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Paul Sidoti is currently touring as guitarist/keyboardist/vocalist with Big Machine Records artist, Taylor Swift.
Originally from Cleveland, OH, Paul got his start in music at the age of 5 when he started playing guitar. Along the way, he was self-taught on keyboards, bass, and drums. He took lessons on saxophone through jr. high and high school and started singing and playing in his own rock bands at the age of 14.
Shortly thereafter, he began writing and performing his own songs. With the help of his supportive parents, he received his own recording studio setup when he was 17. Writing, recording, producing and playing all instruments on his demos, he put together a 10 song album and moved to Los Angeles after completing his freshman year of college at Ohio State University and Western Michigan University where he majored in Jazz Studies. Upon arriving, he attended the Los Angeles Recording Workshop and earned an honors degree in recording engineering.
Returning to Cleveland in 1993, Paul was asked to play bass for 60's artist Gary Lewis and the Playboys. Earning valuable road experience playing on stages as big as the 60,000 seat Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA, and on Jerry Lewis' MDA Telethon were highlights of his tenure with the group. Not only did he perform with Gary Lewis but he also backed up virtually every 60's artist on tour including Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, Mitch Ryder, Lesley Gore, Tommy Roe, Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits, Lou Christie, among countless others. It was during these formative years where he benefited from the education of all the great music that came from the era of the 1960's.
In 1999, Paul met singer/songwriter Eric Carmen ('All By Myself', 'Hungry Eyes' from Dirty Dancing among many others). Eric asked him to be part of his band that would perform at the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame in March 2000. Playing bass and guitar at Eric's first solo concert in over 20 years was an honor for Paul and would lead to future projects with Eric.
He moved to Nashville in the fall of 2000 and upon arriving, quickly met a few major songwriters in town. One being Stephanie Bentley ('Breathe' Faith Hill, 'Concrete Angel' Martina McBride). They formed a friendship and began writing songs together. An instrumental person in Paul's career has been singer/songwriter Dickey Lee who introduced him to the staff at Universal Music Publishing where he currently co-writes with various writers.
In 2004-05, Paul was asked to be part of the historic reunion of 70's power pop legends, Raspberries (Eric Carmen, Wally Bryson, Dave Smalley, Jim Bonfanti). Playing guitar/keyboards and singing he was part of a 3 member ensemble dubbed 'The Overdubs'.
Selling out House Of Blues venues all over the country, the band enjoyed a rebirth and a realization of how many people were influenced by their music.
Notable musicians and celebrities attending the shows were Paul Stanley of KISS, Jon Bon Jovi, Rick Springfield, Little Steven Van Zandt and Max Weinberg of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Susanna Hoffs of The Bangles, Marky Ramone of The Ramones, Clem Burke of Blondie, The Romantics, Kathy Valentine of The Go-Go's, Gilby Clarke of Guns 'n' Roses, Jim Peterik of Survivor, Tim Pierce (guitarist for Rick Springfield), and songwriter/producer Desmond Child. The highlight of the tour was two sold-out shows at NYC's B.B. King's. That weekend, Paul appeared with Raspberries on VH1 Classic's 'Hangin' With The Raspberries' hosted by Eddie Trunk. During the show, the band performed unplugged versions of Raspberries hits. At the end of the show, Paul appeared in his very first national video as VH1 aired the recently recorded live version of the band's Top 5 smash, "Go All The Way". The video is a favorite at VH1 Classic and is still in rotation.
Summer of 2007 saw Paul performing as bassist with country artist, Bryan White. Best known for his Grammy-nominated duet with Shania Twain on "From This Moment On", Bryan is a multi-platinum selling artist with many awards and hit songs to his credit.
On July 31st, 2007, Raspberries Live On Sunset Strip was released on Rykodisc. Recorded at the famed House Of Blues in Los Angeles in October 2005, it marks the first national release Paul has appeared on as a musician (vocals, guitars, keyboards) and engineer. It is available at FYE, Best Buy, Amazon, iTunes and many local record shops. A Special Edition may also be purchased at www.raspberriesonline.com.
