BIOGRAPHY:

Singer-songwriter PAUL ARNOLDI, "...a happy cross between Roger Miller and Bob Dylan ..", (Stereo Review ), began his career in the now-famous Cambridge/Boston folk music scene of the early 1960's.
Featured in the book, Baby, Let Me follow you Down/ The Illustrated story of the Cambridge folk years, by Eric Von Schmidt and Jim Rooney, Arnoldi offered a unique musical contribution, blending his Wyoming prairie upbringing with the traditional folk music being played in Cambridge and Boston; and, later, performing these western, folk and original songs in Berkeley, New York and Los Angeles. He has just released his new CD, HIGHROADS TEN PLUS TWO.

Arnoldi's musical career developed while a student at Harvard University, the only school outside of Laramie to which he had applied. As fate would have it, Cambridge was becoming a hotbed of folk music, with the likes of Joan Baez, Tom Rush, Jim Kweskin, Taj Mahal, Maria Muldaur, and others, rising out of it. By his third year at Harvard, Arnoldi was performing western music, traditional folk songs, as well as his own original material, at the Club 47 Mt. Auburn. Upon graduating in June of 1962, Paul joined the renowned bluegrass group, The Charles River Valley Boys, playing guitar as "CRVB #10". In the fall, he left Cambridge to continue his education in architecture at the University of California, Berkeley.
 

The bay area was enjoying its own bourgeoning folk music scene, and Arnoldi would soon make a name for himself, performing his prairie-influenced-east coast-urban-folk style of traditional and original material in all the major clubs of the day; the Freight & Salvage, The Inn of the Beginning, The Catalyst, and many more. By now his love of music overshadowed dreams of being an architect, and Arnoldi says he left school to "do music, and build on his own." A couple of years later, Paul was lured back to the intensity and familiarity of Cambridge. Embarking on yet another drive across the United States, he found the Cambridge folk scene to have grown and solidified; folk music had become a real business. He soon was back in the swing of things, performing at the Club 47, the Unicorn, the Loft, among others. Time passed, and Arnoldi, with hopes of recording an album, moved to New York City, renting a loft at Thirteen Bleeker street, Greenwich Village.

Seeking a publisher for his songs, Arnoldi went knocking on doors, until one opened up at the office of Artie Mogul, of Albet Music, an offshootof Albert Grossman Music, (renowned for developing the careers of Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul & Mary.) Mogul was instrumental in getting Arnoldi signed to a record contract with Kapp Records. A ONE NOTE MAN, released in 1967, was selected as "Folk Pick of the Week" by Stereo Review. The title song was picked up by his friends, the emerging group, The Youngbloods, who recorded it on their first album, GET TOGETHER. As they were enjoying success, they decided to move to Marin County, near San Francisco. That seemed a good idea to Arnoldi and he packed up his 6 and 12 string guitars for his own road trip, settling in to a nature filled life in the hills behind Berkeley, (Canyon, Ca.). Arnoldi enjoyed Canyon, performing all around the Berkeley/San Francisco area, but eventually felt that a change was in order. He visited Los Angeles, and, impressed by the things to see and do; the availability of music publishers, etc., Paul relocated, and performed at all the major folk venues, including McCabe's Guitar Shop, The Icehouse, The Troubadour, The Ash Grove and Café Largo.

In1980, Arnoldi took a hiatus from city life, moving back to Wyoming, where he bought and remodeled an old house. This time of peace and silence in the wide open spaces resulted in songs being written, and thusly recorded upon his return to Los Angeles. Arnoldi took his time producing and completing this album, working with his many musical friends. Entitled HIGHROADS, the LP was released on vinyl in 1986. Basically undistributed, these songs were not widely heard. Arnoldi, believing they stood the test of time, decided to re-release it on CD. HIGHROADS TEN PLUS TWO, is a resung, remixed, revised, updated version of HIGHROADS. "PLUS TWO" refers to the two new songs: A PEACEFUL WORLD, and NO MORE WAR. Recording them delayed the CD release, but Arnoldi feels it it was well worth the wait. It is his hope that this group of songs will give listeners a peaceful feeling, and some joy.

Arnoldi has remained in Santa Monica, working on music, building and sculpting, notwithstanding occasional excursions to Montana. In support of his new CD, Paul will soon go on a nation-wide
tour.