P. J. Olsson

Paul Josef Olsson (13 July 1972) is an American singer, most notable as being the lead singer for the Alan Parsons Live Project. He has toured with various artists over his lifetime, including Rufus Wainright, Beth Orton, and Placebo.

PJ Olsson
PJ Olsson performing with Alan Parsons Live Project in Bratislava, Slovakia on 18 March 2010
PJ Olsson performing with Alan Parsons Live Project in Bratislava, Slovakia on 18 March 2010
Background information
Born (1972-07-13) 13 July 1972
Houghton, Michigan
GenresRock
Occupation(s)Musician, composer, audio engineer
Years active1990–present

Biography

He was born in Houghton, Michigan to a musical family. His father had a DMA in choral music and was an avant-garde 12-tone composer, A&R executive for Motown Records and later a professor at Michigan Tech;[1] his mother was a music/voice major and schoolteacher.[2] He started playing violin at age 6.[3] PJ caught the attention of Columbia records, who in mid-2000 released the album Words For Living which received positive reviews in the United States. Olsson also made an appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman,[4] and his song "Ready for a Fall" was included on the soundtrack album for the television show Dawson's Creek.[5]

In 2002, Olsson joined the Alan Parsons Live Project, becoming their lead singer.[6] He has performed with many other notable acts, including Kid Rock, Muse, Train, Rufus Wainright, Iggy Pop, Beth Orton, Bob Geldof, Something Corporate, Ben Harper, Nelly Furtado, Placebo, and Michelle Branch.[4][3] In 2007 Olsson teamed up with Salman Ahmad to record a remake of the Nick Lowe song, "(What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love, and Understanding", as the theme to The CW television show Aliens in America.[7]

Discography

Solo
  • 1998: P.J. Olsson[8]
  • 1999: Words for Living[9]
  • 2005: Beautifully Insane[10]
  • 2007: American Scream[11]
  • 2013: Lasers and Trees[12]

with Alan Parsons
Studio albums
  • 2004: A Valid Path - vocals, programming
  • 2019: The Secret - vocals on "Years of Glory"
  • 2022: From The New World - vocals, keyboards, programming, bass guitar
Live albums
  • 2010: Eye 2 Eye: Live in Madrid - acoustic guitar, vocals
  • 2013: LiveSpan - vocals
  • 2016: Alan Parsons Symphonic Project, Live in Colombia - vocals, guitar
Singles
  • 2010: All Our Yesterdays
  • 2014: Fragile
  • 2015: Do You Live at All

Compilation appearances
  • 1999: Songs from Dawson's Creek (various artists) - vocals on "Ready for a Fall"

References
  1. Hochman, Steve (3 June 2000). "A Quiet Approach to an Explosive Landscape". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 25 December 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  2. "PJ Olsson". Avenue Communications. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  3. "P.J. Olsson: Vocals". The Alan Parsons Project. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  4. "P.J. Olsson". LetsSingIt. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  5. Nichols, Natalie (1 July 1999). "Singer PJ Olsson Is Building Career, One Club at a Time". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  6. Viau, Scott (27 February 2014). "PJ Olsson to hold Rock Camp fundraiser concert". The Mining Gazette. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  7. "What's So Funny 'Bout 'Aliens in America?'". starpulse.com. 2 October 2007. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  8. "P.J. Olsson - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
  9. "Words for Living - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
  10. "Beautifully Insane - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
  11. "American Scream - P.J. Olsson | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic".
  12. "Lasers and Trees by P.J. Olsson on iTunes". 14 February 2013.
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