Page to Quit Recording

The music of Brad Paisley, Roy Orbison, the Blind Boys of Alabama, and local troubadour Gregory Page is included on the soundtrack of the new Billy Graham biopic Billy: The Early Years, released on October 10. Page won’t be capitalizing on his good fortune by producing a new album; instead, he plans to retire as a recording artist.

“After almost two dozen albums,” says Page, “I’ve said what I’ve needed to say.… I’m tired of making records that I really believe in which go nowhere. It’s really disheartening.”

Since Page’s first solo album (Drawing Down the Moon, 1990), he has released 19 more and appeared as a guest on dozens more. He released another 8 albums as a member of the Rugburns or the Hatchet Brothers, and he’s produced music for over two dozen artists, including Jason Mraz and Tom Brosseau.

Page says his next album (Bird in a Cage, due in January) will be his last. With the album completed, he has dismantled his studio, returned borrowed recording gear, and sold off seven of his guitars.

“You can’t spit without hitting a singer-songwriter these days.… If I cannot convince the pipe-dreamers that they are creating noise pollution, then I hope to at least try and sway them to not use any plastic or shrink-wrap in their CDs,” says Page, whose biggest seller is 2005’s Love Made Me Drunk, which has moved just over 3000 copies.

– Bart Mendoza