Paul Thorn

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Paul Thorn
File:Paul Thorn.jpg
Thorn at The Grand in Wilmington, Delaware, 2008
Background information
Birth name Paul Wayne Thorn
Born (1964-07-13) July 13, 1964 (age 60)
Kenosha, Wisconsin, U.S.
Origin Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
Genres Americana, Southern rock, Country, Blues, Blues rock
Occupation(s) Musician, songwriter, boxer
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1997–present
Labels A&M Records, Perpetual Obscurity
Website www.paulthorn.com

Paul Wayne Thorn (born July 13, 1964) is an Americana singer-songwriter[1] whose style is a mix of blues, gospel, and rock music.[2]

Biography

Thorn was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin but raised in Tupelo, Mississippi after a family move when he was an infant.

Before his professional music career began he was a professional boxer. Boxing career highlights include winning the Mid-South Middleweight Championship in Memphis, Tennessee and a nationally-televised bout with former world champion Roberto Durán,[1] After a few years of working in a Tupelo furniture factory and playing in local clubs he was discovered by music professional Miles Copeland (brother of The Police drummer Stewart Copeland). Paul was subsequently signed to a recording contract with A&M Records and recorded his first album, Hammer & Nail, in 1997. He left A&M soon after and followed Hammer & Nail with thirteen more albums, all self-released and self-produced with his writing and production partner, Billy Maddox.

Paul Thorn's 2010 album Pimps and Preachers debuted at No. 83 on the Billboard 200 chart, his highest chart position to date. His 2012 album What the Hell Is Going On was the 12th Most Played Album of 2012 on the Americana Music Association Year-End Chart.[3] What the Hell Is Going On was Thorn's second record to debut on the Billboard Top 100 during its first week of release.

[4]Thorn has toured as an opening act for Huey Lewis & the News, Sting, John Prine, Marianne Faithfull, Mark Knopfler, Robert Cray, Bonnie Raitt, Toby Keith and Jeff Beck, Jerry Jeff Walker.

In 2014, Thorn released Too Blessed to Be Stressed, which he described as a collection of "positive anthem songs."[5]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions
US
[6]
US Rock
[7]
US Heat
[8]
US Indie
[9]
Hammer and Nail
Ain’t Love Strange
  • Release date: July 27, 1999
  • Label: Ark Records
Mission Temple Fireworks Stand
  • Release date: August 13, 2002
  • Label: Narada/Perpetual Obscurity
A Long Way from Tupelo
  • Release date: February 19, 2008
  • Label: Perpetual Obscurity
191 7 27
Pimps and Preachers
  • Release date: June 21, 2010
  • Label: Perpetual Obscurity
83 24 12
What the Hell Is Goin' On?
  • Release date: May 8, 2012
  • Label: Perpetual Obscurity
88 31 12
Too Blessed to be Stressed
  • Release date: August 19, 2014
  • Label: Perpeual Obscurity
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

References

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  5. from an interview on the Americana Music Show #212, published September 25, 2014.
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External links