Drummer Philip Paul, this year’s recipient of the Ohio Heritage Fellowship for Performing Arts, played on some of the greatest, most important records ever made—including “Good Rockin’ Tonight” by Wynonie Harris, “Fever” by Little Willie John, “Hideaway” by Freddie King and “The Twist” by Hank Ballard. All those records were recorded for the legendary Cincinnati record company, King Records, where Paul served as the in-house drummer from 1952 through 1964.

Paul was born and raised in New York City. He began his professional career while he was still a teenager, playing at the Savoy Ballroom with such musicians as Arthur Prysock and Buddy Johnson’s Big Band. Paul has lived in Cincinnati since 1951, when he came west to join the band of Tiny Bradshaw, which was then ensconced at the famed Cotton Club across the river in Newport, Kentucky. Bradshaw was recording for King, which led to Paul’s tenure as a session musician at the King studio.

During his time at King, Paul drummed on more than 350 records for King and two of its subsidiary labels, Federal and Bethlehem. He played on a wide variety of blues, R&B and jazz records working with such artists as Bull Moose Jackson, Wynonie Harris, Hank Ballard & the Midnighters, Freddie King, Little Willie John, Trini Lopez, Lynn Hope, Tab Smith, Smokey Smothers, Clifford Scott, Rufus Gore, Tiny Bradshaw, Titus Turner, Milt Buckner, Eddie Clearwater, Tiny Topsy, Hank Marr, Lula Reed and others.

Despite the hits, Paul has always considered himself a jazz musician. “I always played jazz," says Paul. “When you are labeled a session drummer, you have to play everything. At King, we didn’t know what kind of music we’d play. You just had to be prepared. I guess I became known for rhythm and blues. But on the street, where I’m working and making a living, I’m playing jazz all the time.

“I’m the kind of drummer that they call ‘staying in the pocket’ who plays good time, a good back-up drummer. Musicians like to play with me because they know I’m going to provide a good strong beat for whatever they are doing.”

In addition to his extensive session work with King, Paul worked for years as one-third of the Roy Meriwether Trio, recording a pair of albums with Meriwether on Columbia. He also toured with jazz artists including Jimmy Smith, Nat Adderly and Herbie Mann and toured the U.S. and Canada with George Weins’ Newport Jazz All-Stars.

Philip Paul made his first album as a leader in 2003, the aptly named It’s About Time. In 2002, he received a Lifetime CAMMY Award from the Cincinnati Enquirer for his contributions to the music and culture of Cincinnati.