul deLay - Vocals, Harmonica
Jim Mesi, Peter Dammann - Guitar
DK Stewart, Dover Weinberg, Clair Bruce - Keyboards, Vocals
Don Campbell, Jimmy Lloyd Rea - Bass
Chris Mercer, Brad Ulrich, Joe McCarthy - Horns
"The Paul deLay Band" (1990's)
Paul deLay - Harmonica, Vocals
Peter Dammann - Guitar, Management
Louis Pain - Organ
Dan Fincher - Tenor Sax
John Mozzocco - Bass
Mike Klobas, Kelly Dunn - Drums
"The Paul deLay Band" (2002 to 2007)
Paul deLay - Harmonica, Vocals
David Vest - Keyboards, Vocals
Peter Dammann - Guitar, Management
David Kahl - Bass
Jeff Minnick, Kelly Dunn - Drums
When Paul left us, members of his band and family put together two different events dedicated to the memory of Paul. One was held at the Portland Art Museum on April 1st, 2007. The other was held at the Waterfront Blues Festival in Portland, OR on July 8th, 2007. Both events included all of the personnel listed above, and many more of the Northwest's favorite performers. Featuring: Bill Rhoades, Mark DuFresne, Curtis Salgado, Linda Hornbuckle, Liv Warfield, Hank Shreve, Jim Wallace, Carlos Colina, Harpdog Brown and many more. Thanks to all that helped make both events possible.
For originality in contemporary blues with a capital "o," one need look no further than West Coast harmonica stylist, singer and songwriter Paul DeLay. DeLay is the freshest songwriting voice to come onto the West Coast blues scene since Robert Cray rose to prominence in the San Francisco Bay area in the 1980s. Not surprisingly, he backs up his original songs with some very stylized chromatic harmonica playing that incorporates a sense of swing and jazz, largely based on the Chicago blues harp masters.
DeLay was born Jan. 31, 1952 in Portland, Oregon, but raised in the Ardenwald neighborhood of Milwaukee, in a musically inclined family. After hearing Paul Butterfield play "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl," he became hooked on blues harmonica by age eight. He took his inspiration from Big Walter "Shakey" Horton and Little Walter Jacobs, and later, George "Harmonica" Smith and Charlie Musselwhite. DeLay took lessons on piano and tried to teach himself guitar and drums, but he found his true calling when he picked up the harmonica. He began playing along with records at first, and later formed a jug band in the 1960s.
DeLay led a band called Brown Sugar, which played in Portland, Oregon-area clubs for most of the 1970s, and then began leading a band under his own name in 1978. DeLay toured with Chicago piano player Sunnyland Slim and guitarist Hubert Sumlin for a few months that same year. When he got off the road, he concentrated his efforts on developing his own sound while leading his own band. He began writing his own songs in 1980, and by that point he was already a veteran of the bandstand. DeLay knew he didn't want to write standard blues songs, and to this day he avoids clichéd lyrical themes.
The Paul DeLay Band recorded four independent albums on their own label by 1988: Teasin', American Voodoo, The Paul DeLay Band and Burnin'. The band toured constantly, and DeLay's alcoholism turned into a major problem. When he finally quit drinking, he slowly began using cocaine instead, which he was busted for dealing. While spending three years in prison, DeLay wrote a huge number of original songs and put his boozing and cocaine-snorting habits behind him for good. When he came out of prison in 1995, DeLay made up for his lost time, and the results can be heard on several fine albums. Most notable are two recent albums for Evidence, Take It From the Turnaround (1996), an album that combines two independent releases he recorded locally in Portland for Criminal Records, and his more recent Ocean of Tears (1997). Both albums are fine examples of DeLay's unique gift for telling a story and his natural sense of humor and wittiness, as well as great singing and harmonica playing. Both also showcase excellent backing bands. That's why DeLay's reputation has spread out from his home base in Oregon to envelop the rest of the country, as well as parts of Canada and Europe.
Paul deLay was, without a doubt, one of the greatest harmonica players, singers, and songwriters in the northwest, maybe even the world. His memory will never leave us. Rest peacefully, Big Bubba! You will never be forgotten. Thank you so much for being a wonderful inspiration to us all.
DAMM PAUL,YOU HAD THE BEST LYRICS,SOULFULL VOCALS,AND A KILLER BLUES-FUNK BAND,I..M SORRY I NEVER SEEN YOU LIVE,THANK GOD FOR YOUR MUSIC.I CAN SEE YOU NOW JAMMING WITH JIMI AND JANIS,GOD BLESS YOU PAUL R.I.P.
Thanks for the add! ECS will be opening in September to support musicians in the Puget Sound Region. THe location will be near Guitar Center in the Southcenter MAll area.
Inspiration is what we hunger for.You gave that and still have a vast supply of that in your eternal flame of music. Miss you,man!-You live in spirit! -Tommy (The Killer Bees)
Jus' droppin' by 2 say Yakoke, Thanks 4 all the inspiration. Paul was and still is a massive talent, vocally, as a songwriter and his incredible harp. I remember seeing him many times back in PDX with Curtis Salgado and the Lloyd Jones Struggle. Peace 2 U and all the best. COCHISE
A Friend Is Like A Four Leaf Clover: Hard To Find And Lucky To Have! Have A Great And Wonderful Day! And I Hope You Feel Good! A Big Hug For Your Friendship!
Thanks for the add and Welcome to my Blues Session!Great music!Great harmonica!Feel free to check out my music and leave comment! R.I.P. Paul! (Blind Dog)Powell Williams And The velvet Blues
Paul deLay was an awesome harp player with excellent songwriting skills we will miss you my friend. Thanks for the add to the friends; of Paul list. Remember: Pay Your Dues by Playing the Blues! Mike
I wish there were words to express how much I miss you, though we never met. We did talk on the phone once, thanks to Pete Damman, and it's a memory I cherish. I was told it was the best interview I ever published. You're still one of the greatest, Paul !
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