Longtime Willie Nelson Drummer, Manager Paul English Has Died
Paul English, the long time drummer, manager, and right hand man for Willie Nelson, has died, Saving Country Music can confirm. A member of Willie’s band from his start in shady bars in Fort Worth, Texas, all the way up to Willie’s most recent shows, he was the seminal member of Willie Nelson’s Family Band, and considered by many to be one of the most revered sidemen in American music. He also acted as Willie Nelson’s personal manager for many years. He died at a hospital near his home in Dallas after a bout with pneumonia. Paul English was 87-years-old.
Of all the rough characters in Outlaw Country’s past, only one had a glass eye, and was a former gang leader and pimp. When asked once by a 20/20 reporter during Willie Nelson’s peak popularity if he carried a gun, and if so could he see it, Paul English answered, “Which one?” because he notoriously carried two at all times. And for years wore a cape to go along with his nickname, “The Devil.”
Born in 1933, Paul’s parents were devout Christians, but despite his upbringing, English ended up becoming the leader of the “Peroxide Gang” in Ft. Worth, TX, and later a pimp running women. Fort Worth was the first place Willie Nelson really started playing music professionally, and in the late 50’s and early 60’s, it was a rough scene. The downtown corridor was full of brothels and night clubs, and stabbings and shootings were very common. One club Willie played at was Gray’s Bar. They had to rig up chicken wire in front of the stage to protect the band from flying beer bottles and would-be homicidal stage crashers.
Sometimes Willie Nelson would not get paid. This is when Willie met Paul, and Paul told Willie he could help him with that. Paul became Willie’s strong man, and eventually Willie’s drummer. Many believe that if it wasn’t for Paul, Willie would have not been nearly as successful. And Paul says, “Had it not been for Willie, I would be dead or in the penitentiary.”
“I started making the papers in 1956 when the ‘Fort Worth Press’ started running a ’10 Most Unwanted” list,’ Paul English recalled in Willie Nelson’s biography with Bud Shrake. “I made it five years in a row. I was involved in three murder trials, but they never led to anything. I was the kind of guy they were always trying to stick charges on . . . In ’55 I started running girls. This went on for a long time. It was a good business but you had to work hard . . . I had become really adept at picking locks. We had a contest on how many daytime burglaries we could pull and I think I pulled twelve. I don’t think I was ever legitimate until I started playing drums for Willie in 1966.”
Willie Nelson’s band is notorious for being like one big family, and Willie gives a lot of credit to his success to the fact that he’s been able to keep the same people around him for so long. The very first part of that family was Paul English. Paul officially became Willie’s drummer when Willie asked Paul, ironically, if he knew any good drummers. The only reason Willie never considered Paul was because he thought he couldn’t pay Paul enough money.
But Paul saw something in Willie, and he might have been one of the first to see it. Paul gave up his high living lifestyle to go play for Willie for sometimes no money at all, or IOU’s, because he could see Willie’s singular talent, and knew it would eventually pay off. And pay off it did. During Willie Nelson’s heyday, Paul English was the highest paid drummer/sideman in music according to the Guinness Book of World Records. Whatever Willie made, Paul got a 20% cut of.
Initially, Willie Nelson preferred Paul’s brother Billy English to play drums in the band, believing he was a better drummer. But Paul’s skills as a manager and businessman made him a mainstay in Willie’s band all the way until he passed away. As Paul’s motor skills began to slow down over the years, brother Billy would spell his brother behind the snare drum—a stripped-down version of country brush drumming that Willie Nelson preferred, and became part of Willie’s signature sound. He also went from being known as “The Devil” Paul to “Sweet Paul” for the kindhearted spirit he treated everyone with.
Just last month, Saving Country Music named Paul English one of the Greatest Drummers of All Time, specifically for his work behind-the-scenes for Willie Nelson. Paul English also played with Delbert McClinton and others, and acted in the movie The Red Headed Stranger. Paul’s contributions were chronicled in the song, “Me and Paul,” which appeared on the iconic 1976 compilation Wanted: The Outlaws.
Paul English is survived by his wife, Janie English, and others.
February 12, 2020 @ 10:44 am
Man I hate this. Glad I got to see him last year in KY.
February 12, 2020 @ 10:49 am
We received our education
In the cities of the nation, me and Paul
RIP
February 12, 2020 @ 11:27 am
RIP
February 12, 2020 @ 11:44 am
Another member of The Family Band gone…I still think about Jody Payne from time to time. Miss him. Now Paul…He was one of the most important country music drummers, ever.
Wer’e aging with time …like yesterday’s wine.
February 12, 2020 @ 11:50 am
Dang. I’m a huge Willie Nelson fan and this one hurts. Those two went through it all for many, many years. God bless ‘em.
February 12, 2020 @ 12:02 pm
Damn! RIP Paul.
