Paul Joseph Brady (born May 19, 1947 in Strabane, County Tyrone, Ireland) is an Irish singer/songwriter whose work straddles folk and pop. He was into a wide variety of music from an early age. During his career he has passed through several major bands (including The Johnstons, Planxty, Andy Irvine & Paul Brady) and on to a successful solo phase.
Brady began performing as a hotel piano player in Donegal at the age of sixteen and graduated to being guitarist, during the 1960s, in two rhythm and blues bands: Rockhouse and the Cult. There followed a stint with The Johnstons as a guitarist and singer that ended in 1974, and a shorter one with Planxty that saw Brady touring extensively but recording no albums. In 1976, Brady recorded an album with Andy Irvine that he now regards as his best. Welcome Here Kind Stranger, released in 1978 was the summation of his interest in Irish music and was followed in 1981 by the appropriately named Hard Station, Brady’s engagement with commercial rock.
Brady went on to record several other albums and collaborated with Bonnie Raitt and Richard Thompson. In 2006 he collaborated with Cara Dillon on the track “The Streets of Derry” from her album “After the Morning”. He has also worked with Fiachra Trench.
