Paul Kovac Musical Biography

Musician Paul Kovac is a skilled multi-instrumentalist, singer, bandleader, and songwriter who can apply himself to a wide variety of music styles.

Here are some insights, highlights and accomplishments of Paul’s career:

Early Days

• Born September 29, 1956 into a musical, Slovenian family.
• Raised on the Family farm in Geauga County, in Northeast Ohio.
• Played drums at early age with family and friends in first band, The Limit.
• Got old worn 45s from the jukebox in his parents tavern (‘61-‘67).
• Learned guitar from his older sister, Carol (Oberlin ‘70-‘74).
• Quickly moved to banjo and mandolin, playing Bluegrass and Old-time.
• One Year at Hiram College, Hiram OH, 1975-76
• Formed Hotfoot Quartet 1977. Recorded first LP.
• Recorded first ever Punk/Bluegrass crossover 45rpm record, 1978.
• Played two shows as Bill Monroe’s banjo player, July 5, Geneva, OH, 1981.
• Toured USA and Canada with Hotfoot Quartet, 1977-1981

1980’s

• Lived in Santa Monica, CA and worked in film production (Hollywood, CA) 1982-83.
• With D.G.A. director Harry Wiland, met and filmed 16-year-old boxer, Mike Tyson, 1983.
• Formed duet with fiddler, Denny Jones, 1984, which lead to the Clear Fork Bluegrass Quartet.
• Made four recordings with Clear Fork, 1986-present.
• Ohio Arts Council, “Ohio Artists on Tour” artist, 1988-present.
• Scored several videos for Sportsmen On Film, Calabassas, CA, 1985-1995.

1990’s

• Performed with Chet Atkins and Garrison Keilor on Keilor’s “American Radio Company”, NPR, 1990.
• Accompanist for fiddlers Chubby Wise, Byron Berline and Vassar Clements.
• Formed Americana act, Hillbilly IDOL (HBI) in 1991, with Dave Huddleston and made three recordings.
• First two HBI recordings on national Gavin Americana Chart, each for 13 weeks, 1999 & 2002.
• HBI music used on Morning Edition, Car Talk, and All Things Considered.
• Performed with the Fiddle Puppets 1992-1994, and toured Europe, Japan and North America.
• Performed live on NHK television, 1994.
• Married dancer/musician, Laura Lewis, 1994. Two children, Helen and Jack.
• Performed in Pit Orchestra of Cleveland Playhouse’s, “Quilters”, 1995.
• Performed as Lewis & Kovac, 1994-1999.
• Wrote, produced and performed in a guitar instructional DVD with Roy Clark, 1995 for Mel Bay.
• Joined Critton Hollow String Band 1995 and made one recording, Cowboys & Indians, Yodel-a-hee 032.
• Formed Tony Ellis Trio and played the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA, 1996.
• Toured Shetland Islands with Critton Hollow & Laura Lewis, 1998.
• Coordinator of Bluegrass Week for the Augusta Heritage Center, Elkins WV, 1996-2007.
• Staff member at numerous music and dance camps (Pinewoods, Augusta, Common Ground, etc.)
• Produced and played on “Light Enough to Find my Way”, Jones & Leva, Rounder 0407, 1996.
• Co-produced “Nova Town”, Rick Good, 1997.
• Produced “Let Us Play”, The Monks, Yodel-Ay-Hee #023, 1998.

2000’s - Today

• Back up band for Country Music Hall of Fame member, Hank Thompson in concert, 2001.
• Played banjo and mandolin with the Hazel Dickens Band, 1998-2002.
• Played in the Dirk Powell Band with Ginny Hawker and Tracy Schwartz, 2000.
• Appeared on National broadcast of Michael Feldman’s “Wad’ya Know”, 2002.
• Several appearances with the Kathy Kallick Band of Oakland, CA, banjo and mandolin, 1996-2001.
• Sideman to Ann Arbor singer/songwriter, Dick Seigel, 2003-present.
• Instructor at Swannanoa Gathering Old Time Week, 2008-present.
• Recorded “Cataloochee”, with Carol Elizabeth Jones, 5-String Productions #5SPO8001, 2008.
• Multi-instrumentalist with Rhythm In Shoes, 2007-2010.
• Formed ShoeFly with Rick Good and Sharon Leahy, 2008-present.
• Formed Americana duet, “Jen Maurer & Paul Kovac”, 2011.
• Grows Christmas trees, blueberries and makes maple syrup on his farm in Chardon, OH.
• Collects old instruments, old vinyl and is a history student of American Country music.
• Writes songs, sings, plays a little fiddle, and appreciates every day.