Paul Korda

Paul began learning classical piano at seven years of age, encouraged by both his parents, being singers and song-writers, and began recording his first work, a musical, at the age of nine. With the help of his father, who was a bandleader, Paul recorded his first song demo, at London's Tin Pan Alley studio, Regent Sound. The session before Paul, was a young band recording "Satisfaction", called the Rolling Stones. Both Paul's parents and grandparents were professional singers, songwriters and accomplished musicians. In the 1890s, his grandmother would sing the songs of one of the founders of Chappel Music, Lawrence Wright, from a market stall in Edinburgh, Scotland, to help Wright sell music copies. She called herself Florence Wright, and her husband, Tommy Lenner, who played piano, took their 13 children, on tour as angels, at the beginning of the Vaudeville era. Paul's father, Tibor Kunstler, was from Budapest, Hungary, studied violin at the Franz Lizst Conservatory and voice at La Scala, Milan, and was picked up to play sax with Coleman Hawkins, for the first US Jazz tour of the East. Paul's mother, Shirley Lenner, was the lead in "Those Kids from Town", a US produced wartime movie musical. She also sang with Stephan Grapellis Hot Club Quintet, Joe Loss, George Elrick and other prominent bandleaders. His mother's sisters, Judy Shirley and Anne Lenner, were well-known singers, Judy hosting "Monday night at Seven" for the BBC, during the second world war, and Anne, working with the celebrated US composer Carole Gibbons. Paul's first record release, "Go on Home" on EMI's Columbia label was at the age of seventeen. At this point Paul began playing Sohos Folk club, Les Cousins, alongside other friends, Sandy Denny, Cat Stevens, Al Stewart, and many others. Also, while studying photography, Paul ran Harrow Technical College's Folk Club, and was spotted by the manager of Bluesology, a band formed by Elton John and Rod Stewart, who took him to meet Beatles publisher Stephen James, and to introduce Paul to Elton, or Reg, as he was known then! Within a year of Paul's first solo record release, EMI offered him a job, as record producer. Paul's production rhythm section included the Small Faces, with Kenny Jones on drums. Being the youngest producer there, at a time when Abbey Road was in full swing with the Beatles, Pink Floyd doing "Darkside of the Moon", Paul soaked up both the techniques and ingenuity of the times. He signed young US singer Andy Forray and took him to the "Hair" auditions, to assist his career. Not only did Andy get a part, but Paul was asked to audition too! For the fun of it, Paul sang Amen, and was offered a starring role, which he at first declined, due to his other commitments. The producers were so persistent, that Paul decided to do it! During all of these occurrences Paul joined Rolling Stones producer Andrew Oldhams Immediate Music and penned Mick Jagger protégé P.P. Arnolds single, "The Time Has Come", that made the UK charts, and the Italian version recorded by Patty Pravo, made the Top Ten in Italy, the same year, as well as selling 9 million copies in Latin America. Paul then went on to form, write and sing In Dada, that signed with Atlantic Records, and when he left he was replaced by Robert Palmer, before the band disbanded. Paul decided to go solo, and put a band together with the musicians who went on to play on his Passing Stranger LP, and with them played the famed Speakeasy Club. The core of players that played the Speakeasy with him, included Onnie McIntyre and Allan Gorrie (Average White Band) and guitarists Chris Spedding, and Andy Roberts. Following that Paul then formed another band to open for a week at Londons 7 1/2 Club, in Mayfair. After doing a sound check on the afternoon of opening night, the band was in the dressing room, when there was a knock on the door. Noel Redding and Paul had been friends for some time, having met at the "Speak". Noel had been going on, about working with some black "geezer", from the States. Paul, without realizing the connection, being high from the sound check, was confronted by the wildest looking "geezer" he'd ever seen. Sporting a similar sized Afro as Paul, he humbly asked if he could showcase to the English music biz, that night. Paul, being impressed that this geezer had come all the way from the USA, to play, and as Paul was playing there the whole week, let him have his opening night! That was Jimi Hendrix's first UK gig! Jimi referred to Paul as his soul brother, which made Paul sorta proud. "Hendrix was a master of letting go, and he very much helped me to use that technique in both writing and singing." Paul's focus then turned to social issues, and in particular, the plight of Britains Old Age Pensioners, who were struggling to survive. He penned "Give Us the Right to Live", rehearsed and then recorded it with 20 OAPs, the eldest, over 80 years old, and Paul and his young musician friends opened the Trade Union Congress at Londons Albert Hall, when the 7,000 strong audience, after hearing the chorus, once, began to sing! (Give Us the Right to Live/Famous Records) In 1972, Paul went ahead to speculatively record a new LP with the musicians that soon were to become the Average White Band, including drummer Robbie McIntosh. Paul then had a song that was released in France as a single, by Mike Brant, that stayed at No 1 in France for 22 weeks! Fortunately, in 1974, Paul got a call from Roger Daltrey of the Who, to ask Paul to come up with songs for his intended LP, "Ride a Rock Horse". Paul wrote 3 songs on the record, which reached the Top Twenty in both the USA and the UK. Paul took a chance and flew to New York to find a gig. He flew Nic Potter over from the UK, and together with Daryl Pettiford, opened for a week at The Other End. Out of the blue, a reporter from Variety, who was there by chance, decided to review the gig! Following the success of "Ride a Rock Horse", Paul wrote the single for Rogers following LP "One of the Boys", entitled "Written on the Wind", which charted in the UK and Australia. In 1977, Paul moved his family to Los Angeles. Within a month, he had formed a band, and at their first show, he was offered a recording contract, with major independent, Janus records. He recorded the LP "Dancing In the Aisles" at the famed Village