Biography

In the last year, Paula has blazed into the “Blues Scene” like a meteor. She won the Monterey Blues Festival's "2012 Battle of the Bands" in November as a warm up to representing the San Francisco Bay Area in the International Blues Challenge( held in Memphis TN) where she placed in the Top Three Best Bands in the world wide competition after receiving standing ovations at all stages of the competition. Paula is currently nominated for a 2012 Blues Music Award in the "Best New Artist" category as well as a 2013 Blues Blast Music Award, also in the "Best New Artist" category and the "Sean Costello Rising Star Award"

Paula, a native of South Carolina, is also a classically trained vocalist. But with a style obviously influenced by the likes of Etta James, Diane Schuur, Gladys Knight and Aretha Franklin- it was only natural for her to gravitate towards the genres of Blues, Jazz and Soul. While most vocalists who cross genres tend to choose songs that fall into a middle ground between them, Paula’s astonishing versatility allows her to sing the full spectrum of all three.

With a stage presence that is undeniable and an immediate connection with her audience- Paula’s background in Musical Theater is readily apparent. Her first professional job was at an 800 seat facility in Myrtle Beach that ran nightly shows ranging from Country and Blues to Jazz and Soul. They even did a yearly Christmas Show. Paula was a cast member and featured vocalist.

Paula also worked with several symphony orchestras while Living in South Carolina and Georgia including her first symphonic performance with the “Long Bay Symphony” . When Paula relocated to Atlanta, Georgia in 1995, she signed with blues legend William Bell (formerly of Stax records) and his production company-“Wilbe Records”. During this time she also fronted the Atlanta Pops Symphony Orchestra under legendary director Albert Coleman for the yearly “Concert in the Park” series. This was a three-month educational series performed in various towns throughout the metro Atlanta area that was designed to promote the American Jazz and Blues Standards to all ages. . She also served a decade as the front person for one of the oldest and most established musical organizations in Georgia with the Carere Orchestras. She has garnered a impressive reputation with both the audiences she performed for, as well as with the Bands she has worked with. Band leader “George Carere” describes her as a "Vocal powerhouse" and a "Dynamo" on stage capable of captivating audiences with her distinctive voice and charm. Ricardo Scales described her as “One of the best vocalists I’ve ever heard!”

Paula now resides in San Francisco and is working on her second album.