NEDERLAND -- Paul Dyer has lived in and around the Front Range for 35 years, first falling in love with Colorado on a family vacation at 14 years old. Staying in a motel next to a creek, he loved the sound of the flowing water, and as with many other residents, the mountains and diverse landscape were a major drawing point.
Colorado also ended up being a connecting point for his family. Later that year, his dad died in a train accident in New Mexico, so the trip cemented itself as the last meaningful event they had as a complete family.
Paul has moved 27 times to places across the US over his lifetime, primarily for work reasons (at one point co-owning a business in Fort Collins). He and his wife, Carol, who married in 1983, are currently settled in Longmont.
Music has been a long-time hobby for Paul. He grew up surrounded by music, his dad singing and playing music from artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. While jazz ultimately didn’t connect with Paul as a performer, it sparked his interest in music.
He also cites the Beatles performing on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964 as a turning point for him. Around the age of 15, he picked up the guitar for the first time, discovering his own taste in music and gravitating towards country rock artists such as Crosby, Stills, and Nash and The Eagles.
While he loves jazz and classical music as well, country rock is the style that he focused on as a performer. Stories and writing are incredibly important to him, as he’s always loved writing and artists such as John Prine and Bob Dylan influenced the kind of stories he likes writing in his songs.
In January of 2020, Paul released his debut album Travel Inn. At the same time, he decided he wanted to retire from his day job and make a living in music full time. However, the pandemic, combined with a recent diagnosis of leukemia, stopped those plans in their tracks.
Continuing cancer treatment, Paul hopes to transition back into playing gigs from time to time. He writes songs primarily around their stories, creating the music instinctually (since he does not read or write music) and making sure the lyrics take priority.
Paul doesn’t consider himself a singer or a guitar player, but rather a storyteller. He wants people to actively listen to and connect with his music, and he believes in the power of lyrics, as many great vocalists can sing pieces that don’t resonate emotionally.
Paul’s priority is to engage his audience. If they laugh when he tells a joke, clap after he sings a song, or connects with people through his music and lyrics, that’s more than enough for him.
Paul Dyer will be performing at the Very Nice Brewing Company location at 20 East Lakeview Drive #112 in Nederland on Friday, September 5, 2025, starting at 6 p.m. To learn more about him and his music, head to pauldyer.com.
