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About the Composer
Songbokays' main songwriter (and the man behind the site) is Chicago-based musician Paul Gilvary, a multi-talented veteran of the Windy City's music scene who has played in more than twenty different bands, ranging in style from rock to punk to swing. Paul's credits also include composing critically-acclaimed music for the stage (commissioned by Chicago's highly-regarded Lifeline Theatre). He's an experienced guitarist, bassist, keyboard player and vocalist who has been writing music for thirty years (since he was 11!)
As if all that doesn't make him sound busy enough, Paul teaches music to elementary school students at Chicago's Gladstone public school, and moonlights as a recording engineer at Cool Metro recording studios. And somewhere in there, he finds time to write, record and deliver original songs to Song Bokays clients as far away as London, England and Auckland, New Zealand.
Though Paul has access to a top-notch team of fellow songwriters and musicians to collaborate with when the project demands it, at present the vast majority of Song Bokays are still composed and recorded by Paul himself, from start to finish.
Paul draws on a diverse array of songwriting influences. Though he has a particular fondness for rockabilly artists like Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent and The Stray Cats, his sources of inspiration range from Ella Fitzgerald to Elton John to Elvis Costello. He's equally at home with new wave/punk artists like Depeche Mode, U2, Iggy Pop and Patti Smith, and country artists like Roger Miller and Patsy Cline, as well as contemporary acts like Smash Mouth and Sugar Ray.
Paul lives on Chicago's North Side with his wife and frequent creative partner Dorothy Milne (writer, director and doyenne of Chicago's wildly-popular performance group The Sweat Girls.
Want more specifics? Sure you do. Keep reading for details on a few of Paul's various projects and credits (as well as song samples you can listen to!)
CURRICULUM VITAE
Music for the Stage
Paul was commissioned by Chicago's Lifeline theater company to compose and record original music for a stage adaptation of the popular children's book Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle. The result was delightfully silly and stylish set of songs that received rave reviews from all the heavyweights: The Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times and The Chicago Reader.
BANDS (a very partial list!)
Flapperjack was a rockabilly/swing band that Paul belonged to for several years. They enjoyed a large and dedicated following, playing regular gigs to enthusiastic crowds at venues like The Lyons Den (where they recorded some live tracks). Flapperjack made an appearance in the independent film In the Heartland, performing the song "A Diva of Devotion" (for which Paul wrote the music).
Bitter Lipstick was a gothic punk band Paul played bass for in the mid-90s. He wrote the music for most of Bitter Lipstick's songs, and joined them for packed gigs at The Beat Kitchen in Chicago.
Terminal White was an Industrial/Synth band Paul played with in the mid-80s. The pinnacle of their success was probably opening for Ministry at Chicago's legendary punk club The Exit. Paul's contribution to Terminal White included playing synthesizer and bass guitar.
TEACHING
Paul currently works as the music teacher at Gladstone, a public school in Chicago. He teaches vocal and instrumental music to children from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
RECORDING
Paul also moonlights as a recording engineer at Cool Metro Studios in Chicago.
Still hungry for details? Want to know more about Paul's background, influences, or fabulous collection of skinny ties? Drop Paul a line.
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