Paul Mateki's biography. He was born in Leeds, England and began singing at an early age in the church choir. After emigrating with his parents to the United States in 1965 he quickly learned how to play the guitar and was soon doing local gigs with his first paying group "The Front Page" at age 14. This band covered such notable bands of the time like the Beatles, Stones, Beach Boys, Guess Who, Grass Roots etc. These groups, along with established country artists like George Jones, Don Williams and Hank Williams and contemporary artist Dan Fogelberg formed the basis of the music Paul performs and writes today. While earning an Associates Degree from Fulton-Montgomery C.C. and a Batchelor of Arts Degree in Music History and Literature from the State University of New York at New Paltz, Paul refined his musical abilities at local coffee-houses and folk clubs. During this period he landed a job as rhythm guitarist/vocalist with Gary Bonner, who penned "Happy Together" that became a gold record for the Turtles, and "Celebrate" which became a gold record for Three Dog Night. While performing with Gary Bonner and Street Beat for two years,they did an East Coast tour with Tommy Jones and the Shondells. After the break-up of Street Beat and several jobs with other local bands, Paul felt the pull of the West Coast and headed for California. While in California he developed his solo act, which is a big part of what he and Helen do today. He shared the stage with notable groups and performers such as Huey Lewis and the News, Maria Muldaur, Jo Baker (formerly of the Elvin Bishop group), Jonathan Edwards and the Motels. In recent years, Paul has opened for the likes of Lyle Lovett, P.J. Price, Dave Dudley, Donna Fargo, Norma Jean, The Cattle Company, The Souths, Hermann Lammers-Meyer and the Emsland Hillbillies, Gene Watson, the Oakridge Boys, Jody Adams, the Cheatin' Hearts, the Black Hills Country Band from Belgium and numerous other US and European groups and artists. On his return to Texas after a one year period in California, Paul became aware of the ever increasing market for country music in Europe. Country music was a big part of Paul's life at this point and he decided to pursue this ever-growing desire on the European market. Shortly after his first album release, aptly entitled "PAUL MATEKI", he released his first single "Long Distance Lovin' " in 1992 on Pristine Records. It not only made the top 10 Inde Chart in the US, but also hit the European charts very strong, getting the ball rolling overseas! Throughout '93 and '94 Paul charted seceral songs including the now well-known "Quick Train" and "Why Baby Why?" on Comstock Records, both of which were produced by Jeff Huskins of Little Texas. Over the past four years Paul has released numerous singles on more than a dozen compilation CD's with ever increasing success and chart action. This would build the foundation for his critically acclaimed first CD "TEMPERATURES' RISING" on Misy Int'l Records, and open the door for numerous offers to tour overseas which he does every year. "TEMPERATURES' RISING" quickly became a mainstay on the European Country Music charts and peaked at #19 in August of 1996 on the Top 30 Album Chart, and his song "Quick Train" hit the #1 spot in Holland in June 1996. His first single release "Zevenbergen" (7 Mountains Memories) from his 1998 CD "ACROSS THE MILES" has already reached the #1 spot in Holland and has been in the Top 30 of the European Country Charts for 17 weeks, as of January 1998. The second single from the album is "Rusty Nail", set for a January '98 release on Misty Records, followed by his 1998 European Tour, set to start in Belfast, North Ireland in May. As an award-winning songwriter and performer, Paul also helps to produce and arrange the albums he records, along with doing all of his own harmonies and rhythm guitar work. As evidenced by his first two albums, Paul moves effortlessly through all of his musical influences, applying his expert touch to each nuance and mood. Above all else, he lets you experience his feelings that are contained in his music and that are easily conveyed to the listener. He sings with feeling and emotion at all times! Paul can be found performing around the state of Texas quite regularly and out of state when the right occasion arises. Paul Mateki is definitely a major star on the rise, so keep watching! Awards and Achievements. August 2003 the first single from the new CD from Paul and Helen, "When the River Runs Dry" reaches the #1 spot on the European CMA Top 100 Singles Chart, spending 4 weeks there. In September their second single "Please Don't Let Me Let You Go" featuring Helen on lead vocals reaches the #1 spot for 2 weeks. In March 2002 Paul won the "Int'l Artist Award 2001" award by the Texas based "Coast to Coast" Music magazine. This took place in Dallas at the famous "Crystal Chandelier". November 2001: Paul's song Sedona (written by Martin Moss) was number 1 in March of this year, and