Paul Gerard Buchanan (born 16 April 1956), is a Scottish, Glasgow-based, songwriter and musician, known for critically acclaimed compositions both as a co-founder of
the Blue Nile
The Blue Nile was a Scottish band which originated in Glasgow. The group's early music was built heavily on synthesizers and electronic instrumentation and percussion, although later works featured guitar more prominently. Following early champ ...
and for his solo material.
Buchanan was the writer of the Blue Nile's album ''
Hats'', which was identified by ''
The Herald'' newspaper as Scotland's favourite album of all time, in 2018.
Early life and education
He was born as Paul Gerard Buchanan on 16 April 1956, in Edinburgh. He was the first born of four children to civil servant John "Jack" Buchanan and Jesse Maria Buchanan (
née
A birth name is the name of a person given upon birth. The term may be applied to the surname, the given name, or the entire name. Where births are required to be officially registered, the entire name entered onto a birth certificate or birth re ...
Murray). His father worked at the
Department of Trade and Industry. After his birth, the family moved to the Glasgow suburb town of
Bishopbriggs.
Buchanan attended St. Matthews Primary School, then
St Ninian's High School, Kirkintilloch
St. Ninian's High School is a Roman Catholic co-educational comprehensive secondary school, located in Kirkintilloch, East Dunbartonshire, on the banks of the Forth and Clyde Canal.
Admissions
There are currently over 900 students in attenda ...
, before studying literature and medieval history at the
University of Glasgow, leaving with a post-graduate qualification.
Career
After university, Buchanan worked as teacher, as the manager of a theatre, and for the
Scottish Society of Playwrights
The Scottish Society of Playwrights (SSP) is a professional member's organisation representing theatre playwrights in Scotland. It is affiliated to the Scottish Trades Union Congress, and party to the Theatrical Management Association playwrigh ...
Magazine. A guitarist, he started the Blue Nile band with friends from university: keyboardist Paul Joseph "PJ" Moore and synthesiser player and bassist Robert Bell. The band progressed from covers to releasing their own work. Their first album was produced in 1981 through
RSO records.
Buchanan's work, including four albums with the Blue Nile and one solo album, has received critical praise although has met with relatively modest commercial success.
Buchanan is often described as reticent to perform and as a perfectionist, who has discarded many songs during the creative process.
His songs have been covered by artists including
Tom Jones
Tom Jones may refer to:
Arts and entertainment
*Tom Jones (singer) (born 1940), Welsh singer
* Tom Jones (writer) (1928–2023), American librettist and lyricist
*''The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling'', a novel by Henry Fielding published in ...
,
Rod Stewart
Sir Roderick David Stewart (born 10 January 1945) is a British rock and pop singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, he is of Scottish and English ancestry. With his distinctive raspy singing voice, Stewart is among the best-selling ...
,
Annie Lennox
Ann Lennox (born 25 December 1954) is a Scottish singer-songwriter, political activist and philanthropist. After achieving moderate success in the late 1970s as part of the New wave music, new wave band the Tourists, she and fellow musician D ...
, and
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes Jr. (August 20, 1942 – August 10, 2008) was an American singer, actor, songwriter, and composer. He was one of the creative forces behind the Southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwri ...
.
Both
Bono
Paul David Hewson (born 10 May 1960), known by his stage name Bono (), is an Irish singer-songwriter, activist, and philanthropist. He is the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the rock band U2.
Born and raised in Dublin, he attended M ...
and
Matty Healy
The 1975 are an English pop rock band formed in 2002 in Wilmslow, Wilmslow, Cheshire. Now based in Manchester, the band consists of lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Matthew "Matty" Healy, lead guitarist Adam Hann, bassist Ross MacDonald, and ...
, have cited him as an influence.
In 2006, Buchanan had a top 10 hit in the UK when he featured on
Texas' song, "
Sleep", which reached No. 6.
Buchanan released his first solo album, ''
Mid Air'', in 2012.
BBC Music described it as "a masterpiece".
His work, both with the Blue Nile and as a solo artist, has appeared with long intervals between.
In 2018, the Blue Nile's album ''
Hats'', written by Buchanan, was identified by ''
The Herald'' as Scotland's favourite album of all time.
Personal life
Buchanan was previously romantically involved with American actress
Rosanna Arquette.
As of 2012, Buchanan lived in Glasgow.
See also
*
List of Scottish musicians
*
Music of Scotland
References
External links
Paul Buchanan-
Twitter
{{DEFAULTSORT:Buchanan, Paul
1956 births
Living people
Musicians from Glasgow
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
21st-century Scottish musicians
20th-century Scottish musicians