Today we’d like to introduce you to Paulie Z.
Hi Paulie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY and am the oldest of three boys. My brother David, the middle child, and I played in bands together since we were young. He was a bass player, singer and songwriter. Our first band was a heavy metal group called Legend. We were a very popular band in the NYC area and developed a loyal following. As the music scene changed, we started to form new bands and began incorporating more grunge and modern rock elements into our music. It was when we formed our power trio ZO2 with drummer Joey Cassata in Dec 2002 that we finally found our perfect sound – a mix of heavy modern riffs mixed with retro 70’s swagger and some 80s flare sprinkled in. In 2004 ZO2 went on to do a 40 date national tour with KISS and Poison which opened many doors for us. That, coupled with the fact that David was the bassist for the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, helped us start our fanbase which turned out to be very loyal and supportive through the years. ZO2 released three CDs and a handful of singles and music videos.
While performing rock music at night, we also had a dual life as children’s entertainers by day. We were known as The Z Brothers and played big community concerts and private events for families and celebrities around the tri-state area. At one point a dad at kid’s party decided to come see us play at night with our rock band ZO2 and was blown away with our dual life story. He happened to work for the William Morris Agency in the TV department so we pitched him the idea of a TV series about our life. Soon after, we had landed our own semi-scripted TV show called Z Rock on the IFC channel which ran for two seasons and was based on our real lives as rock stars at night and kids stars by day. I became friends with the various guest stars that we had on the show like Joan Rivers, Dave Navarro, Dee Snider, John Popper, etc. Those relationships helped me launch other projects like my iTunes Podcast called The Paulie Show as well as my non-profit organization called Rock Asylum Foundation.
Education for young kids has always been a big part of who I am what I’m passionate about. In 2011, I founded Rock Asylum Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit that raised money for educational music programming for kids in low-income and underserved neighborhoods. I was also hired to create music curriculum and CDs for various different schools and began taking my programs overseas to places like Hong Kong. To date, I have written and released six children’s CDs and created seven music programs. It was at that time that I received the prestigious honor of being named “NYer of The Week” by the NY1 news network.
Everything changed when the economy crashed in 2008/2009. Z Rock was on the air and we were touring a lot, but venues were closing and people weren’t buying CDs because they had no money. We kept touring and trying to survive the storm, but in 2010 it all came crashing down. Our TV show didn’t get picked up for a third season, our record label went under and the band had a big falling out with our managers. We were broke and in a ton of debt and to top it off, my marriage fell apart and I was divorced in 2010 after an 8.5 years relationship. It was a dark time.
As hard as things were at that time, I was able to get through it with an incredible support network of family, friends and fans, but by 2013 I was ready for a change. I decided to pack up and move to LA to pursue a solo career. I reinvented myself and recorded a five songs EP that was much more radio-friendly and lyrically driven. I came to LA excited to join the thriving music scene that I’ve heard so much about only to find out, to my dismay, that there was nothing going on. The scene was dead. I was disappointed to say the least. At that time, I had also met Lucia, now my wife, and she gave me a new lease on love and happiness. She brought me back to life and gave me a newfound purpose. I was ready to give up my musical aspirations to focus on being an educator and starting a family. It was right at that time when Ultimate Jam Night started up in Hollywood and I got pulled back into rock n’ roll.
UJN was a weekly residency that paired musicians together for a night of unrehearsed covers. It was a free event hosted at the famous Whisky A Go Go and featured many celebrities, professionals and young aspiring rock stars. It was the hottest event in town and single-handedly revived the rock scene in LA and I was there from the beginning! I started out as the host and lead singer of the house band but soon became the producer of the sow. I put my heart and soul into that show constantly pushing the boundaries of what was possible including a fully costumed Rocky Horror Picture Show night, where I played Dr. Frankenfurter in drag, to a symphonic night where a 15 piece orchestra played 3 hours of unrehearsed music on the tiny Whiksy stage and I sang the opera classic Nessun Dorma! This unique job put me in a wonderful position as I got to showcase my talents on stage to a packed house every week, but also was the one who you had to go through to play that very same stage. needless to say, I made lots of connections very quickly. The show became a fixture in the LA scene and so did my brand as an artist/producer. I had also been able to penetrate the children’s market in LA and once again was the go-to person for all the big kid’s shows, events and schools. I was back in it and at the top of my game.
