Paul Siebel – born September 19, 1937, in Buffalo, New York – was a country and folk singer songwriter best known for his song “Louise,” which was covered by many artists. After serving in the military, he returned to New York and began playing in the Greenwich Village folk clubs. Impressed by his repertoire of self-penned material, Elektra Records offered him a contract in 1970, releasing his debut album, Woodsmoke and Oranges, that same year. The album featured the song "Louise," which would later be covered by artists such as Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt, Leo Kottke, and many others. In 1971, he released his sophomore album Jack-Knife Gypsy but depression and drug problems interfered with his creativity and he gradually disappeared from the music scene even when artists such as Kris Kristofferson continued to praise his work. Seven years after his second album, he released Live at McCabe's (1978) – featuring David Bromberg and Gary White - but he stepped away from the spotlight again. Paul Siebel’s cult status continued to grow over the years, prompting the release of a self-titled compilation in 2004 which contained the entirety of his first album and five songs from his second. However, Paul Siebel had permanently withdrawn from the music business He died on April 5, 2022, at the age of 84. While “Louise” remains his most covered song, many artists have covered other songs from his catalog including "Spanish Johnny," “Long Afternoons," "She Made Me Lose My Blues," and more.
