A highlight of every concert I’ve seen by Willie Nelson has been hearing him introduce members of his longtime band, then when he gets to drummer Paul English, sing “Me and Paul,” written about some of their experiences. English officially joined the “family,” as Nelson called his band, in 1966, though they met a decade earlier. So I was sad to see that English died on Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2020 after suffering from pneumonia. He was 87.
Paul English brushes the snare drum during “Me and Paul” on Oct. 5, 2012 in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Willie Nelson was among performers at that year’s Johnny Cash Heritage Festival. Photos: Michael Hibblen
While covering the annual Johnny Cash Heritage Festival on Oct. 5, 2012, I was able to shoot photos of Nelson and family from the pit in front of the state. The festival raises money to restore and maintain Cash’s boyhood home in Dyess, Arkansas. Cash and Nelson had long been friends, performed together in the supergroup the Highwaymen, and released a live album together in 1998 — the incredible VH1 Storytellers, in which they alternated stories and songs. So it seemed a natural that Nelson would perform to help support the project for his late friend’s home, which had its roots in a New Deal program during the Great Depression.
Willie Nelson at the Oct. 5, 2012 concert in Jonesboro, Ark.
As I heard Nelson introduce “Me and Paul,” it was great to see a spotlight shine on the drummer, providing amazing lighting to get a photo of English in his signature hat and black outfit. I interviewed Nelson in 2005, with audio and photos of that, as well as photos from the 2012 concert at this link.
English had a colorful history, not only providing rhythm for Nelson, but also serving as his protector. The Oxford American (which is based in Arkansas) detailed that history in a 2015 article titled “Watching Willie’s Back,” which delved into the many roles English held over the years. That included being road manager, and in the early years, being the strong-armed collector of payments from club owners for the band. Armed with a pistol in his boot, he was prepared to protect anyone that threatened Nelson or the band. RIP Paul English.
Director of Public Affairs at Arkansas PBS, 36-year broadcasting veteran, photographer, interested in radio, TV and railroad history, author and host of the book and podcast series Rock Island Railroad in Arkansas.
