“Paul Reid Westbrook is a distinctive and often misunderstood individual with a rich musical heritage. His drumming journey began at 14, playing in various Mid-South bands alongside talented musicians. His influences include:  Ted, Jerry, and Mike Kattawar – Alan and Don Pace – Kenny and Wilber Sanders – Vernon Murphy – Tom Autry – Will “Pop” Jones – Jimmy “Lefty” Evans – George Moyer – Tommy “Porkchop” Markham – Jimmy “Luke” Paulman – Conway Twitty – Ronnie Hawkins – Levon Helm – Robbie Robertson – Tommy Alsup – Fred Carter Jr. and many more.

At 16, Paul experienced a pivotal moment when he played drums in his first recording session. The artist was Jimmy Luke, a singer and guitarist formerly with Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks. Notably, the session was produced by Conway Twitty (Harold Jenkins) in his Marianna, Arkansas studio. This early experience left a lasting impact on Paul’s musical trajectory.”

“Years of gigging and honing his craft led Paul to establish LinDan Studio in Cleveland, Mississippi. The studio became a hub for Blues and Rock ‘n Roll bands from across the South, seeking to capture their sound. Paul later partnered with David Baskind, expanding the studio’s capabilities.

However, the call of the road proved too great, and Paul embarked on a new journey, touring with various groups throughout the Midwest. He performed in clubs six nights a week, further solidifying his reputation as a versatile drummer.

Notably, Paul had the opportunity to play drums with the legendary Roger Miller in the mid-1960s. This esteemed band included James Burton, Elvis’s renowned guitarist, and Thumbs Carlyle. This experience undoubtedly left an indelible mark on Paul’s musical journey.”

“After a few years of touring, Paul and his family decided to settle down in Meridian, Mississippi, where they owned and operated a successful Bar-B-Q franchise. However, music remained a passion, and as a hobby, Paul partnered with friend Larry Poynor from Las Vegas to open a four-track studio.

In this studio, Paul recorded numerous Blues and Rock bands, including Steve Forbert and Cotton Rock. Notably, Steve Forbert went on to achieve significant success, landing hits and appearing on the David Letterman Show.

During his time in Meridian, Paul also met Paul Davis, a talented songwriter and singer. Davis had collaborated with Marie Osmond on hits like “Meet Me in Montana” and “Sweet Life.” Interestingly, Paul Davis was the original owner of a D&R Series 8000 console, which later became a significant connection for Paul Westbrook, who became the USA Distributor for D&R Consoles.”

“The Westbrooks’ next move took them to Mission, Texas, where Paul joined Falcon Records, owned by Arnoldo Ramirez and his son, Arnoldo Ramirez Jr. (Nano), in McAllen, Texas.

Mr. Ramirez entrusted Paul with a significant project: equipping and setting up a state-of-the-art studio. Paul traveled to RCA Studios in Chicago to purchase and install the necessary equipment in Falcon’s empty building on Bentsen Road, now known as Pro Sound Studio (owned by Grupo Duelo).

Alongside Marco Ramirez, Paul recorded an impressive roster of Tejano artists at Falcon Records, including: Roberto Pulido, Juan Guerrero Y Los Sheekanos, Chilo Garza and Los Kasinos, Sunny Ozuna, Carlos Guzman, Freddie Fender, Laura Canales, Noe Pro, Los Fabulosas Quarto, Los Unicos, Country Roland, Lydia Mendosa, Los Alegres de Teran, Quatetos Cantu, Paulino Bernal, Paulino Bernal Jr, Tortilla Factory, Steve Jordan, and many more.