Paul Sullivan

Paul Sullivan (born July 31, 1955) is an American Grammy Award winning pianist and composer whose music blends jazz and classical styles. He is a member of the Paul Winter Consort.

Early life, education and early career Sullivan was born and grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. He attended St. Paul's Choir School from its founding in 1963 until 1969. He graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in 1973 and Yale University in 1977. Sullivan began playing jazz in New Haven, and moved to New York City in 1978 where he performed at Bradley's and other major jazz clubs. He had a variety of freelance jobs including playing for and conducting Broadway shows.

Starting a record company In 1988 Sullivan moved to Brooklin, Maine to write music. He and his wife, Jillson Knowles, founded the record company River Music.

Sullivan is co-creator of the performance piece A Terrible Beauty, which is based on The Law of Dreams by Peter Behrens. The piece was performed in Maine and off-Broadway in New York City in 2010.

His jazz ballad "Whisper" was a finalist in the 2009 International Songwriting Competition. The song was recorded by Theresa Thomason, with whom he regularly performs, and appears on his album Break Away with his jazz ensemble PS Jazz.

In the 1990s his record label published books on tape, which included White on White, a selection of E.B. White essays read by Joel White.

Sullivan's first major choral work, River, premiered in 2010 by the Bagaduce Chorale of Blue Hill, Maine. He has composed for the Pilobolus Dance Theater.

Writing Sullivan is also known for his writing. In the spring of 1994 he attended the International Cello Festival in Manchester England with Eugene Friesen. Sullivan's story about this event called "The Cellist of Sarajevo" was published in Hope Magazine, Reader's Digest, The Book of Hope, Life Touched With Wonder: Windows of Hope and numerous blogs.

Awards Sullivan received a Grammy Award as a member of the Paul Winter Consort for the 2006 album Silver Solstice. He received two NAIRD Indie Awards. In 1992 he won in the category of Seasonal Music for Christmas in Maine, and in 1997 he won in the category of Spoken Word for White on White.

Discography 1987: Sketches of Maine 1988: A Visit to the Rockies 1990: Folk Art 1991: Nights in the Gardens of Maine 1992: Christmas in Maine 1993: A Paul Sullivan Collection 1993: Wild Fox - book on tape 1995: Half Truths and Whole Lies - book on tape 1996: Circle 'Round the Seasons 1996: White on White - book on tape 1996: 50s Slow Dance 1997: More 50s Slow Dances 1998: 60s Sweet and Bittersweet 1998: Young at Heart 1999: Slow Sweet Swing 2002: Songs Without Words 2003: Yuletide 2005: Silver Solstice - Grammy Award winner 2007: Christmas in Maine - guest appearance 2007: My Irish Soul 2008: Break Away 2010: Amazing Music of Maine - guest appearance 2010: Painters, Poets and Players - guest appearance 2011: Christmas Pure and Simple - with Rosie Upton 2011: Paul & Theresa: Favorite Duos, Vol. 1 - with Theresa Thomason