Paul Joseph Santopadre

Paul Joseph Santopadre started playing drums at age five. He is known around New Orleans for his tasteful chops, driving work ethic, and rock solid rhythm, but most of all for the infectiously jovial grin with which he graces the stage.

I first played with Santopadre at the 1994 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, with “Zyde-billy” band Butch Trivette & the Roulettes. We instantly clicked, and I was soon calling Paul to play in my band. Paul (along with Greg Schatz and myself) is one of the original Deltabilly Boys. He appears on all of my band recordings to date. Paul Santopadre is also a founding member of The Schatzy Band, and appears on the CDs Macaroni & Bees, Unraveling, and Nocturnal Wildlife Journal.

Paul has worked with groups ranging from rock to Cajun to country to blues. In the 80's and early 90's Paul was a member of original roots rock bands The Hooligans, and The Songdogs (co-producing their album Live Without A Leash). He has gigged extensively with Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Beau Bassin, and Jimmy Thibodeaux (with whom Paul recorded), and toured Ireland and Belgium with the Cajun rock band Mamou. Paul has also played with Little Queenie, Evangeline, and with Kenny Holladay. Recordings include work with Peter Stampfel (of the Holy Modal Rounders), Irene Sage, Boo LaCrosse, and Jason Eklund. Paul toured France several times with voodoo blues man Coco Robicheaux and played drums on Robicheaux's critically acclaimed album Louisiana Medicine Man.

After Katrina, Paul lived for a while in New Hampshire, but has since moved back to the New Orleans area.

 

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