• 2012-

  Paul JanewayVocals2012-

  Browan LollarGuitar2012-

  Jesse PhillipsBass2012-

  Andrew LeeDrums2012-

  Ben GrinerTrombone2012-

  Allen BranstetterTrumpet2012-

  Al GambleKeys2014-
• Chelsea, Alabama native Paul Janeway started singing in a band called the Secret Danger after moving to Birmingham to study accounting. The blues-rock outfit floundered after the departure of its guitarist, but in 2012, a mutual friend invited Janeway and bassist Jesse Phillips into his studio to record a song. "It was going to be our last hurrah," Janeway told Garden & Gun. "But then something just clicked and we walked out of there with something."
  
  Reinvigorated, the pair formed St. Paul & the Broken Bones recruiting four additional members. A seventh, keyboardist Al Gamble was brought in the following year to play on their debut album and he became a full time member in January 2014.
• Frontman Paul Janeway uses the St. Paul handle in honor of his musical background, having grown up in a devout family in which secular music was largely forbidden. "The only secular music that I heard at all was a '70s group called the Stylistics, and Sam Cooke. That was about it," Janeway recalled to Billboard magazine. "The rest was all gospel music. When I was about 10, I was groomed to be a minister. My goal in life until I was about 18 was to be a preacher."
• Janeway's church background led to his interest in music: "My pastor was the reason that I learned to play guitar," he said. "They would let me play guitar and sing in church."
• St. Paul & the Broken Bones debut album, Half the City, was released on February 18, 2014 under Alabama label, Single Lock Records, which is part owned by John Paul White of The Civil Wars. The disc received critical acclaim from many media outlets and reached #62 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Comments

More Songfacts:

Mercedes BoyPebbles

"Mercedes Boy" by Pebbles is about a real guy she fell in love with - they both drove Mercedes when she wrote it.

Evening StarJudas Priest

Judas Priest's "Evening Star" is a Christmas carol that describes the journey of the Magi from a first person perspective.

Rebel RebelDavid Bowie

When David Bowie sings, "We like dancing and we look divine" in "Rebel Rebel," it's a reference to a famous drag queen known as Divine.

Fight The PowerPublic Enemy

"Fight The Power" was written for the Spike Lee movie Do The Right Thing. It opens the film and serves as the motif.

Since U Been GoneKelly Clarkson

Dr. Luke and Max Martin originally wrote Kelly Clarkson's "Since U Been Gone" with Pink in mind but she turned it down.

Suddenly I SeeKT Tunstall

KT Tunstall's "Suddenly I See" was inspired by Robert Mapplethorpe's photograph of Patti Smith on the cover of her album Horses.

Editor's Picks

Have Mercy! It's Wolfman JackSong Writing

The story of the legendary lupine DJ through the songs he inspired.

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Dave EdmundsSongwriter Interviews

A renowned guitarist and rock revivalist, Dave took "I Hear You Knocking" to the top of the UK charts and was the first to record Elvis Costello's "Girls Talk."

Stand By Me: The Perfect Song-Movie CombinationSong Writing

In 1986, a Stephen King novella was made into a movie, with a classic song serving as title, soundtrack and tone.

Yoko OnoSongwriter Interviews

At 80 years old, Yoko has 10 #1 Dance hits. She discusses some of her songs and explains what inspired John Lennon's return to music in 1980.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.