Paul Cardall

Paul Cardall (born April 24, 1973) is an American pianist known for his original compositions and arrangements of various hymns. His music is frequently categorized as Christian, New Age, Classical, and Religious. Cardall has had several recordings debut No. 1 on eight Billboard charts.[1] He was born with essentially half a functioning heart, which required immediate surgery when Cardall was less than a day old.[2] In addition to his recording career, Cardall founded Stone Angel Music in 1999, which owns a catalogue of recordings by other similar artists. The catalogue was acquired by Anthem Entertaimment Group in 2018.[2]

Paul Cardall
Cardall in 2016
Background information
Birth namePaul Cardall
Born (1973-04-24) April 24, 1973
GenresNew Age, Classical, Christian
Occupation(s)Pianist, Film Composer, Music Producer, Independent Record Label Founder
InstrumentsPiano
Years active1996–Present
LabelsStone Angel Music
Websitewww.paulcardall.com

Personal life

After two more heart surgeries at ages 13 and 14, Cardall became a pianist. [3]

Cardall was recruited by Salt Lake Community College (SLCC). He served as the Fine Arts President and Public Relations Vice-President at SLCC while enjoying a full-ride leadership scholarship there. During the summer season he worked as a youth counselor for the Especially for Youth camps at Brigham Young University.[3]

While attending college, Cardall played piano for tips at a Nordstrom department store and local restaurants. He recorded his first album, Sign of Affection, in 1994. Richard Paul Evans, author of the best-seller The Christmas Box, heard the album and asked Cardall to create a musical adaptation of his story.[3] Cardall was able to travel to national book signings with Evans during the release of the CD and the book, he was able to sell tens of thousands of copies of his album and developed a supportive fan base.

While Cardall continued to compose music part-time, he worked at Richard Paul Evans's book distribution company as the music executive.[3] He worked with Disney, BMG, and others, and became interested in making piano performance his career. Cardall's early compositions are influenced by Mozart, pianists David Lanz, George Winston, and Yanni.[4]

Cardall knew that one day he would likely need a heart transplant.[3] He lived with congenital heart disease for over thirty years. He was born with only a single functioning ventricle or half-heart. In August 2008, with his heart failure, Cardall was listed for a heart transplant. After waiting 385 days, he received a donated heart via transplant on September 9, 2009.[5][6]

Cardall is married to Kristina Molek, a former Wall Street analyst who is a first generation Slovenian American.[7] In the fall of 2020, Cardall resigned his lifelong membership from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He is active in non-denominational Christianity.[8]

Career

In early 1999, Cardall founded Stone Angel Music, an independent record label intended to produce, market, and distribute Cardall's recordings.

That same year, Cardall signed a multi-album deal with Narada, an affiliate of Virgin Records.[9] Cardall said he signed with Narada to help further distribution routes for his album The Christmas Box inspired by Richard Paul Evans #1 New York Times bestseller, which was originally released independently in 1997.[10] Narada expanded upon the distribution channels Cardall had begun with author Richard Paul Evans. The Christmas Box album debuted #22 on Billboard's New Age Chart.[11] That same year, Cardall also debuted a new album entitled The Looking Glass. In December 1999, both records were listed on Billboard's Top 25 New Age Charts.[12]

During his association with The Christmas Box, families of victims in the Oklahoma City bombing requested the music be played during the memorial ceremonies as families placed flowers on the empty chairs representing their lost loved ones, covered by news channels including CNN. The event inspired Cardall to release Miracles: A Journey of Hope and Healing.[13]

In September 2005, Cardall released a new CD called Primary Worship, inspired by the innocence and spiritual development of childhood. The album debuted at #12 on the Billboard Magazine Top 25 New Age Chart, spending 11 weeks on that chart.[14]

Cardall released a collection of hymns arranged for piano in 2008 titled The Hymns Collection, which debuted No. 4 on the Billboard New Age charts.[15]

That same year, Cardall released a two-disc titled Living for Eden. Which is considered extremely personal and insightful as Eden is the name of his daughter, and music is his Eden-place; the way he finds his own peace and comfort.

In 2009, when Cardall's health was at its lowest, he recorded a CD titled Sacred Piano, putting together some of the most meaningful things he had done up to that point. The album debuted #5 on Billboard's New Age Chart.[16]

In 2011, Cardall's album New Life debuted as the number one Billboard New Age album in February 2011.[17] New Life held its rank in the top 5 albums for more than 30 weeks.[2]

In 2013, the film Ephraim's Rescue was released with the music composed by Cardall.[18]

In 2015, Cardall's album 40 Hymns for Forty Days (2015), debuted as the number one Billboard New Age album in March 2014.[19] 40 Hymns for Forty Days held its high rank in the top 10 albums for more than 50 weeks.[20] Paul Cardall's A New Creation was released on September 16, 2016, by Stone Angel Music. The album debuted #1 on Billboard's New Age Album Chart, #2 Classical Album Chart, #12 Christian Album Chart, #34 overall Independent Albums, and #7 Heatseekers Chart.[21] The album features soloists Nathan Pacheco (Disney Pearl Records; Yanni Voices tour) and Patrice Tipoki (Fantine, Les Misérables international Broadway tour).

2018 Cardall produced two albums for Stone Angel Music. The first titled Worth of Souls brought together Christian artists performing songs to fight suicide, depression. The album debuted No. 12 Compilation Albums, No. 20 Christian Album Sales, and 47 Independent Album Sales, according to Billboard.[17] The second album, Sunday, is a collection of works from various Stone Angel Music artists. The album debuted No. 1 on the Top New Age Albums Billboard Chart and No. 35 on the Christian Album Sales.

