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Singer Songwriter, Guitarist. Paul Switch began his career in Chicago Illinois at the age of 19 Switch started cutting heads at the famous Checkerboard lounge. Switch was voted 10 years consecutively Chicago's finest guitarist by the Illinois Entertainer.

At the age of 25 Paul Switch moved to San Diego California where he hooked up with the legendary bass player Daryl Johnson from the Neville Brothers. Switch and Daryl put together a power trio with Paul Switch on guitar and vocals Daryl Johnson on bass and Ginger Baker's kid Kofi Baker from Eric Clapton's Cream on drums.

Paul Switch recorded his first single at the legendary Chess Records Switch then recruited Steve Gillis from Filter legendary blues harmonica player Billy Branch Paul Martin's from Poi Dog Pondering and Michael Cichowicz from the Tower of Power Horns for his first record called Grace the Heart.

Paul Switch combines blues, funk, rock 'n roll, and Middle Eastern sounds to achieve his unique sound.

Paul Switch's lineup now consists of Joe Kunkel drums, Tim Deuchler bass, and John Blasucci on keyboards

interview with paul switch
by chris wissmann

It was a perfunctory interview until Paul Switch, who plays the sports centers upper deck Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14 began talking studio. He's recording a new record and reflecting on his first recording sessions at Chess Records now known as 2120. A discussion ensued about the Chicago studio scene how its jingle factories pigeonholed engineers into acquiring the “Budweiser drums sound” and Switch took off.

Chicago's a great music town; he says its jingle factories make it hard for the business to take us seriously he laments. It's changing the however and Switch says for the bumper crop of over look artist that's a good thing.

Switch calls his band an original rock 'n roll, hard-driving reminiscent of a lot of music from the 60s and 70s. Good melody lines, strong solos and driving rhythms. His inspiration comes from personal over comings …

Original music makes few homes in Chicago the Cabaret Metro and a handful of small clubs is about it still Paul Switch felt it easier than his previous endeavor. I started off just playing blues which is a pretty hard circuit to break because and I quote “I'm a white boy owner Kingston Mines”. But that's okay I didn't want to just play little blues bars anyway and confine myself to one type of music. I started cutting when I was 19 at the Checkerboard lounge this taught me a lot. I listen to a lot of music, Greek music, Gregorian chants, blues, funk, jazz, rock 'n roll. Paul switch mixes some traditional Muddy Waters/Willie Dixon covers into his set but is overly conscious of this material labeling him. He understands the need for labels newspapers for one can play his music for the readers, but I think it's a mistake to just market you right away. It's like you're missing out in a way. I talked to record labels and they asked me who I sound like, I laugh and say I sound like me.

This line sounds like it frustrated many record label executives. But pressed Paul Switch allows for comparisons to the Doors or Led Zeppelin but not musically. There blues-based he said …. But they can turn around and do something like Baby I'm going to Leave You or Communication Breakdown Paul Switch says and I quote “that’s not blues that’s rock 'n roll. Look here's the thing I wanted to do whatever I want to do musically just like Zeppelin did just like the Doors did just like the Beatles. Paul Switch says labeling music is a bad thing I'll quote the late great Miles Davis “there's only two types of music good music and bad music”. Overall the interview with Paul and Switch was pretty cool he has not lost his roots, excellent musician excellent singer-songwriter phenomenal guitar player and you would never know this by talking to him cause to me he's just a cool guy from the hood.