Biography

Paul Kaye: Chicago Bluesman

A recent Living Blues magazine review recognized Paul Kaye for his “versatility” within the blues idiom. Noted Chicago blues journalist/writer David Whiteis introduced Paul to a 2015 Chicago Blues Fest crowd as “one of the top traditional blues musicians in the city [of Chicago].” The late David “Honeyboy” Edwards (Blues Legend), when asked by a Milwaukee concert promotor, simply declared, “Paul is the best…”

Paul Kaye landed in the Windy City at the dawn of the 1990s. For most of the decade he remained an “in demand sideman”; playing alongside a remarkable variety of Chicago’s finest blues talent, both legendary and not so legendary, including: Harmonica Hinds, Detroit, Jr., Buddy Guy, Jr. Wells, David Myers, Louis Myers (The Aces), Billy Branch, Erwin Helfer, Barrelhouse Chuck, David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith and many others.

In the late ’90s, Paul co-founded the acoustic/roots trio Devil in a Woodpile, with whom he made two critically acclaimed recordings for Bloodshot Records. More recently he played guitar on the last release by legendary delta bluesman Honeyboy Edwards, Roamin’ and Ramblin’ (Earwig Records).

These days, you’re likely to hear Paul Kaye stomping’ the blues in his distinctive solo style, leading his hard-rocking’ trio, the Blues Cartel, teaching any number of blues guitar, mandolin, banjo, etc…classes online (via Chicago’s own Old Town School of Folk Music) or even contributing written arrangements to a range of Hal Leonard Publications, from professional “fakebooks” to “EZ Guitar” books for beginners.
However, first and foremost……Paul Kaye is a Bluesman!