November 2, 2018, Christmas was released by Cardall, who generally produces his own albums.[22] This time Jim Daneker produced the album. Christmas was recorded at Nashville's Ocean Way Studio. Christmas debuted No 1 on top Billboard's New Age Chart and No 2 in Classical. The Gospel Music Association awarded a Dove Award for Instrumental Album of The Year.[22]

August 23, 2019, Peaceful piano was released by Anthem Entertainment Group, who acquired Stone Angel Music's catalogue a year early.[23] Paul worked with multi-Grammy winning engineer Michael Bishop. Peaceful Piano is a collection of improvised piano solos reflecting on Paul's decade surving with a donor heart. [23]

Albums
Year Album Billboard Chart position Record Label
New Age Christian Classical Crossover Heatseekers Top 200
1995 Sign of Affection Stone Angel Music
1997 Hymns - Piano Solos
1999 The Christmas Box 23 Narada
The Looking Glass 22
2000 Hymns II - Piano Solos Stone Angel Music
2001 Miracles - A Journey of Hope & Healing
2002 Daily Devotions
2003 Faithful
Live - Paul Cardall in Concert w/String Quartet
2004 Christmas Hymns
2005 Primary Worship 12
2007 Songs of Praise
2008 Living for Eden
The Hymns Collection (Hymns Vol 1 & 2) 4
2009 Sacred Piano 5
2011 Saving Tiny Hearts 9
2011 New Life 1 1 183
2015 40 Hymns for Forty Days 1 31 1
2016 A New Creation 1 12 2 1
2018 Christmas 1 4 10 1
Worth of Souls (Executive Producer) 20
Sunday: Various Artists (Executive Producer) 1 35
2019 Peaceful Piano 2 6

Charitable activities

Paul Cardall served on the Board of Governors for Operation Underground Railroad, a nonprofit founded by Tim Ballard which assists governments around the world in the rescue of human trafficking and sex trafficking victims, with a special focus on children.[24]

The Paul & Kristina Cardall Scholarship was established with the help from Salt Lake Community College (SLCC), for students with congenital heart disease.[25]

Paul Cardall has performed at benefit concerts for individuals who, like himself, are fighting for their chance to receive a heart transplant. At the beginning of summer 2014, Paul Cardall performed locally in Salt Lake City for a young boy who suffered from heart illness.[26]

In 2011, Utah State Board of Regents awarded Paul Cardall with an honorary doctorate. [2]

Stone Angel Music

Stone Angel Music is an independent record label founded by Paul Cardall in 1999.[27]

One of the artists signed to the label, Jason Lyle Black, had his album Preludes debut at No. 2 on the Billboard Top New Age Albums Chart in June 2016.[28]

Pianist Jason Lyle Black's Piano Preludes, released May 6, 2016, recently debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top New Age Albums chart. According to Black, the honor is rare for an artist's first album and is a testament to Black's producer, Paul Cardall, and record label, Stone Angel Music.[29]

References
  1. Billboard Charts
  2. "About".
  3. David Burger (February 14, 2018). "Performing from the heart: After transplant, Utah musician returns to stage". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  4. "Paul Cardall '04 (MD)".
  5. Moore, Carrie (June 3, 2009). "Musician awaiting heart transplant performs at Primary Children's telethon". Deseret News. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  6. Moore, Carrie (September 11, 2009). "With a new heart beating in his chest, Paul Cardall beats odds yet again". Deseret News. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  7. Chuck Dauphen (February 14, 2018). "ole Signs New Age Artist Paul Cardall: Exclusive". Billboard Magazine.
  8. "Episode 1367: Paul Cardall - World Renowned Pianist(MD)".
  9. "Paul Cardall".
  10. "A Penny's Worth / An Interview With Pianist and Composer, Paul Cardall / Thoughts and insights from the minds and experiences of fascinating people".
  11. "Paul Cardall - Chart history". Billboard.
  12. "AllMusic - Record Reviews, Streaming Songs, Genres & Bands".
  13. "Creations Music Reviews by Christina Lord".
  14. "Primary Worship - Paul Cardall - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  15. "The Hymns Collection - Paul Cardall - Awards". AllMusic.
  16. "Sacred Piano - Paul Cardall - Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  17. billboard.com
  18. Deseret News, May 13, 2013
  19. Rappleye, Christine (April 25, 2015). "Cardall's '40 Hymns for Forty Days' debuts at No. 1 on Billboard New Age chart".
  20. "New Age Music: Top New Age Albums Chart". Billboard.
  21. "Paul Cardall". Billboard.
  22. "Paul Cardall To Release 'Christmas' Album November 2". The Christian Beat.
  23. "Composer Paul Cardall Celebrates Heart Transplant Anniversary & Release Of 'Peaceful Piano' Album". Forbes Magazine.
  24. "Operation Underground Railroad Team". ourrescue.com. October 21, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  25. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved July 30, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  26. "Top Billboard pianist to hold benefit concert for boy". KSL.
  27. David Burger (April 1, 2011). "Paul Cardall plays his heart out on No. 1 album". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  28. Cobb, Sydney (May 21, 2016). "Pianist Jason Lyle Black's debut 'Piano Preludes' album hits No. 2 on Billboard New Age chart". Deseret News. Retrieved June 17, 2016.
  29. Cobb, Sydney (May 21, 2016). "Pianist Jason Lyle Black's debut 'Piano Preludes' album hits No. 2 on Billboard New Age chart".
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.