Paul Metsers
Paul Metsers (born 27 November 1945) is a New Zealand/UK folk songwriter and solo performer who toured the UK folk clubs extensively in the 1980s before effectively retiring in 1989. He released five albums of his own songs over that period; one of his most widely known songs is "Farewell to the Gold" which was also popularised by Nic Jones.
Paul Metsers | |
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Metsers at the 1981 Norwich Folk Festival, UK | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Paul Theodore Metsers |
Born | Noordwijk, Netherlands | 27 November 1945
Genres | Folk |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter, guitarist |
Instruments | guitar, appalachian dulcimer, mandocello |
Years active | ca.1970-1989, 2010-present |
Website | http://www.paulmetsers.com/ |
Biography
Paul Metsers was born in Noordwijk, the Netherlands in 1945. His family emigrated to New Zealand in 1952 and there he bought his first guitar and started writing songs, performing them locally until he decided to move to United Kingdom in 1980 and try to establish a reputation on the UK Folk club scene,[1] which he did successfully over the next several years, assisted by the popularity of one song in particular, "Farewell to the Gold" which as well as being performed by its writer was sung widely by the well known performer Nic Jones and included on the latter's 1980 album Penguin Eggs. Colin Irwin, music writer for Melody Maker, has described Metsers as "a songwriter of genuine depth and versatility".[2] Metsers released one album A Song For You on cassette in New Zealand followed by five in the UK on the Highway and Sagem labels, after which he decided to retire from professional performing in 1989. The Paul Metsers Songbook, published in 1986, contained many of the songs from his first four albums, plus one that would appear on Fifth Quarter. He currently lives in Cumbria in the English Lake District. Since 2010 he has been performing again on a limited basis,[3] and has a collection of new songs for eventual planned album release.
Discography
- A Song For You Jolly Roger Records CHEST 6014 1979 (cassette release) album details
- Caution To The Wind Highway Records SHY 7014 1981 album details
- Momentum Highway Records SHY 7021 1982 album details
- In The Hurricane's Eye Sagem Records SGM 279 1984 album details
- Pacific Pilgrim Sagem Records SGM 379 1986 album details
- Fifth Quarter Sagem Records SGM 479 1987 album details
References
- "Metsers, Paul": biographical entry in Larkin, C. ed.: The Guinness Who's Who of Folk Music. Guinness Publishing, 1993 ISBN 085112741X
- "Queens Park Arts Centre and Limelight Theatre: Paul Metsers". Qpc.org. Retrieved 2020-05-20.
- "Paul Metsers News". Paulmetsers.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2020-05-20.