Born and raised in Syracuse, New York, Paulie has carved a wide path in the music industry as an influential Blues and Soul-Saxophonist, Singer, Songwriter, arranger and Producer.
Having a career spanning three decades, Paulie has spent a lot of time on the road and in the studio. Having lived in Memphis, Nashville, Chicago, and now Los Angeles, he has soaked up every essence of the music coming out of these cities, which led to him sharing the stages around the world with many iconic musicians and artists.
Starting out his career as a young local musician to the Syracuse scene, Paulie gained skills that would lead him to higher profile gigs around the globe. In the early nineties he joined Lucky Peterson’s band after the release of Lucky’s breakout Polygram album, “I’m Ready”. He toured in Lucky’s band performing the hottest blues and jazz joints and festivals of the US, to the largest blues and jazz festivals and venues across Europe. Upon his departure from Lucky Peterson’s band, Paulie found himself playing in the studio or onstage with a wide range of Blues and Soul greats such as Lionel Richie, Rickie Lee Jones, Kirk Franklin with Stevie Wonder on the Grammy winning “Hero” album, Smokey Robinson, Luther Allison, Little Milton, Bobby Bland, Billy Preston, Larry Carlton, Jimmy Johnson, Glenn Hughes and a long list of others.
In 2000, Paulie headed west and moved to Los Angeles. Having established himself in the L.A music scene, Paulie began working on his own material. It wasn’t until putting his first band together in L.A that singing became a priority and a solid feature in his shows. Polishing his skills as a writer, singer and producer, as well as becoming a formidable artist and a consistently solid draw at local clubs. His band was anchored for many years by the legendary drumming of James Gadson. Releasing his first album, “A Sliver Of The Moon”, in 2005 and the release of his 2nd self-produced album, the highly regarded “Hell And High Water”. In the Spring of 2019, Paulie completed his first European tour under his own name garnering a new and loyal fan base and foothold in the European blues scene.
The future has a lot in store for Paulie Cerra. As of 2021, he’s producing, writing and working on several projects as well as having completed and awaiting release of a brand new record from the funk-jazz inspired band he co-leads with songwriting partner and keyboard extraordinaire, Bill Steinway and bassist Travis Carlton, Groove Legacy. Songwriting has already begun on Paulie’s much anticipated third original release. 2021 also sees his return to Europe for his second tour as an independent artist.
