Discovered at 17 by Prince, St Paul got his big break when chosen as the new keyboard player in the The Time. Shortly after he would appear with the group in the movie Purple Rain and on the group's platinum album Ice Cream Castle. After the groups break-up he fronted The Family, whose self-titled debut was released on Prince's Paisley Park label. The album featured the singles The Screams Of Passion and High Fashion, along with St. Pauls original version of the Nothing Compares 2 U. Upon the demise of The Family, St. Pauls self-titled, debut album was released in by MCA 1986 and yielded the American R&B hit single Rich Man and Intimacy which was popular in British soul circles. His second album, Down To The Wire, was released on Atlantic Records in 1991. The albums first single, Stranger To Love, charted in the US pop top 40.
Since those days St. Paul has been and continues to be in high demand as a studio musician (bass, keyboards, drums, guitar and vocals) and musical director lending his musical chops to an impressive list of artists and their varied recording projects. A partial list includes Gavin DeGraw, Jonny Lang, The Corrs, The Spice Girls, Neneh Cherry, Mavis Staples, Rosie Gaines, Shannon Curfmann, Tuck & Patti, Anita Baker, Paula Abdul, Joe Sample, Tevin Campbell, Sergio Mendes, David Sanborn, George Benson and Academy Award Winner Leo Sidran. On the live front he has worked with artists such as Stevie Wonder, Steve Miller, Boz Scaggs, Lionel Richie, Reba McIntire, Kenny Loggins, The Beach Boys, Little Richard, Boy George, Robert Palmer, Dolly Parton and Oleta Adams to name but a few.
As a songwriter he has achieved considerable success, most notably as co-writer on The Corrs worldwide smash Only When I Sleep while his track Song For My Brother garnered a Grammy Award nomination for the legendary George Benson. St. Paul has also penned material for recording artists The Veronicas, Al Jarreau, Donny Osmond, Eternal, Paula Abdul, Jasmine Guy, Stacey Earle, Sheena Easton, David Sanborn, Ben Sidran, Jeff Lorber, Youngstown, BB Mak, and Aussie Youth. His production and writing talents can also be heard in films, television and CD-ROM media. Credits include The Young and The Restless, A Goofy Movie, America Undercover, ESPN Boxing, Melrose Place, The Mayo Clinic Medical Guide (CD-ROM), and the award winning documentaries Vietnam - Long Time Coming and Hoop Dreams. He produced the songInspire the Spirit, for the opening ceremonies for the 2002 Paralympic Winter Games, a re-working of the hit We Are Family for the closing ceremonies of the 2002 Winter Olympics and the music for Royale Variety 2003, a benefit concert in Scotland honoring the Queen of England.
Having outgrown major label restrictions St Pauls most recent recordings which include 1996s Blue Cadillac and 2004s Everything - have been released on independent labels and licensed to territories throughout the world. As part of the Minneapolis All-stars he also appeared on Live At The Quest (1998 Go Jazz Records) alongside his brother Ricky Peterson, David Barry, Eric Leeds, Bobby Vandell and Steve Raitt. In September 2005, St Paul released St Paul - Live at Bunkers. Shot at Minneapolis favorite music venue, this DVD is packed with songs that span St. Pauls career. Sheila E calls it amazing while fellow bass player Victor Wooten says St Paul is one of my favorite artists and bass players. Its wonderful to finally see him on DVD. It shows how talented and funky he really is.
St Paul continues to embrace new musical challenges and is always searching for new ways to express his explosive creativity. He is currently working on a new CD for the group formerly known as The Family, now called fDeluxe, and is putting out a "Best of St Paul" CD in June, 2010.
>
