Paul Bushnell

Paul Bushnell is an Irish American bass player, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music producer who has recorded with Elton John,[1] Phil Collins, Neil Young,[2] Tim McGraw[3] and Faith Hill, among others. He was the co-producer and music director, as well as performing on, The Commitments soundtrack[4] which peaked at #8 on Billboard (October 4, 1991).[5] Bushnell was a member of the band Ednaswap (1993-1998), which released four major label records.[6][7]

Paul Bushnell
BornDublin, Ireland
GenresRock, alternative rock
Occupation(s)
  • Bass player
  • record producer
  • music director
InstrumentsMulti-instrumentalist, vocals
LabelsIsland Records
Associated actsEdnaswap, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill

Early life

Paul Bushnell was born to parents, Tony and Anne (née Kavanagh) Bushnell in Dublin, Ireland. Bushnell comes from a musical family; his mother, Anne Bushnell was an award winning jazz, blues, and cabaret singer;[8] his uncle, John Kavanagh, an award winning actor;[9] and his father, a multi-instrumentalist.[10]

Career

The Commitments Soundtrack

Bushnell was hired by director Alan Parker to audition musicians and form a live band for The Commitments, but his role soon escalated. 

"Alan asked me to come to casting directors Ros and John Hubbard’s office for a conversation. I was handed seven or eight tapes with about 150 R&B songs. My job was to write out chord charts for every song, and write the horn parts. I had never done it before and I had to run to McCullough Pigotts music shop for a book on musical arrangements. The next Monday I had an 11-piece band with Rob Strong on lead vocals.  We finished on Friday evening, we were packing up and slapping each other on the back — all of us exhausted — and Alan said, "I’ll see you in the studio on Monday, you’re producing the record."[11] Parker advised Bushnell to relocate to Los Angeles.

Session player

After Bushnell moved to Los Angeles, CA from Ireland, he quickly became a first-call session player, recording with Paula Cole, Celine Dion, Jewel, Meredith Brooks, Sinead O’Connor, Elton John, Phil Collins, Joe Cocker, Alanis Morissette, Melissa Etheridge, Kelly Clarkson, John Fogerty, Martina McBride, Jason Mraz, Shakira, Miley Cyrus, Melanie C, Michael Bublé, Katy Perry, Orianthi, Chris Cornell, Neil Young, Richard Marx, Avril Lavigne, Chris Isaak, Kelly Clarkson, and Tracy Chapman, among others.[12]

References
  1. "Irish Giants of Bass - Paul Bushnell". Basscraft Fireside FM. October 30, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  2. "Neil Young Releases "Peace Trail," Featuring Paul Bushnell by Kevin Johnson". No Treble. December 15, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  3. "Tim McGraw Posts Hysterical Throwback Video of Band Member Paul Bushnell Dancing by Suzanne Halliburton". Outsider. January 5, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  4. "The Commitments Credits". All Music. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  5. "Chart History Soundtrack". Billboard. October 4, 1991. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  6. "Dream leads diva Preven to Ednaswap". Desert News Los Angeles Daily News. May 26, 1997. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  7. "Ednaswap". Sputnik Music. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  8. "Versatile singer and cabaret artiste". The Irish Times. May 7, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  9. "Anne Bushnell". The Independent. April 24, 2011. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  10. "Paul Bushnell". Last FM. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  11. "Paul Bushnell of The Commitments fame reveals all about LA life as a session guitarist by MARJORIE BRENNAN". The Irish Times. March 12, 2017. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
  12. "Paul Bushnell (Melissa Ethridge, Alanis Morisette [sic])". Know Your Bass Player By Thomas Semioli. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
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