Born in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1954, Paul Hollowell developed a fascination with music at an early age. With a father who performed in singing groups and in church, along with three brothers and one sister who played piano, it wasn't long before Paul followed suit. He began taking piano lessons himself at the age of five, and by ten he was performing in his family's quartet. Paul continued piano lessons through high school. Attending college for a year after graduation, he took a job at a factory before receiving a phone call that would later lead him to his destiny as a professional musician.
When Hollowell got the call from an old college friend living in Nashville who wanted him to audition for a band, he jumped at the chance. That opportunity led him to Music City in 1975, and soon after he landed a job working on the Grand Ole Opry with Skeeter Davis. That job led to stints playing for artists like Carl Perkins, Ray Stevens, and Barbara Fairchild, and opened the door for session work, which Paul has been doing ever since. He has performed on projects for Dolly Parton, Michelle Wright, Robert Ellis Orrall, Linda Davis, Reba McEntire, and others during his successful 30-year career.
Hollowell is also an accomplished songwriter who co-penned, with Les Taylor and Lonnie Wilson, the Les Taylor/Shelby Lynne duet, "The Very First Lasting Love", which was a charting single in 1990. In 1991 he worked hand in hand developing songs with Dolly Parton for her Disney movie project "Straight Talk", which led to a job playing piano in her touring band during 1992 and 1993, and 2005. Along with legendary guitarist Brent Mason in 1992, he wrote, produced, and played on a library CD of commercial instrumental music titled "Hot Fingers". This project has been tapped for use on national commercials for Goodyear Tires, Titlest Golf Clubs, and Sports Illustrated, and is used extensively on network TV shows such as "Friends", "Everybody Loves Raymond", "King of Queens", "Yes, Dear", "60 Minutes", and "48 Hours". When Parton decided to stop touring in 1993, Hollowell was offered a job with Reba McEntire and toured with her through the 2000 season. During his tenure, McEntire provided him the opportunity to work on her TV specials and videos, as well as her 1996 album release, "What If It's You".
Since coming off the road in 2000 to pursue studio work in Nashville, Hollowell continues to freelance on road dates with various artists such as Dolly Parton, Lee Ann Womack, Linda Davis, Deborah Allen, Phil Vassar, Michelle Wright, and Chalee Tennison.
Hollowell resides in Nashville where he has lived since 1975. He and his wife Kelly have three daughters; Vanessa, age 23, Grace, nine, and Audrey, six years old.
