After the break-up of Street Beat and
several jobs with other local bands, Paul felt the pull of the West
Coast and headed for California. While in California he developed his
solo act, which is a big part of what he does today. He shared the
stage with notable groups and performers such as Huey Lewis and the
News, Maria Muldaur, Jo Baker (formerly of the Elvin Bishop group),
Jonathan Edwards and the Motels. In recent years, Paul has opened for
the likes of Lyle Lovett, P.J. Price, Dave Dudley, Donna Fargo, Norma
Jean, The Cattle Company, The Souths, Hermann Lammers-Meyer and the
Emsland Hillbillies, Gene Watson, the Oakridge Boys, Jody Adams, the
Cheatin' Hearts, the Black Hills Country Band from Belgium and numerous
other US and European groups and artists.
On his return to Texas after a one year
period in California, Paul became aware of the ever increasing market
for country music in Europe. Country music was a big part of Paul's
life at this point and he decided to pursue this ever-growing desire on
the European market. Shortly after his first album release, aptly
entitled "PAUL MATEKI", he released his first single "Long Distance
Lovin' " in 1992 on Pristine Records. It not only made the top 10 Inde
Chart in the US, but also hit the European charts very strong, getting
the ball rolling overseas! Throughout '93 and '94 Paul charted seceral
songs including the now well-known "Quick Train" and "Why Baby Why?" on
Comstock Records, both of which were produced by Jeff Huskins of Little
Texas. Over the past four years Paul has released numerous singles on
more than a dozen compilation CD's with ever increasing success and
chart action. This would build the foundation for his critically
acclaimed first CD "TEMPERATURES' RISING" on Misy Int'l Records, and
open the door for numerous offers to tour overseas which he does every
year.
"TEMPERATURES' RISING" quickly became a
manstay on the European Country Music charts and peaked at #19 in
August of 1996 on the Top 30 Album Chart, and his song "Quick Train"
hit the #1 spot in Holland in June 1996. His first single release
"Zevenbergen" (7 Mountains Memories) from his 1998 CD "ACROSS THE
MILES" has already reached the #1 spot in Holland and has been in the
Top 30 of the European Country Charts for 17 weeks, as of January 1998.
The second single from the album is "Rusty Nail", set for a January '98
release on Misty Records, followed by his 1998 European Tour, set to
start in Belfast, North Ireland in May.
As an award-winning songwriter and
performer, Paul also helps to produce and arrange the albums he
records, along with doing all of his own harmonies and rhythm guitar
work. As evidenced by his first two albums, Paul moves effortlessly
through all of his musical influences, applying his expert touch to
each nuance and mood. Above all else, he lets you experience his
feelings that are contained in his music and that are easily conveyed
to the listener. He sings with feeling and emotion at all times!
Paul can be found performing around the
state of Texas quite regularly and out of state when the right occasion
arises. Paul Mateki is definitely a major star on the rise, so keep
watching!
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Helen was born in Aschaffenburg,
Germany. Being tought in a Catholic School, she learned singing, and
found her love in harmonizing. At age fourteen, Helen and her family
emigrated to Fort Worth, Texas where she finished her schooling.
Knowing that she nor her sister and five brothers spoke English during
that summer, they quickly had to learn that language before beginning
their first school year in America.
Helen's background in highschool was
cello and reading music, and her dream at one time was to become a
Cello player.
A few years later, English became
Helen's very serious study, learning that her hunger was to be a
writer, she wrote mostly poems and short stories.
With several poems published, she
didn't do much with her writing. She only had time to work and raise a
child after the loss of her first husband. After her son was old
enough, she again continued with her writing, but only as a hobby. Now
with eighty poems written and several published, she put them in a book
called "Thoughts".
In 1996, Paul Mateki came into her
life, she loved his singing style, loved his song writing, and five
years later they married. Now she writes some songs with him,
harmonizes wonderfully and in time their voices grew together as one.
After singing together for more than a
year, the CD "Texasville" started taking shape in 2001. Paul invited
Helen to sing harmonies on two songs: "Mighty Fine Dog", and "Time Is
Short". In November 2002, Paul and Helen had their first #1 hit
together in Europe on the "European Media Services Most Popular Chart"
with the Renie Peterson song "We've Got A Love".
2003 brought out the first
collaboration of Paul and Helen with their new CD, "Something To Sing
About". Helen's fine angelic harmonies complement Paul's singing so
much, that in July 2003, their first #1 from the new CD "When The River
Runs Dry" was on top of the European CMA Charts.
Helen's first attempt at singing lead
vocal on "Please Don't Let Me Let You Go", written by their good friend
and songwriter, Renie Peterson, put this song at #1 ECMA.
Helen can be seen accompanying Paul
around Texas singing harmonies and an occasional lead vocal. As of this
writing Helen is teaching herself to play bass.
