Biography

Early life

Stookey was born in Baltimore, Maryland. His family moved to Birmingham, Michigan when he was about 12. Stookey graduated from Birmingham High School (now Seaholm High School) in 1955.

Stookey is an alumnus of Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan. While attending MSU, he joined Delta Upsilon fraternity. Though he credits a deep spiritual core for his work, Stookey "dispelled reports that he was born a Buddhist, saying his mother was a Roman Catholic and his dad was an ex-Mormon" and recalling the family's "eclectic attendance at church. I had no real spiritual sense until I was 30.'"

Music career

As Paul in the Peter, Paul and Mary trio, he participated in one of the best known mass media ensembles of the 1960s phase of the American folk music revival, and included some of his solo songs and extended monologues in their performances and recordings.

In addition to his recordings with the trio, he released a number of solo works, several albums with the ensemble Bodyworks, and some anthologies. He was an important artist in the young Jesus music movement, which would later bloom into the Christian music industry, although his generally liberal political views distinguish him from many such artists.

In 1986, Stookey teamed up with Jim Newton, Paul G. Hill and Denny Bouchard at Celebration Shop in Texas. The company, now known as Hugworks, uses original musical compositions as music therapy to address the special needs of children. The company has produced three award-winning children's CDs used in hospitals, medical camps and homes across the country.

After Peter, Paul and Mary

Paul performed as a member of Peter, Paul and Mary until the death of Mary in September 2009. His work after Peter, Paul and Mary has emphasized his Christian faith, family life and social concerns. He remains active in the music industry, performing as a solo act.

In January 2011, Stookey participated in several events at Dartmouth College that celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., including "Music for Social Change with Noel Paul Stookey and Company."

Compositions

His best-known composition is "The Wedding Song (There is Love)", which charted in 1971 and remains popular for performance during wedding services. He wrote the song as a wedding gift for Peter Yarrow, and refused to perform it for the public until Yarrow requested it at a concert where his wife was present. Stookey assigned the copyright to this song to the Public Domain Foundation.

Production

He also has production credits on albums by several lesser-known singer-songwriters, including Dave Mallett and Gordon Bok. He was the founder of the Neworld Multimedia record label.

Personal life

Stookey married Elizabeth "Betty" Bannard in 1963; they have three daughters. After raising their family in Blue Hill, Maine, the couple lived for several years in Massachusetts while Betty served as the Northfield Mount Hermon School chaplain. In 2005 they returned to Maine. Stookey records in his private studio—a converted chicken coop—on his Maine property.

Stookey is a born again Christian. He does not sing songs that interfere with his faith.

Charting Single - Billboard (North America)

Release	Single	Chart	Position	Chart	Position
July 31, 1971	"The Wedding Song (There Is Love)"	Pop Singles	24	Adult Contemporary	3

Discography

Year	Title	Record Label
2012	The Cabin Fever Waltz (EP with the Bangor Symphony Orchestra)	Neworld Multimedia
2012	One & Many	Neworld Multimedia
2012	Cue the Moon (digital download EP)	Neworld Multimedia
2012	Capricious Bird (digital download EP)	Neworld Multimedia
2012	One Voice and One Guitar (digital download EP)	Neworld Multimedia
2007	Facets	Neworld Multimedia
2004	Virtual Party	Neworld Multimedia
2002	Circuit Rider (A Noel Paul Stookey / Bodyworks compilation)	Neworld Multimedia
2001	There Is Love (A Holiday Music Celebration) with Michael Kelly Blanchard	Neworld Multimedia
1990	In Love Beyond Our Lives (Noel Paul Stookey/ Bodyworks)	Gold Castle
1985	State Of The Heart (Noel Paul Stookey/ Bodyworks)	Newpax
1984	There Is Love (A Noel Paul Stookey Anthology)	Newpax
1982	Wait'll You Hear This (Noel Paul Stookey/ Bodyworks)	Newpax
1979	Band & Bodyworks (Noel Paul Stookey/ Bodyworks)	Neworld
1977	Something New And Fresh	Neworld
1977	Real To Reel	Neworld
1973	One Night Stand	Warner Bros.
1971	Paul And	Warner Bros
1954	"The Birds Fly Home (The Birds of Paradise, Stookey's high school band)"	Independent release

[ Source: Wikipedia ]