• 2012-

  Paul JanewayVocals2012-

  Browan LollarGuitar2012-

  Jesse PhillipsBass2012-

  Andrew LeeDrums2012-

  Ben GrinerTrombone2012-

  Allen BranstetterTrumpet2012-

  Al GambleKeys2014-
• Chelsea, Alabama native Paul Janeway started singing in a band called the Secret Danger after moving to Birmingham to study accounting. The blues-rock outfit floundered after the departure of its guitarist, but in 2012, a mutual friend invited Janeway and bassist Jesse Phillips into his studio to record a song. "It was going to be our last hurrah," Janeway told Garden & Gun. "But then something just clicked and we walked out of there with something."
  
  Reinvigorated, the pair formed St. Paul & the Broken Bones recruiting four additional members. A seventh, keyboardist Al Gamble was brought in the following year to play on their debut album and he became a full time member in January 2014.
• Frontman Paul Janeway uses the St. Paul handle in honor of his musical background, having grown up in a devout family in which secular music was largely forbidden. "The only secular music that I heard at all was a '70s group called the Stylistics, and Sam Cooke. That was about it," Janeway recalled to Billboard magazine. "The rest was all gospel music. When I was about 10, I was groomed to be a minister. My goal in life until I was about 18 was to be a preacher."
• Janeway's church background led to his interest in music: "My pastor was the reason that I learned to play guitar," he said. "They would let me play guitar and sing in church."
• St. Paul & the Broken Bones debut album, Half the City, was released on February 18, 2014 under Alabama label, Single Lock Records, which is part owned by John Paul White of The Civil Wars. The disc received critical acclaim from many media outlets and reached #62 on the Billboard 200 chart.

Comments

More Songfacts:

With Arms Wide OpenCreed

Scott Stapp of Creed wrote "With Arms Wide Open" when he found out he was going to be a dad. He named his son Jagger.

The JokerSteve Miller Band

The "pompatus of love" from the Steve Miller song "The Joker" comes from a line in a '50s doo-wop song Miller misheard: "puppetutes of love."

Amber311

The 311 song "Amber" is likely about Nicole Scherzinger, who was dating the band's lead singer Nick Hexum.

Bitter Sweet SymphonyThe Verve

"Bittersweet Symphony" by The Verve samples an obscure orchestral arrangement of the 1965 Rolling Stones song "The Last Time." The Verve had to sign away most of the royalties before they could release the song.

Cult of PersonalityLiving Colour

"Cult of Personality" by Living Colour incorporates speeches by John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X and Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Six Months In A Leaky BoatSplit Enz

The Split Enz song "Six Months In A Leaky Boat" is about the journey explorers made from Europe to colonize Australia and New Zealand, where the band is from.

Editor's Picks

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

Verdine White of Earth, Wind & FireSongwriter Interviews

The longtime bassist of Earth, Wind & Fire discusses how his band came to do a holiday album, and offers insight into some of the greatest dance/soul tunes of all-time.

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Oliver LeiberSongwriter Interviews

Oliver Leiber talks about writing and producing hits for Paula Abdul, and explains his complicated relationship with his father, the songwriter Jerry Leiber.

The Real Nick DrakeSong Writing

The head of Drake's estate shares his insights on the late folk singer's life and music.

Francesca BattistelliSongwriter Interviews

The 2011 Artist of the Year at the Dove Awards isn't your typical gospel diva, and she thinks that's a good thing.