Konrad Wert, known as Possessed by Paul James since 2005, is an American folk singer, songwriter and musician from Lee County, Florida.[1] His music is composed of string instruments including banjo, guitar and fiddle with roots within folk, blues and punk. He was raised in a small Mennonite community among pacifists, service workers and transplants. He lives in Texas with his wife and sons selling his music online and going on tours. He is also a special education teacher in Kerrville, Texas.[2]
Possessed by Paul James | |
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Birth name | Konrad Wert |
Also known as | Possessed by Paul James |
Born | July 26, 1976 Immokalee, Florida |
Genres | Alternative country, folk, country, bluegrass, antifolk, blues, punk |
Instrument(s) | banjo, guitar, fiddle, stomp box |
At the end of 2013 There Will Be Nights When I'm Lonely was released with Hillgrass Bluebilly Records. The album initially charted at #12 on Billboard Magazine under the Country/Bluegrass genre. National Public Radio, CMT, MTV featured both articles and tracks from the release. The New York Times stated "PPJ [was] a one man folk wonder"[3] and was featured at one of the top concerts of the 2014 Pickathon Music Festival in Oregon.[4]
Discography
editTitle | Album details | Peak positions |
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US Grass | ||
Possessed by Paul James |
|
— |
Cold and Blind |
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— |
The Revival Tour |
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— |
Feed the Family |
|
— |
Live at Antone's |
|
— |
There Will Be Nights When I'm Lonely |
|
12 |
As We Go Wandering |
|
— |
Fighting For Our Own Survival |
|
— |
"—" denotes releases that did not chart |
References
edit- ^ One in a Million
- ^ "Konrad Wert, a.k.a. Possessed by Paul James, draws spotlight from Billboard charts, NPR and NY Times before returning (yet again) to EMU". 13 January 2015. Retrieved 16 January 2015.
- ^ Caramanica, Jon (4 August 2014). "Photos from the Pickathon Music Festival". The New York Times.
- ^ Pareles, Jon (29 December 2014). "Sounds That Lingered: Critics' Top 10 Concerts". The New York Times.
- ^ Ten Four Records Archived 2009-08-03 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "POSSESSED BY PAUL JAMES – FEED THE FAMILY". ninebullets.net. 2010-08-30. Retrieved 2011-04-08.