Founded in 2001, the Point Richmond Music Festival quickly became a popular highlight of summers in the East Bay. Organized by a team of volunteers and focusing on local talent, the festival experienced an enforced pandemic-era break but returned to some of its biggest crowds to date. Past headliners included Bay Area-based musical heroes Fantastic Negrito, the Rubinoos and blues-guitarist Jimmy McCracklin.
The free concert series happens the second Friday of each month from June through September at the corner of Park Place and Washington Avenue in downtown Point Richmond. This year’s festival headliners have included Americana-blues artist Miko Marks, India-born blues-harmonica player and singer Aki Kumar, and comedy rockers Those Darn Accordions. The Point Richmond Music Festival wraps its season on Friday, Sept. 11, with a 5:30pm opening set from Latin American roots group Los Nadies, followed by a headlining set at 6:45pm by the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra.
Growing up, guitarist and band leader Anthony Paule’s musical tastes were greatly influenced by his two older brothers. The family had previously lived in Los Angeles; there, his siblings often attended concerts at El Monte Legion Stadium featuring famed bandleader Johnny Otis and other popular R&B acts. One record in the family’s collection was a 1970 compilation, The Best of the Biggest. That record featured classic sides from John Lee Hooker, Howlin’ Wolf, B.B. King and other greats. Already a fan of blues-influenced rock artists like the Rolling Stones, Paule was curious about his brother’s record.
“I just happened to put it on one day,” he recalled, “and I heard Elmore James. I went out of my mind. And that was the launch pad for me into the actual blues.”
Having picked up the guitar at age 13, within a decade Paule was a gigging musician, eventually landing a spot as lead guitarist in the Berkeley-based Johnny Nocturne Band. Remaining with that outfit for more than a decade, he toured widely, including dates in Europe and the South Pacific. He released his debut as a band leader, Big Guitar, in 1995.
In the years since, Paule enlisted the talents of a succession of some of the finest blues singers to front his high-energy ensemble. Between 2013 and 2015 his group, then known as the Anthony Paule Band, cut a trio of albums featuring lead vocalist Frank Bey. Two of those releases, 2014’s Soul for Your Blues and Not Goin’ Away from 2015, received nominations for Soul Blues Album of the Year at the annual Blues Music Awards. After leaving Paule’s group, Bey went on to record and release the Grammy-nominated All My Dues Are Paid in 2020; Bey died six months later.
After Bey’s departure, Paule rechristened his expanding group—now ranging from eight to 12 pieces, depending on the gig or session—the Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra (APSO). The name change reflected the band’s immersion in the powerful and heartfelt musical style exemplified by ’60s Memphis powerhouse Stax Records. Soul-singer Wee Willie Walker had recently come out of retirement; Paule’s band backed him at a festival in Italy and that date initiated a creatively fruitful relationship.
APSO’s debut release, 2017’s After a While, featured Walker on lead vocals. That record earned four Blues Music Award nominations; the next year, the Living Blues Awards named Walker Most Outstanding Blues Singer.
During recording sessions in late 2019, a friend of the band conducted interviews with members of APSO. She asked singer Wee Willie Walker for his thoughts on the session. “It’s the most fun project I’ve ever had the opportunity of working on,” he replied, “because of all the different personalities and great people that are involved.” He went on to say that he didn’t think such an experience would happen again. “Not for me in my lifetime,” he added. Walker died three days later at age 77.
Not long after, the Orchestra played a few dates with singer Terrie Odabi, including one on the Legendary Rhythm and Blues Cruise. Willy Jordan, a member of Elvin Bishop’s band, approached Paule and his wife—and lyricist—Cristine Vitale, as they worked their merchandise table post-show.
Jordan expressed his admiration for the title track of APSO’s 2017 album. “Hey, Cristina,” he said. “Can you write me one like that?” That meeting led to Jordan collaborating on several songs and his eventual place as APSO’s new lead singer. 2024’s What Are You Waiting For? marked the recorded debut of the new lineup with Jordan out front. In 2026, Paule played guitar on sessions for Van Morrison’s Somebody Tried to Sell Me a Bridge; he also returned to the studio to make What Can We Do?, APSO’s second outing with Jordan.
What Can We Do? leverages all of APSO’s musical assets. Nine of the 11 tracks are original songs composed by Vitale and Paule with Larry Batiste and/or Willy Jordan. A Paule solo composition, “Bigger Guitar,” is a sequel of sorts to his very first release of 30-plus years ago. The songs on What Can We Do?, all new compositions, display strong, classic-soul character.
“I listen to music to be inspired,” Paule said. “And when we’re songwriting, I tend to play some of my favorite artists and favorite records. I’m not copying them, but those records can spark a seed of an idea.”
Paule concedes that having a large band brings challenges. “It’s not for the faint of heart,” he said with a chuckle. Scheduling, logistics and finances often dictate just how many pieces the band will be on a given night. “But we never leave home without a trumpet, tenor sax and trombone,” he emphasized. “I mean, how can you play soul music without horns?”
Anthony Paule Soul Orchestra headlines the Point Richmond Music Festival on Friday, Sept. 11, 6:45pm, at the corner of Park Place and Washington Avenue in historic downtown Point Richmond. pointrichmondmusic.org
