Paul Otis Gibbs III (b. Feb 1966) is an American

alt-country Alternative country, or alternative country rock (sometimes alt-country, insurgent country, Americana, or y'allternative), is a loosely defined subgenre of country music and/or country rock that includes acts that differ significantly in style ...

singer-songwriter and podcaster who has independently released several albums since 2002.

Biography

Gibbs was raised in

Wanamaker, Indiana Wanamaker is a community of Indianapolis located in southeastern Marion County, Indiana. It is situated southeast of downtown Indianapolis in north central Franklin Township. The community is concentrated near the intersection of Southeastern ...

, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Indianapolis. He recalls being introduced to the music industry at an early age, when a friend of his aunt's that was supposed to be babysitting him would take him to a nearby saloon to earn money by singing while he played the piano. Gibbs worked for over 10 years as a tree planter in Indiana, planting what he estimates to be over 7,000 trees.

Music career

Gibbs' songs feature stories about every day life. He has been compared to

Woody Guthrie Woodrow Wilson Guthrie (; July 14, 1912 – October 3, 1967) was an American singer-songwriter, one of the most significant figures in American folk music. His work focused on themes of American socialism and anti-fascism. He has inspired ...

Tom T. Hall Thomas Hall (May 25, 1936 – August 20, 2021), known professionally as Tom T. Hall and informally nicknamed "the Storyteller," was an American country music singer-songwriter and short-story author. He wrote 12 No. 1 hit songs, with 26 more ...

Kris Kristofferson Kristoffer Kristofferson (born June 22, 1936) is a retired American singer, songwriter and actor. Among his songwriting credits are " Me and Bobby McGee", " For the Good Times", " Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down", and " Help Me Make It Through the ...

, and

Townes Van Zandt John Townes Van Zandt (March 7, 1944 – January 1, 1997) was an American singer-songwriter.

. His 2014 album, ''Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth'' was described as "his most pleasing, direct and artful work" by ''The Tennessean''. Alan Harrison of ''No Depression'' notes that "The Darker Side of Me" is the type of song that Johnny Cash would be interested in recording. Billy Bragg included Gibbs' song "The Peoples Day" in a list of "Top Five Songs with Something to Say", published in the ''

Wall Street Journal ''The Wall Street Journal'' is an American business-focused, international daily newspaper based in New York City, with international editions also available in Chinese and Japanese. The ''Journal'', along with its Asian editions, is published ...

''. Andy Gill of ''

The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...

'' wrote that there is a "authenticity and dedication in Gibbs' delivery which is somehow cleansing in its purity".

Other activities

Gibbs has recorded more than 100 podcasts under the title "Thanks for Giving a Damn" that consist of conversational interviews with musicians. Podcasts have included conversations with Mando Saenz, Ramsay Midwood, Chris Shiflett (Foo Fighters), Marshall Crenshaw, Jim White, Delbert McClinton, and Amy Lashley. The podcast has been featured on iTunes' "New And Noteworthy" and "What's Hot" lists.

Personal life

Gibbs lives in

Indianapolis Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...

Indiana Indiana () is a U.S. state in the Midwestern United States. It is the 38th-largest by area and the 17th-most populous of the 50 States. Its capital and largest city is Indianapolis. Indiana was admitted to the United States as the 19th s ...

with his long-time partner Amy Lashley, a singer-songwriter and children's book author.

Discography

References

External links

* * * : "Thanks For Giving A Damn with Otis Gibbs" podcast interview show
YouTube channel
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gibbs, Otis American alternative country singers Living people Musicians from Indianapolis Musicians from Nashville, Tennessee American country singer-songwriters Country musicians from Indiana Country musicians from Tennessee Industrial Workers of the World members Singer-songwriters from Tennessee 1966 births Singer-songwriters from Indiana