Paul Rishell

by Richard SkellyBoston-area blues guitarist and singer Paul Rishell specializes in the country blues, but in recent years, hes been proving his mettle on occasional gigs with an electric band as well. Rishell has been riding the wave of renewed interest in acoustic music in general, and hes taken his style of acoustic country blues to festivals and clubs around the U.S., often accompanied by his harmonica playing partner, Little Annie Raines. Before he ever entered the recording studio, Rishell spent many years studying his craft, and hes shared stages with good people: Son House, Johnny Shines, Howlin Wolf, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, John Lee Hooker and Bonnie Raitt. Rishell has a number of albums out on the Tone-Cool label, Blues on Holiday (1990), Swear to Tell the Truth (1993), I Want You to Know (1996) and Moving to the Country (1999).