Paul Sanchez
“Paul Sanchez balances New Orleans street music, singer/songwriter introspection and rock ‘n roll eclecticism with the grace of a cocktail waitress balancing a trail of martinis at Happy Hour.”
John Swenson -Off Beat Magazine
Paul began playing music in New Orleans at the age of fifteen, on Jackson Square and in bars around the French Quarter.
He lived in New York in the 80s and learned the art of songwriting as part of the Anti-Folk scene in the East Village.
Paul spent the 90s and early 2000s making 11 albums and touring with New Orleans rockers, Cowboy Mouth. Still, after losing his home and possessions in the aftermath of Katrina and the flooding of New Orleans, he left the band he had helped form in 1992 and went home to New Orleans to rebuild his life.
Sanchez has 22 solo releases, beginning with Jet Black and Jealous in 1992.
His 22nd release, Mercy, My Sweet, was released in the summer of 2025.
Awards include:
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Best Roots Rock Album - 2023
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Best Roots Rock Artist - 2019
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Best Roots Rock Album - 2019
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Best Roots Rock Artist - 2018
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Best Roots Rock Album - 2018
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Song Of The Year - 2018
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Allen Toussaint Award - 2017
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Best Country/Folk Songwriter - 2017
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Allen Toussaint Award - 2014
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Allen Toussaint Award - 2008
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Best Roots Rock Album - 2008
Paul has also written songs for a musical about New Orleans, with Los Angeles-based writer Colman deKay. Nine Lives, based on the New York Times bestseller by Dan Baum, has been performed at theaters in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and New York.
Appearing in movies and on TV as PAUL SANCHEZ in the HBO series TREME.
Paul's other acting credits include:
NCIS: New Orleans, Bonnie and Clyde on AMC, Your Honor starring Bryan Cranston
Man With Glasses, Interview with a Vampire on AMC.
Sanchez has written songs performed by:
Darius Rucker, Hootie and The Blowfish, The Eli Young Band, Kevin Griffin from Better Than Ezra, Susan Cowsill, John Boutte, Irma Thomas, the Soul Queen of New Orleans, Debbie Davis, Carmela Rapazzo, Galactic, Ted Hefko, Margie Perez, Shamarr Allen, Glen David Andrews, Bonerama, and many more.
