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(919) 462-2055
122 E. Chatham St
Cary, NC 27511

Six String Presents An Evening with Ellis Paul**Cancelled**

  May 1, 2020 8:00 PM

Doors Open: 7:30 PM
Ellis Paul
ellispaul.com

Running time: 2.5 hours
15 minute intermission

Ellis Paul is one of those gifted singer/songwriters. Though some may refer to him as a folk singer, he is more, for lack of a better word, a singular storyteller, a musician whose words reach out from inside and yet also express the feelings, thoughts and sensibilities that most people can relate to in one way or another, regardless of age or upbringing. The exhilaration of the open road. A celebration of heroes. The hope for redemption. Descriptions of those things that are both near and dear. The sharing of love..., intimate, passionate and enduring. Working as a teacher and social worker with inner-city children by day and pursuing the possibilities offered by Boston's fertile music scene at night, he gained prominence in local coffeehouses and open mic nights. It was the same circuit that opened the door for other like-minded artists of the day, and in turn, gave Paul exposure to such creative contemporaries as Shawn Colvin, Dar Williams, Patty Larkin, John Gorka, Catie Curtis, and Bill Morrissey.

The major tipping point in his career came with the opportunity to open for Bill Morrissey, one of New England's most prominent folk artists. Paul would repeatedly ask Morrissey about his own influences and seek his advice on who he ought to listen to. "You know, that's a very smart thing to do," Morrissey muses. "It helped set him apart. A lot of young singers I meet are not curious about what went on before; they just say, 'I want to sing another song about my life.'

Paul also became infatuated with the music of Woody Guthrie, drawn to Woody's social consciousness and the humanitarian streak that ran through his work. He even had a tattoo of Guthrie imprinted on his right shoulder, referring to it as "a badge of who he was." His commitment to Guthrie's legacy eventually led to his inclusion in a ten-day celebration of Woody's work held at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in September 1996, an event that included such notables as Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg, the Indigo Girls and Ani DiFranco and which was presided over by Guthrie's daughter Nora. In addition to his 19 albums released on the Rounder and Black Wolf record labels, his music has appeared on dozens of distinguished compilations. A Film/ DVD entitled 3000 Miles - part concert film, part documentary, part instructional video - provides a further perspective on both the man and his music. He's also released a pair of children's albums, earning him honors from the Parent's Choice Foundation for both.

It's no wonder then that recently Paul received a prestigious honor: an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from the University of Maine, which also asked him to write the school's alma mater as well as deliver its commencement address in May 2014. "Ellis Paul is one of the best singer/songwriters of his generation, And for many of us he is the face of contemporary folk music. Few are as smart, as literate, as poetic as Paul. I cannot think of another artist on the acoustic music scene is better loved by fans, or more respected by his contemporaries." Indeed, he is all that, and in a very real sense, even more. He's an observer, a philosopher, and an astute storyteller who shares with his listeners the life lessons he's learned, and in turn, life lessons they ought to heed as well. By affirming and defining who he is, Ellis Paul affirms and uncovers the essence of us all.

Will Call tickets may be picked up at the box office beginning one hour prior to the concert.

For assistance with accessible seating requests at The Cary Theater after 3pm on Friday and throughout the weekend, please contact the general box office at 919-462-2055, and/or reach out to the House Manager beginning one hour prior to the performance.

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