Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame

Dec. 20, 2019 Paul Schlesinger is a fiddle player and vocalist from Taylor, Texas who specializes in traditional Texas swing and country music. He is a popular area entertainer who not only delivers the musical goods, but puts on an exciting fiddle trick show that pleases the toughest crowds. In 2018 Paul was named one of the top five western swing male vocalists of the year by the Academy of Western Artists, one of the highest levels of recognition for country and cowboy entertainers in the world. “You Were Meant to Ruin My Dreams,” the first song on his latest CD, was named the Western Swing Song of the Year by the Academy of Western Artists in 2017. Paul got his start in 1993 when he received his first fiddle lesson at age 23 from Perk Williams, the fiddler and vocalist for Jimmy Heap and the Melody Masters, a band from Taylor who in 1954 had the first national hit recording of “Release Me.” Paul’s musical career began in earnest in 1997 when he started playing with Bill Dowdy, a professional rhythm guitarist from Lexington, Texas. In 2005, Paul and Bill released their nationally distributed CD, “Our Way,” which quickly sold out of its initial pressing. His latest CD, Paul Schlesinger and his Knights of Texas Swing, was released in 2016. Taking 10 years to complete, it unites Paul with many veteran western swing performers whose recording histories date back to the 1940s. From September 2016 to April 2017, the CD was the number one most requested album on the nationally distributed “Swingin’ West” western swing radio show. The CD also received a 5-star review in the July 2016 issue of Country Music People, an internationally distributed magazine from the UK. Paul’s Knights of Texas Swing have been playing all over Central Texas since 2006. Some highlights include performing for Subaru of America’s national convention, the Alliance of the American and Texas Dental Associations, and serving as Texas music representatives through Austin Community College’s Danish cultural exchange program. The Knights perform at many festivals, and private and corporate events. Paul is also the music team leader for the Lee County Cowboy Church and its band, Second Chance. He plays for many church-related functions, performing his unique blend of country swing, classic western, and traditional gospel tunes. Since 2010 Paul has also been 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.” In 2015, Paul had the honor of playing fiddle for David Church, a world-known Hank Williams tribute artist who appears regularly on RFD TV. Paul’s dedication to classic Texas country and western swing music earned recognition from the Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame. He was inducted into the Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame in 2012, and named its Country & Swing Artist of the Year in 2014. He and his wife Tara were named its "Entertainers of the Year" in 2016, and "Musical Artists of the Year" in 2018. Paul also plays the monthly Comal Country Music Show in New Braunfels, and produces the Annual Country Gospel Jamboree in Giddings. Be sure to visit the following websites: www.paulschlesinger.com www.facebook.com/schlesinger.paul. 2016 Entertainer of the Year, Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame 2017 Western Swing Song of the Year, Academy of Western Artists 2018 Top 5 Western Swing Male Vocalist, Academy of Western Artists 2018 Musician of the Year, Gatesville Country Music Hall of Fame