now it has returned there! Check the Pan European Top 75 Singles chart and you see! On the 2000 Nashville Tracker awards show in May, Paul got the following awards: * "Male vocalist of the year" in the European market * "Duet of the year" in the European market, together with David Thomason, with the song "Empty Rooms" (written by David) May 2000: Paul's CD "Across the Miles" is on it's 56th week on the ECMA charts! More than a year! Only Shania Twain has been there longer! The following awards were handed out to Paul on the 1999 Nashville Tracker awards: * "Male vocalist of the year" in the European market * "Album of the year" in the European market * "Duet of the year" in the European market, together with David Thomason, with the song "So long , Adios" (written by David) *"International Indie Artist of the Year", by the Tennessee CMA Awards and Competition (Oct 9-10, Gatlinburg) #1 again on the Top 100 Nashville Tracker Chart and also the Dutch Country DJ chart for October 1999 Indie CD of the year 1998 in Europe, for "Across the Miles" Winner of "Song of the Year" by the Country Music Organizations of America in Las Vegas Oct. 97. Title of the winning song: "FRIENDS FOREVER". He was also nominated by the European Country Music Association for "Duet of the Year" with PJ Price, also with his song "FRIENDS FOREVER". Okay, since I talked about the song, I will give you the name of his first CD too: "Temperatures Rising". (Released on the Misty label, no. 779.) Winner of "International Male Vocalist of the Year '97" and "International Co-writer of the Year '97" with Rhonnie Scheuerman from Kodak, Tenessee. He performed the winning song during the showcase at the first annual "NORTH AMERICAN COUNTRY MUSIC ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL, held at the exclusive Park Vista Resorts Hotel (Gatlinburg, Tennessee. That's just 5 miles down the road from "Dollywood." ;) Jan 7-11. Paul told me: "I had a nice talk with Donna Fargo and was also interviewed by TNN, The Nashville Network." The interview is to be broadcast at a later date. About to be released: his new CD called "ACROSS THE MILES," with the first single released "Zevenbergen" (7 Mountains Memory) going to #1 in Holland in Aug. 1997. Friends of Paul, Shaun and Cindy South from Hull in England will hopefully bring out their first album somewhere this summer. Paul is producing the whole album for them. Shaun and Cindy go by the name "The Souths". Maybe in July of this year they will do a small tour together with Paul. Any chance we get to see and hear them in Holland, Paul?? Paul Mateki and PJ Price win for "Duet of the Year 1997" by the ECMA for "Friends Forever," Paul Mateki's song from his "Temperatures' Rising" CD. CONGRATULATIONS! ----------------- Helen Mateki biography. Helen was born in Aschaffenburg, Germany. Being tought in a Catholic School, she learned singing, and found her love in harmonizing. At age fourteen, Helen and her family emigrated to Fort Worth, Texas where she finished her schooling. Knowing that she nor her sister and five brothers spoke English during that summer, they quickly had to learn that language before beginning their first school year in America. Helen's background in highschool was cello and reading music, and her dream at one time was to become a Cello player. A few years later, English became Helen's very serious study, learning that her hunger was to be a writer, she wrote mostly poems and short stories. With several poems published, she didn't do much with her writing. She only had time to work and raise a child after the loss of her first husband. After her son was old enough, she again continued with her writing, but only as a hobby. Now with eighty poems written and several published, she put them in a book called "Thoughts". In 1996, Paul Mateki came into her life, she loved his singing style, loved his song writing, and five years later they married. Now she writes some songs with him, harmonizes wonderfully and in time their voices grew together as one. After singing together for more than a year, the CD "Texasville" started taking shape in 2001. Paul invited Helen to sing harmonies on two songs: "Mighty Fine Dog", and "Time Is Short". In November 2002, Paul and Helen had their first #1 hit together in Europe on the "European Media Services Most Popular Chart" with the Renie Peterson song "We've Got A Love". 2003 brought out the first collaboration of Paul and Helen with their new CD, "Something To Sing About". Helen's fine angelic harmonies complement Paul's singing so much, that in July 2003, their first #1 from the new CD "When The River Runs Dry" was on top of the European CMA Charts. Helen's first attempt at singing lead vocal on "Please Don't Let Me Let You Go", written by their good friend and songwriter, Renie Peterson, put this song at #1 ECMA. Helen can be seen accompanying Paul around Texas singing harmonies and an occasional lead vocal. As of this writing Helen is teaching herself to play bass.