Paul Siebel - Biography

Biography

After serving in the military, Siebel began playing folk clubs, eventually moving to Greenwich Village, where he found support in the coffeehouse circuit.

In 1969, a collection of songs he made with David Bromberg caught the attention of Elektra Records. Two classic albums followed: Woodsmoke and Oranges (1970) and Jack-Knife Gypsy (1971). The two albums made him a musician's musician. The songs were covered by, among others, David Bromberg, Willy DeVille, Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Jerry Jeff Walker, Kate Wolf, Mary McCaslin, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, and Leo Kottke, but songwriter Paul Siebel remained unknown to the larger public.

After 1971, his songwriting production stopped. Siebel became depressed and developed drug problems. Now and then his name came up in interviews with other artists. Kris Kristofferson tips his hat to Siebel in his song "The Pilgrim". Siebel played in McCabes in 1978, which was considered a come-back, and appeared on a 1977 LP (1992 on CD) Music From Mud Acres, with a cover of the Hank Williams song "Weary Blues". Siebel was a guest at Jerry Jeff Walker's 1987 Birthday Bash in Austin, Texas. He did not write any new songs.

In 1996 Folk Magazine Dirty Linen tracked him down and talked with the then-58 year-old bread-baker (Issue #64, June/July 1996).

In 2004 Elektra released a compilation CD with most of Siebel's songs. The booklet contains an interview by Peter Doggett where Siebel — now working for the county taking care of local parks — looks back on his career.