Not many people get a song written expressly for them using their name.
I bet Willie is going to miss him something fierce.
February 12, 2020 @ 12:47 pm
Another great member of Willie’s band gone hate to hear that , Paul was a great friend & loyal member of Willie’s band rip Paul english
February 12, 2020 @ 12:55 pm
So sorry for your loss of Paul English. I am glad that I was able to see him in concert with you Willie. Take care of yourself.
February 12, 2020 @ 1:05 pm
You think of Willie, you think of Paul. Sadly missed.
February 12, 2020 @ 1:14 pm
Well, damn. RIP, Paul.
(Bobby Bones has no idea who Paul English is.)
February 12, 2020 @ 1:30 pm
I bet all those ladies he pimped think kindly of him.
February 12, 2020 @ 1:56 pm
Don’t be that guy Patrick
February 13, 2020 @ 1:54 pm
Well, it is part of his legacy. I am surprised ole’ Willie let him carry a gun as liberal as he is.
February 13, 2020 @ 2:10 pm
Gun ownership has no bearing one’s political views. Responsible gun ownership, however, is what makes one a liberal.
February 15, 2020 @ 5:32 pm
Are you honestly saying that to be a responsible gun owner, one has to be a liberal
February 12, 2020 @ 2:01 pm
RIP
February 12, 2020 @ 3:59 pm
RIP paul and willie is probably tore up and tommorrow he’ll be reminded again of another dear friend 18 years gone????
February 12, 2020 @ 4:31 pm
God welcomed The Devil into Heaven today..RIP Paul
February 12, 2020 @ 4:34 pm
The Devil went to Heaven today
February 12, 2020 @ 4:44 pm
On paul ,you are gonna be greatly missed and I miss not seeing you backstage.. Willie and brother BIlly, I am heartbroken. What a great person and drummer Paul is! I’m so schocked..it’s me, Joy in ct. With the mannequin of Willie. What fun we had at fooxwoods casino that time we brought him in. BIlly and Willie I know how you must be feeling. The loss of a brother and great friend is so unnbearrable. Please know I am praying for you and your families. My heart to yours! Joy
February 12, 2020 @ 5:29 pm
So sorry to hear this! Love you Willie!!!!
February 12, 2020 @ 5:33 pm
Been a fan for many years. Deeply saddened by the loss of a great performer. So sorry for your loss Willie and to the family. Paul’s boots can not be filled. RIP Paul English
February 12, 2020 @ 7:19 pm
“I wrote a song about Me and Paul, would y’all like to hear it, maybe?”
Willie had been playing that song for 25 years when he did that Farm Aid show.
February 12, 2020 @ 7:39 pm
Yup, Waylon’s anniversary of his death
February 12, 2020 @ 10:54 pm
Trigger,
I’m one of Paul’s sons, Evan English. Thank you for writing this, as well as the other articles you’ve written about my dad. I love reading this blog and appreciate what you do for real country music. I know my dad would’ve said the same. If you get a minute, please reach out to me at my e-mail. Thank you again.
February 13, 2020 @ 4:41 am
This story is for Evan. Years ago in the late 70s I was a member of a houseband in a nightclub located in Wichita Ks. In the dressing room beside the bandstand was one and only one 8 by 10 black and White glossy photo that hung on the wall. It was Willie, Paul and Bea Spears. They traveled and performed all over the Midwest. Many nightclubs in the Midwest, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and other states. They were only a trio and Willie at that time was clean cut, no long hair or beard. When I asked the owner of the club why only one framed picture on the wall when many country acts appeared there, his reply was, “ Willie and the band was the only musical group that ever performed for me that held everyone there that night in the palm of their hands. They literally had all the folks reverently quiet and listening with awe to the greatness they were listening to. Willie and the two others deserve to be on that wall by themselves because of the impact and impression they left with those folks” I thought that to be most admired and honorable thing an artist could ever receive. That recognition alone made me realize just how much inspiration they left behind to those folks there that night all those years ago. May Mr. Paul English RIP and May God give strength and comfort to all the family and countless fans across the world. Thank you for allowing me to share this memory and experience I personally witnessed and lived ❤️????
February 13, 2020 @ 1:14 am
One of the best parts on a Willie Nelson concert-???? R.I P. Paul English
Ronna
February 13, 2020 @ 11:35 am
R.I.P. Paul, Lucky to have seen him a few times first being 1978, kept playing till his late eighties, what a great inspiration to us all.
February 15, 2020 @ 12:12 am
f
This is going to be a tough decade, if I have to check to see if Willie and Kris and Loretti are still with us every morning.
February 15, 2020 @ 5:12 pm
Rest In Peace Mr. English. I am a huge fan who is thankful to have witnessed your talent on several occasions. Thank you for the great music!