In 2017 I started working on a guitar lesson series called Rock Guitar Mastery. I was in NYC filming some videos for the program when I received a bunch of frantic texts from people asking if my brother David was OK. I soon found out that there was a roadside accident on a highway in FL that involved an 18 wheeler and the RV that David was in with his band at the time Adrenaline Mob. The band had a flat tire on their way to a gig and while they were on the service road calling AAA, a truck veered off the road at full speed and demolished the band’s vehicle. My brother was killed instantly and their tour manager Jane Train died a few weeks later after suffering severe burns and a coma. I cannot explain the pain I felt. David and I were inseparable and had a rare magical chemistry together on and off stage. He was my brother, bandmate and most of all my best friend. It was the worst day of my life and has forever changed me and how I see the world. Once again, I relied on my strong support network to get me through it, as well a lot of therapy. Most of all, it was music that really helped me manage my emotions. Music was and continues to be my therapy.
A few months later, I got a call asking if I’d be interested in being the new singer in the legendary glam band SWEET. I was certain that my new guardian angel David sent this opportunity my way. At first, I wasn’t sure because I only knew a few of their hit songs which were kind of bubble gum pop, but once I dove into their catalogue I fell in love with the band and said yes. I’ve been singing with them ever since and we’ve been winning crowds over nationwide. A few years later, the Bohemian Rhapsody movie came out and there was a big demand for Queen tributes. A promoter asked me if I could put one together for an event he was booking and so I did. Little did I know that I was a natural at playing Freddie – everything from the vocal range to the stage presence to the iconic costumes suited me perfectly. I now have my own premium-level tribute band called Bohemian Queen and we are currently performing around the country.
Although I was busy juggling all these musical projects and teaching by day, I still felt something was missing. The philanthropic side of me was not being fulfilled. Since my brother’s passing, I had produced multiple local fundraisers in his name and used the money for educational music programming, but they were scattered throughout the year and did not have a solid foundation to stem from. I had kept my non-profit status active every year since leaving NY but never had time to build it up into something new. It was when the pandemic hit that I finally had time to dedicate to this and that was when the David Z Foundation was born. This was my chance to pay tribute to my brother and grow his legacy through music education. I am currently the Founder/CEO of the organization and have an incredible board of directors. We’ve held three very successful online fundraisers and have partnered up with larger foundations like The United Way to create new and innovative music programming for kids. This is a life-long project for me and a big part of who I am.
In 2015 Lucia and I were married in Malibu and in September 2019, our son Lucas was born. Lucia is also a musical artist and educator and we work together on many projects. We live in Encino and are looking forward to having a second child at some point soon. I have been through many ups and downs like all artists, but I am fortunate to have learned the art of gratefulness. I am blessed to be where I am today and strive to be the best I can be at all times. As exciting as my life has already been, I truly feel like the best has yet to come!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been smooth road. It never is. Some of the struggles include loss of loved ones, loss of relationships, debt, bankruptcy, business relationships falling apart, arduous touring schedules, crummy accommodations on the road, illness, fatigue, ever-changing music industry fads, in-band fighting, etc. The list goes on, but it’s all worth it!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
What I am most proud of is the fact that I am equally passionate and successful in both the world of rock n roll and education. I am known for being a master of many traits on and off stage. My specialties are lead vocals, guitar, production and music education. I’m also a pretty good cook! What sets me apart from others is that I have been successful in these fields without the use of drugs and alcohol and have been able to maintain a high level of respect from my fellow artists as well as colleagues in the world of business. I have achieved this by adhering to a solid code of ethics, kindness and hard work. I am passionate about my art and respect the craft enough to know the business side of things.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe you have to take risks if you want to succeed at anything in life. All successful people will tell you about the countless risks and failures they’ve gone through to get to where they are. There’s no reward without risk. Life is a series of risks and to me, the key is to take calculated risks based on logic and self-belief as opposed to unwise risks based on pride and ego. Choosing a career in music was a big risk to start with, but one of the first major risks I took was financing the ZO2 first CD. My brother David and I paid for an expensive but very professional sounding record based on our manager’s advice to do so. It all came out of our pocket. Considering we were working minimum wage jobs at the time, this was an absurd idea to us, but he made it clear that if we didn’t invest in ourselves, then why would someone else? His advice paid off because that first CD made it into the hands of Paul Stanley who was very impressed and that’s how we got to tour with our heroes KISS for nine weeks! Another risk for me was stopping ZO2 and moving to LA. I was starting from scratch but believed in myself enough to know that I would make it work. Now I am happier and more established in my career than I ever was.
There are big life-changing risks and then there are everyday small ones. Every time I step out onto a stage there is a risk of being booed or laughed at or making a mistake and being embarrassed. Every time I release new music or a video, there’s a risk of its bombing. These risks are an important part of the creative process and cannot and should not be avoided. Facing risk head on and surviving is what builds true confidence and leads to great art.
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Image Credits:
Marie Gregorio-Oviedo
