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Paul Schlesinger is a professional fiddle player, singer, voice-over artist, and actor living in Taylor, Texas. Born September 1970, his career path began in college while studying photojournalism at the University of Texas at Austin in the early 1990s. During his studies, he was introduced and became immersed into the world of Texas swing and honky-tonk music, and photographed many of its legendary performers.

Paul’s performing career began as a result of his interest in researching the Jimmy Heap band of Taylor. He received his first fiddle lesson at age 23 from Perk Williams, the fiddler and vocalist on Jimmy Heap’s 1954 hit recording of Release Me. In 1997, Paul’s musical career began in earnest when he began playing with Bill Dowdy, a professional rhythm guitarist, at a weekly performance in Lexington, Texas. With Dowdy’s influence, Paul soon started working with other area bands, learning the profession.

It soon became evident to Paul that performing music for crowds of people was much more exciting and lucrative than following it around with a camera. In 2000, Paul joined the King of Swing, a top-notch, Central Texas base western swing band with a large following. He and band member Ray Tesmer formed a well-polished twin fiddle team that play together 2-3 times a week to this day.

By 2001, Paul was putting his own Texas swing bands together, emceeing musical tribute shows, as well as freelancing his talents to other area bands. In 2005, Paul released his first nationally distributed CD, “Our Way,” which quickly sold out of its initial pressing.

In addition to freelancing his fiddle, vocal, and rhythm guitar skills, he performs regularly with his own group, the Knights of Texas Swing, as well as the Texas Pioneers, the Stardusters, and Joe Boyd Reynold's Lee County Cowboys. Both the Knights and the Pioneers perform Texas swing and dance hall numbers, and predominately play Central Texas venues.

Paul is a strong lead fiddle player, and is sought after by many groups for his sense of playing style, knowledge of songs, and clean vocals. The twin fiddle team of Ray Tesmer and Paul have also become the staple of several bands.

Some of the more prestigious venues Paul and his various bands have appeared include the National Subaru Convention (Houston, TX '07), the Texas Dental Association Annual Session (San Antonio, TX '04), the annual Texas Western Swing Hall of Fame show (San Marcos, TX '03-'07), opening for Asleep at the Wheel (Austin, TX '06), the annual Jimmy Heap tribute (Taylor, TX '01-'09), the annual Perk Williams tribute (Caldwell, TX '00-'09), the Texas Music Museum (Austin, TX '08-'09), the Choctaw, Oklahoma Oktoberfest ('08-'09), the Addison, TX Oktoberfest ('08-'09), the Fredericksburg, TX Oktoberfest ('08-'09), the Wurstfest (New Braunfels, TX '08) and various fundraisers for the Honorable Jerry Patterson and Lamar Smith.

In December 2007, Ronny Tippelt, owner of the Walburg German Restaurant and accomplished Alpine yodeler/accordionist, asked Paul to play with the Walburg Boys. Ronny sought to fill a void by the recent departure of his rhythm guitarist, and knew Paul's rhythm guitar skills and western swing fiddle would bring a new dimension to the band. Paul jumped at the chance. Not only did the invitation provide the opportunity to learn a new style of music, but the Walburg Boys traveled to several festivals in various states, as well as overseas. Most weekends will find Paul at the Walburg Restaurant and Biergarten, playing before the crowds that inevitably come.