Paul Brandt | |
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Paul Brandt circa 2015
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Background information | |
Birth name | Paul Rennée Belobersycky |
Born |
Calgary, Alberta |
July 21, 1972
Origin | Airdrie, Alberta |
Genres | Country |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Years active | 1995–present |
Labels | Reprise, Brand-T |
Associated acts | Josh Leo |
Website | paulbrandt |
Paul Rennée Belobersycky (born July 21, 1972) is a Canadian country music artist, known professionally as Paul Brandt. Growing up in Calgary, he was a pediatric RN at the time of his big break. In 1996, he made his mark on the country music charts with the single "My Heart Has a History," propelling him to international success and making him the first male Canadian country singer to reach the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in the United States since Hank Snow, who last charted a Top 10 hit when "Hello Love" hit No. 1 in 1974. Brandt is married to Elizabeth Peterson, who can be seen in some of his music videos, and heard singing background on his CDs. A duet of the song "For You", written by Brandt and Steve Rosen, was used by Dave Matthews and Johnny Cash on the We Were Soldiers soundtrack.
Brandt was born in Calgary, Alberta and grew up in Airdrie, Alberta. The first time Paul Brandt sang in front of an audience was when he sang "Amazing Grace" at his high school. He attended Crescent Heights High School from 1987-1990.
Brandt's demo was one of many sent, by A&Rs at the Warner Canada office to their colleagues at Warner Nashville with an eye to finding a new project the two branches could work together on. Nashville A&R Paige Levy singled out Brandt's recordings, later telling HitQuarters that she thought he showed great potential as a songwriter. As a result the artist began regularly travelling down to Nashville to undergo development, whereby Brandt was matched up with various experienced songwriters whom he could relate to, work well with and who would help him to refine his writing skills. The collaborations resulted in a large part of the material for Brandt's debut album Calm Before the Storm.