Paul deLay

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Paul deLay
Background information
Birth name	Paul Joseph deLay
Born	January 31, 1952
Origin	Portland, Oregon
Died	March 7, 2007
Genre(s)	Blues
Instrument(s)	harmonica, voice
Years active	c. 1970 - 2007
Associated acts	Paul deLay Blues Band

Paul Joseph deLay (b. January 31, 1952, Portland, Oregon - d. March 7, 2007, Portland, Oregon), was an American blues vocalist and harmonicist.

DeLay's musical career started in the early 1970s with a band called "Brown Sugar", which played numerous West Coast gigs. In 1976, he and guitarist Jim Mesi formed the Paul deLay Blues Band, which performed well into the 1980s. The band also recorded several albums during that time.

By the late 1980s, deLay was suffering from alcohol and cocaine addiction. In 1990, he was arrested for drug trafficking, and served a 41-month prison sentence. While he was incarcerated, his band continued without him, performing as the "No Delay Band" and featuring longtime Portland blueswoman Linda Hornbuckle as lead vocalist in lieu of deLay^[1]. Upon his release from prison, deLay (now clean and sober) rejoined the band. He continued touring and recording until his last illness.

In March 2007, after returning to Portland from a gig in Klamath Falls, Oregon, deLay felt ill and sought medical treatment. It was discovered that he was suffering from end-stage leukemia; he soon lapsed into a coma from which he would not recover. He died in Portland on March 7, 2007, aged 55^[2].

[edit] Awards and achievements

Over his career, deLay received a Handy Award for best instrumentalist, a recording of the year award from the Portland Music Association, and several awards from the Cascade Blues Association^[3].