Paul Cargnello

Infobox Musical artist
Name = Paul Cargnello
Background = khaki
Origin = Montréal, Québec, Canada
Genre = blues-rock
reggae
folk rock
punk rock
Instrument = vocals, guitar, harmonica, percussion, bass guitar, keyboard“Paul Cargnello,” "Radio Canada: Espace Musique: Répertoire d’artistes". [http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio2/artistes/17.shtml] (accessed September 18, 2008).]
Years_active = 1994–present
Label = Anubis
URL = [http://www.paulcargnello.com/bio.html Official website]
Occupation = singer-songwriter, poet

Paul Cargnello is a Canadian singer-songwriter and poet whose unique musical repertoire spans punk rock, reggae, blues and folk.“Bio,” "Paul Cargnello – Website", 2008. [http://www.paulcargnello.com/bio.html] (accessed September 18, 2008).] Although English is his first language, Cargnello chooses to write and sing in both English and French, with French having gradually come to dominate his lyrics. To date, he has achieved modest success in this endeavour, and some have even described him as the next Jim Corcoran. [Stéphane Leclair, "Radio Canada: Désautels: Culture". [http://www.radio-canada.ca/radio/desautels/15062005/60738.shtml] (accessed September 18, 2008).]

Biography and Musical Career

Cargnello was born in Montréal in 1979 to a Lithuanian-born mother and an Argentine-born father of Italian heritage.“Paul Cargnello / Biographie,” "Globetrotter: Profils d’artistes". [http://www3.globetrotter.net/musique/artist_bio.do?id=641292] (accessed September 18, 2008).] His musical career began at the age of fifteen when he and his friends Diego Di Gregorio and Adam Kardos formed The Vendettas. In 2000 the band released its first album "It’s Happening to You", but weighed down by financial troubles, the group dissolved in 2002. However, three years later, the monetary support of one fan caused the group to reassemble for a final collaboration which spawned the album "Say No to the Vendettas". Following The Vendettas’ break up, Cargnello released his first solo album, "Lightweight Romeo". He has since released four more solo records: "Between Evils", "Live au Va et Vien", "Brûler le Jour", and "Bragging". The particularity of his latest album lay in the fact that it is available only at his concerts. [“Bragging: Album 5,” "Paul Cargnello Myspace Blog", May 15, 2008. [http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=84603274&blogID=394863245] (accessed September 18, 2008).]

An interesting trend in Cargnello’s music is the adoption of French as his preferred language of expression. The artist explains this choice by citing the francophone nature of his native city and reasons that writing in French has permitted him to express himself more simply and directly than in English.Francis Hébert, “Paul Cargnello: T’en souviens-tu d’la langue?” "Voir: Musique", June 12, 2008. [http://www.voir.ca/publishing/article.aspx?zone=1&section=6&article=58756] (accessed September 18, (7) 2008).] The shift began when Cargnello, who was educated in English, moved to the Plateau Mont-Royal, a very francophone quarter at the age of nineteen. It took some time before Paul’s immersion really manifested itself in his music (his first two solo albums featured only one French composition each), but over time Cargnello embraced French as is demonstrated in his critically acclaimed fourth album, "Brûler le Jour", written almost entirely in French with only one English track.

"Brûler le Jour" is all the more noteworthy in that it marked the first time that Cargnello as a solo artist collaborated with other songwriters. These included Jim Corcoran, Vincent Vallières, Ève Cournoyer, Marco Calliari and Fred Fortin. The album was as successful as it was groundbreaking with the song "Une Rose Noire" making its way to the Top 5 of "MusiquePlus" just weeks after the album’s release.

Cargnello performed at Montréal's celebration of Saint Jean Baptiste Day on 24 June 2008. This was yet another indicator of Cargnello’s growing popularity especially given that Anglo-Quebeckers are rarely invited to perform at such nationalist events.

Personnel

Cargnello performs with a band called The Frontline, whose members include his brother Christopher Cargnello (seven-string guitar and vocals), Sandy Belfort (keyboard and vocals), Ryan “Ace” Fleury (bass guitar and vocals) and Jo “le” Major (drums and vocals).“General Info,” "Paul Cargnello Myspace". [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=84603274] (accessed September 18, 2008).] The ensemble released a live album in 2005 aptly titled "Paul Cargnello and the Frontline Live".

Awards and Nominations

Political Activism

Paul Cargnello is known to support the political left. In his youth he defined himself as a communist, but in 2007 Cargnello said that he no longer sympathizes with the extreme left, but still considers himself a socialist and believes in “revolutionary politics.”Jamie O’Meara, “French Revolution,” "Hour: Music", February 22, 2007. [http://www.hour.ca/music/music.aspx?iIDArticle=11438] (accessed September 19, 2008).] Cargnello’s activism attracted attention when he, his wife (then girlfriend), and some band mates were arrested for participating in a police brutality protest in 2002. [Leah Temper, “Cargnello: A Man for All Seasons,” "The Concordian Online", October 23, 2002. [http://media.www.theconcordian.com/media/storage/paper290/news/2002/10/23/Entertainment/Cargnello.A.Man.For.All.Seasons-304245.shtml] (accessed September 19, 2008).] Four years passed before a formal acquittal. Cargnello acknowledges his wife Jessie, whom he has known since the age of fifteen, as having introducing him to politics and feminism--as well as punk music. [Olivier Robillard Laveaux, “L’amour à gauche,” "Voir: Musique", February 19, 2004, [http://www.voir.ca/publishing/article.aspx?zone=1&section=6&article=29436] (accessed September 19, 2008).]

Other Accomplishments & Trivia

* Paul Cargnello is also a standard poet. In 1997, he published his first collection of poems, "Driving in Reverse", which was followed up with "Old Hat" in 2002.
* Cargnello is an avid collector of hats. An article in "Le Devoir" from 9 March 2007 stated that he owns thirty. [Philippe Papineau, “Paul Cargnello: French connexion,” "Le Devoir", March 9, 2007, [http://www.ledevoir.com/2007/03/09/134092.html] (accessed September 19, 2008).]

Discography

* "Lightweight Romeo" (2002)
* "Between Evils" (2004)
* "Live au Va et Vien" (2005)
* "Paul Cargnello and the Frontline Live" (2005)
* "Brûler le Jour" (2007)
* "Bragging" (2008)

References

External links

* [http://www.paulcargnello.com/bio.html Official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/paulcargnello Paul Cargnello at Myspace]
* [http://ca.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.channel&ChannelID=84603274 Paul Cargnello’s music videos at MyspaceTV]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkXgWo9XrsA “Une Rose Noire” at YouTube]