Paul Siebel, a folk-country singer-songwriter whose songs have been covered by a number of better-known artists, died April 5, 2022. He was 84.

Born in Buffalo, New York in September 1937, Siebel taught himself guitar as a teenager and cited Hank Snow and Hank Williams among his inspirations. He later moved to New York City, where he was part of the Greenwich Village folk scene during the 1960s-early 1970s.

Paul Siebel Live album coverAlthough Siebel recorded a couple of albums (Woodsmoke and Oranges and Jack Knife Gypsy) for Elektra Records in 1970-1971, his songs received more attention when others covered them. Among the notable artists who have recorded his songs are David Bromberg, Willy DeVille, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Emmylou Harris, Waylon Jennings, Leo Kottke, Iain Matthews, Mary McCaslin, Bonnie Raitt, Rick Roberts, Linda Ronstadt, The Seldom Scene, Rosalie Sorrels, Happy Traum, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Kate Wolf. “Louise” was his signature song and has been performed and recorded by a number of artists over the years. “Spanish Johnny,” his expanded take on a poem by Willa Cather, was recorded by both Bromberg and Raitt. Most recently, The Flatlanders covered Siebel’s “The Ballad of Honest Sam” on Treasure of Love, its 2021 release.

(Here’s a link to listen to Bonnie Raitt’s recording of Siebel’s song “Louise.”)

Bromberg frequently accompanied Siebel during his live performances – including a June 9, 1978 concert at McCabe’s in Los Angeles, California that was recorded and released as a live album in 1981. Paul Siebel Live — featuring a mix of his own original songs and covers of country and blues classics — came out on Rag Baby Records, Country Joe McDonald’s label, and was Siebel’s last recording. Although he had stopped performing many years earlier, Elektra released a compilation CD in 2004 that features all 21 of the songs Siebel recorded on his two studio albums for the label.

Here’s a link to view a video of Paul Siebel performing during the Greenwich Village Folk Festival in 1993.