P. J. Olsson Explained

PJ Olsson
Birth Name:Paul Josef Olsson
Birth Place:Pontiac, Michigan
Birth Date:1969 7, df=yes
Genre:Adult Alternative, Rock
Occupation:Musician, songwriter, producer, composer, Grammy winning Engineer audio engineer
Years Active:1990–present
Associated Acts:Alan Parsons, Rufus Wainwright, Train, Beth Orton, Michael McDonald, David Pack, OMD, The Hooters, Earth, Wind & Fire, Wyclef, Nelly Furtado, Tommy Lefroy, Placebo,

Paul Josef Olsson (13 July 1969) is an American singer, most notable as being the lead singer for Alan Parsons Live Project. He has toured with various artists over his lifetime, including Deep Purple, Train, Muse, Simple Minds, Rufus Wainwright, Earth, Wind & Fire, Wyclef, Nelly Furtado, Beth Orton, and Placebo.

Biography

He was born in Pontiac, Michigan to a musical family. His father had a DMA in choral music and was an avant-garde 12-tone composer, A&R executive for Motown Records and later a professor at Michigan Tech;[1] his mother was a music/voice major and schoolteacher.[2] He started playing violin at age 6.[3] PJ caught the attention of Columbia records, who in mid-2000 released the album Words For Living which received positive reviews in the United States. Olsson also made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman,[4] and his song "Ready for a Fall" was included on the soundtrack album for the television show Dawson's Creek.[5]

Olsson began collaborating with Alan Parsons in 2004, first as a sound engineer, then as lead singer for the Alan Parsons Live Project.[6] He has performed with many other notable acts, including Kid Rock, Muse, Train, Rufus Wainwright, Iggy Pop, Beth Orton, Bob Geldof, Something Corporate, Ben Harper, Nelly Furtado, Placebo, and Michelle Branch.[4] In 2007 Olsson teamed up with Salman Ahmad to record a remake of the Nick Lowe song, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", as the theme to The CW television show Aliens in America.[7]

Discography

Solo

with Alan Parsons

Studio albums
Live albums
Singles

Compilation appearances

Notes and References

  1. Web site: A Quiet Approach to an Explosive Landscape . Los Angeles Times . Hochman . Steve . 3 June 2000 . 7 June 2015 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121225072634/http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/03/entertainment/ca-36811 . 25 December 2012.
  2. Web site: PJ Olsson . Avenue Communications . 7 June 2015.
  3. Web site: P.J. Olsson: Vocals . The Alan Parsons Project . 7 June 2015.
  4. Web site: P.J. Olsson . LetsSingIt . 7 June 2015.
  5. Web site: Singer PJ Olsson Is Building Career, One Club at a Time . Los Angeles Times . 1 July 1999 . Nichols . Natalie . 7 June 2015.
  6. Web site: The power of music: Local musician PJ Olsson nabs Grammy nomination for project with Alan Parsons . Ski-Hi News . 4 January 2019 . Harford . McKenna . 8 July 2024.
  7. Web site: What's So Funny 'Bout 'Aliens in America?' . starpulse.com . 2 October 2007 . 7 June 2015.
  8. Web site: P.J. Olsson - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic.
  9. Web site: Words for Living - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic.
  10. Web site: Beautifully Insane - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic.
  11. Web site: American Scream - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic.
  12. Web site: Lasers and Trees by P.J. Olsson on iTunes. 14 February 2013.

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