Paulo Franco is a Richmond based singer/songwriter.  In the summer of 2012 he was named a finalist in the Southeast region of the Mountain Stage NewSong songwriting contest.  He was the only Virginia songwriter so selected in 2012. He also was a winner in the Ashland Coffee & Tea Songwriter's Showdown.  His music has been featured on radio stations WRIR and WDCE in Richmond, and as part of the local music scene on WNRN in Charlottesville, Richmond.

His backing band are the Rateros - Dan Sessler, on lead guitar and vocals; Kevin McCloskey on drums and vocals; and the band's newest member, Chad Bennett on bass. They play a unique blend of rock, old school country, alt-country and blues. The music draws heavily from influences like Steve Earle, the Gram Parsons inspired music of the Rolling Stones, the and The Grateful Dead.  View their performances on Virginia this morning - wtvr.com/2013/01/04/virginia-this-morning-paulo-franco-the-rateros-2/ and under the Videos tab.

Paulo has been a musician most of his life, but only until recently was bit by the songwriting bug, which he started in earnest in 2010.  His songs tell stories of love, loss, good times with friends and drinking.  They are featured on his first solo album, By the Light of a Paper Moon.  The album is available for purchase as a CD or dowload under the Merch tab, and is also available on iTunes and Amazon.com.  You can hear all the tracks by clicking here, or by streaming them in player at the bottom left hand corner of the web page.  You Left Me Cold Roses, the song that first cues up, is available as a free download. There are other downloads availble by singing up for the email list.

Paulo and his band have performed in venues throughout Central Virginia, and are beginning to venture into new venues both far and near.  The band is currently working on their second studio release.

Paulo is also the bass player for Richmond based alt-country outfit Luz del Sol www.facebook.com/#!/luzdelsolrva/info, and plays acoustic guitar for Workhorse Blue, a Richmond Red Dirt Rock band www.facebook.com/#!/workhorseblue.


   

www.newsong-music.com/newsletter/2012/081912_RegionalFinalistsAnnouncement.html 

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For more information contact Paulo at (804) 304-4171 or by email at paulo@peflmusic.com

All songs are copyright Paulo Franco - BMI

Cover image (c) 2012 Scott Baker www.bakerstreetphoto.com