Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame

Our September 16, 2016 Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame stage show will feature the Paul Schlesinger Band. Paul will not have his full "Knights of Texas Swing" band for this show. Paul will have his wife, Tara, on keyboard, his usual drummer, Jim Bowles, substitute bass player, Alvis Hill, and joining Paul on the fiddle for a few songs will be Logan Pausewang of the Southern Anthem family band. The entire "Southern Anthem" family band is scheduled for our November 18, 2016 stage show. Paul Schlesinger is a fiddle player/vocalist from Taylor, Texas who specializes in the traditional Texas swing music of the dance hall and honky-tonk era. Paul 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". Paul's musical career began in earnest in 1997 when he began playing with Bill Dowdy, a professional rhythm guitarist from Lexington, Texas. In 2005, Paul and Bill released their first nationally distributed CD, "Our Way", which quickly sold out of its initial pressing. Paul plays with several musical groups around the Central Texas area, including his own "Knights of Texas Swing" whose highlights include performing for Subaru of America's national convention and frequently serving as Texas music representatives through Austin Community College's Danish cultural exchange program. In 2010, Paul began performing with "Glen Collins and the Alibis", a classic country show and dance hall band who have been featured on the syndicated television program "Songwriters Across Texas". Paul also works regularly with the "Lee and Milam County Cowboy Church Bands" and the monthly "Comal County and Thorndale country music shows". Paul's dedication to classic Texas, country music earned his 2012 induction into the "Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame". Tara, Paul's wife, is a keyboardist/vocalist from Taylor, TX. She began playing at age 8 and took lessons for a few years. She was the pianist for churches in Rosanky, TX and the Smithville First Baptist Church. As her high school "FFA Talent Team" pianist all four years, she advanced twice to the state competition. She played in country gospel bands, such as, "Gettin on Track" and "Hwy 304 Band". They played tunes from the Eagles, George Strait and Jones, Patsy Cline, Floyd Cramer, Fats Domino, and Jerry Lee Lewis! And now, she plays/sings with the Cowboy Church of Lee County's "Second Chance Band", the "Milam County Cowboy Church Band", and the "Stardusters" dance band of Austin. She often performs with the "Knights of Texas Swing". Recently, Tara joined the house band of the "Comal Country Music Show" in New Braunfels. Jim Bowles plays drums regularly in the "Knights of Texas Swing", "Glen Collins' The Alibis" band, and other country bands after moving to Austin in 2000. He is an Honorary Member of the GCM Hall of Fame. Logan Pausewang, the youngest musician in the "Southern Anthem" family band will appear with Paul playing his fiddle. Logan is full of energy and loves playing the fiddle and mandolin. He's excited about life, and you can see it all over his face. Logan?s dynamic personality is innocent and refreshing!