Artist

Paul Brandt is the most awarded male Canadian country artist in history. Although his roots started far from stardom, today his fan base, music and philanthropic efforts reach small towns, across big cities and beyond international borders.

He was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada (July 21, 1972) and spent much of his time growing up in Airdrie, located just north of Calgary’s city limits. His childhood was filled with music – from age six he sang gospel music and a cappella at the family church. At thirteen, Paul was handed a guitar – and from that moment, he was hooked. He started using his creative outlet of poetry, putting it to music and performing for family and friends. After a gentle nudge by an uncle, he began entering music contests and talent shows, including the “Youth Talent Showdown” at the Calgary Stampede. It wasn’t long before record executives took notice of his talent.

During this time, he received his Registered Nurse designation, and started working at the Alberta Children’s Hospital with the hopes of eventually finishing his degree and applying for medical school. However, life had other plans for him – he soon signed with Warner/Reprise in Nashville, and his professional music career took off.

His first big break was in 1996 with the single “My Heart has a History”, which hit number one in Canada and made him the first Canadian male country artist to reach the Billboard Top Ten in the US since Hank Snow in 1974. A Gold (US) and Triple Platinum (Canada) selling album, “Calm Before the Storm”, followed.

The chart-topping song “I Do” was written by Paul for the wedding of a colleague. Although he’d left the task to the last moment, the lyrics flowed out of him in a matter of minutes. Soon after the release of the song, Paul said “I Do” to the love of his life, Elizabeth (Peterson) Brandt. Within a month of their marriage, Elizabeth (Liz) was on the tour bus with Paul, and has since been a huge part of his career, both as a supportive wife, and as a back-up singer in his band.

After nine years in Nashville, Paul and Liz began to feel the pull of home. Paul made the decision to leave his record label, go out on his own, and start Brand-T Records. Leaving the security of a major recording label was a terrifying leap of faith for him but the move paid off – every album he has created on the Brand-T label has won an ‘Album of the Year’ award.

His dreams of eventually becoming a Doctor came true as well – For his outstanding achievements in music and humanitarianism, he received an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the University of Lethbridge. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Briercrest College and Seminary.

Paul has nine tremendously successful albums to his credit to date, and he will launch a new album, entitled “Give It Away”, later in 2011, as well as a box set collection of his music.

In addition to his music, Paul also has a strong passion for helping people. He has worked with a number of charities, and his humanitarian pursuits have taken him around the globe, including Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda, Chile, Belize, South Korea, Bosnia and Cambodia.

2011 also marks the launch of Paul Brandt’s BUILD IT FORWARD, a television documentary series that follows seven families as they create a new home for themselves while building it forward for others. The series is the largest television initiative to date for CMT (Canada), and will go to air on CMT this year.

Through his foundation, The Priceless Gift of Hope Foundation, and other projects, Paul is committed to continuing to make a difference to people of all walks of life, both locally and internationally.

He lives with his wife Liz and their two children, Joseph and Lily, on a ranch near Calgary, Alberta, Canada.