People You Need to Know: Paul Emery

Photo by Bob Lickter Paul Emery takes a break from his newsroom duties at KVMR-FM in Nevada City. He also runs a production company that brings concerts and now a play to western Nevada County

Paul Emery is the interim news director at KVMR-FM as well as the producer of concerts, dance parties and now the play “Cyrano de Bergerac.”

Paul Emery is arguably one of the busiest people in Nevada City. He is the interim news director at KVMR-FM as well as well as the producer of concerts, dance parties and now the play “Cyrano de Bergerac,” which opens for a three-week run on Feb. 11 at the Nevada Theatre. Paul is also an accomplished musician as well as one of Nevada City’s familiar faces. Recently, he took a break from life in the fast lane to answer some questions for the Nevada City Advocate.

What is Paul Emery Productions and how long has it been around?

I’ve been producing shows off and on since the late ‘60s, starting out in the Sacramento area. When I moved to Nevada County I continued doing shows in the area and from 1986-1992 put on the North Columbia Folk Festival featuring such artists as Doc Watson, Greg Brown and Utah Phillips.

 I did occasional shows throughout the ‘90s and in 2000 I became the executive and later artistic director of the Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. I decided to form my own production company after I left the Center in 2008 and produced 15 shows in 2009. I have a great group of people I work with and we really enjoy bringing the best shows we can to Nevada County.

It seems like you’re doing more shows in recent months with the Blues series and other concerts. What are you seeing here that encourages you to keep doing these shows?

We live in a remarkable community that really likes to go out at night. Also people come from all over Northern California to attend events here.

 The Blues Series is doing well because people really like to dance and the bands I’m booking are all great dance bands. Also, we have available and accessible venues that go out of their way to help out with productions.

 All in all, this is a unique community that is very supportive to the arts. In fact, it’s the reason many people chose to live here. With the economy being what it is, I believe people chose to stay home for their entertainment rather than travel.

You’ve brought in musicians like Charlie Musselwhite and now you’re producing the play “Cyrano de Bergerac,” which seems to cater to a different kind of audience. What do you look for on the entertainment side when deciding what to get involved with?

I have been doing this for a long time in Nevada County. There are certain performers that are favorites and can come every couple of years and draw a crowd. Being in the loop when tours are being organized gives me the opportunity to find venues for the shows. I remember in the 1980s when I brought Taj Mahal to Cirino’s in Nevada City for five years in a row, every year a sellout.

 Producing Cyrano de Bergerac at the Nevada Theatre is the most ambitious project I have undertaken. This community has such great theatrical talent and having John Deaderick and Theo Black direct this wonderful play will surely create a memorable event. 

You’re also the news director at KVMR-FM in Nevada City. From that perch, what issues do you believe the area faces in 2010 and beyond?

There is no doubt that the economy is and will be the great issue we will be facing in the future. We have a large retirement community that is largely self-financed but that’s not enough to maintain a vital and sustainable community.

 We have to have economic opportunities for young people and families to keep them here. We have such a pool of creative talent of all kinds and we need to find ways to turn that talent and creativity into good jobs and successful businesses.

 The quality of life and environment in Nevada County is why we chose to live here. That must be accompanied by a strong local economy.

Although you have lived in Nevada City for a long time, you are not a native. When did you find Nevada City and how did it hook you?

I used to rent the Nevada Theatre to put on shows with my group the Greater Carmichael Travelling Street Band in the early ‘70s. The rent was $100 for the weekend and we could sleep in the theatre. Needless to say that was a formula for a good time and it also gave me the opportunity to meet people and make friends, many whom still live here today.

  I became a full-time musician in 1976 and found myself booked steady at Duffy’s Saloon, now Cirino’s, which led to this town being my home base for my musical adventures. It was the people that attracted me to being here and it still is.

People You Need to Know is a regular feature of the Nevada City Advocate, which can be found in numerous locations in Nevada City, Grass Valley and the San Juan Ridge. Previous, People You Need to Know are David Levin, Gretchen Bond, Duane Strawser, Mali Dyck and Kathy Dotson.