Recorder, alongside old friends, Supertramp recording "Breakfast in America", and Poco, recording "Legends", the studio was a buzz with creativity ! "Dancing In the Aisles", co-produced by veteran rocker, Spencer Davis, hit number 4 on Billboard Magazines National Radio chart, the first week of release, mainly due to a song being played on New York's largest station. The song was "Manhattan". Upon the albums release Paul played LA's Roxy Theatre, with a 12 piece band, and kept Bruce Springsteen dancing at the front of the stage, for the whole set! Shortly after, unfortunately, the record company went bankrupt! To overcome the problem of Janus Records' demise, Paul sat down to write the song that would change his situation. One morning he was working on a song about a guy being arrested for siphoning gas, entitled "Out of Gas". While taking a break to listen to the local news, the station reported that there was a serious gas shortage, with long lines at the pumps! Paul called the station and told them about the song. They asked for a copy, so Paul with the aid of a ghetto blaster and acoustic piano, made a cassette and took it to them. That night his song opened the headline news segment on CBS TV. Paul, having no cash to record, contacted his friends from Poco, and approached a studio. The song was recorded on Friday, mixed on Saturday, and on Monday Paul was offered $15,000 for the rights, by RCA Records! The song was featured in Ted Koppels "History of America". In the next few years, Paul formed several bands that included guitarists John Goodsall (Brand X) and Mike Miller (Geno Vanelli, Chick Corea), keyboardist J. Peter Robinson (Phil Collins), drummer Ric Parnell and keyboardist David Kaf (Spinal Tap), and the late Malanda Gassama, percussionist (Al Jarreau). He also recorded an unreleased album with Talking Heads engineer, Jaynes Addiction & Mick Jagger producer, Dave Jerdan. As two of his band, got the "Spinal Tap" band gig, Paul auditioned and got a bit part in "This Is Spinal Tap"! Also, during this period, Paul opened the famed Central Jam Night, for over two years, having such artists as Phil Collins and Mitch Mitchell get up to play with him. The same year Paul was awarded first place at the Japan Expo. In 1985, guitar wizard Allan Holdsworth asked Paul to sing all the background vocals on the title track of what became the Grammy nominated "Road Games" LP, that also featured Cream vocalist Jack Bruce. Paul then went on to co-write and sing "In the Mystery" for Allans indie hit "Metal Fatigue", the follow up CD. "It was an interesting project, for Allan needed lyrics and melody for the session the next day, as, in two days, the masters were to be pressed by the factory, for release in three weeks. I managed to write it in two hours, sing it over the phone, and sang it in the studio, the next day. I heard my track on KROQ about two weeks later. It was quite a feat, especially being homeless, at the time!" In 1988 Paul returned to London and opened a new venue in London's Highgate, booking his friend, Snowy White (Pink Floyds "The Wall") as headliner, and forming the support band with Malcolm Duncan on saxophone (AWB), Nic Potter (Peter Hamill) on bass, and some singers from the Eurythmics. Even Sting, who lived locally, and came to the show, was surprised at what was going on in the neighbourhood! Paul then went on to support Snowy at one of the last shows of the original Londons Marquee Club. Following London, Paul moved to Orlando, Florida, and opened Major Music Records. Finding there were too many sharks, on land, there, he returned to Los Angeles, and went on to write "Run for your Life", recorded and programmed arrangements for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons "Hope and Glory" album. Shortly after, obtaining custody of his sons, Paul devoted his energy to the plight of children affected by urban problems. So Paul got together with the choir of his sons school, and recorded "Beyond the Darkness". "Being a single parent, I was amazed when Herb Alpert arranged for us to record in the same studio, that "We are the World" was done. The children loved it. A seven Emmy award winning director, Linda Yellan helped with making the video, but the kids did wardrobe, make up and the creative side of things. Unfortunately we were not famous enough to get the push needed to make the record a success, but never mind, it's a timeless piece, and any sales of the track will still contribute to the LA Unified School Districts Magnet Program for the Performing Arts". 2001 saw Paul returning from London on September 10th, via American Airlines, having turned down the ill-fated flight, via Boston, for the following day. The next morning, he witnessed the 9/11 tragedy, and a few days later, left LA for Vancouver Island, with the seeds of an idea for a musical. That musical has become "Coming To", a sort of modern day "Hair", which is based around the need for awakening in the post 9/11 era. It is about a composer who, breaking from his past, travels to a hostel on Vancouver Island, where he finds hippies, hiphoppers, anti-globalists and various other misfits trying to find their place in the world. The composer writes their lives into a musical, when they sleep, they travel to a "dream theatre" to rehearse as part of their quest to "Come To". Returning to LA, Paul recorded "Not for Robots", and then went on to work as the Governors dignatory, in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean." On the last day of the 14 days, working on the movie, Paul came up with the idea for a song, coincidentally called Pirates of the Caribbean! Once written and recorded Paul submitted the song to Disney Music, through old friend, and voice artist, Tony Jay, who has worked on many Disney productions. When there was no reply, Paul put it on his CD, as a bonus track. Without warning, Paul woke up one day, in August 2003, to find the song at No. 4 in the UK MP3 Europop chart! 2003, has seen Paul working with Peter Mullen and John C. Riley, on the new George Clooney/Steven Soderbergh production, "Criminal". And 2004 will see Paul as the museum director in the forthcoming Woody Harrelson/Pierce Brosnan movie "After the Sunset". With things looking good, Paul hopes to team up his music and acting, for a truly creative lifetime! Stay tuned for fun to come!