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The Daily Insight

Paul The Trombonist’s biography, net worth, fact, career, awards and life story

Author

Sarah Richards

Published Feb 24, 2026

IntroMusical Artist & Trombonist
A.K.A.Paul Nowell
IsVideo blogger 
Internet personality 
Musician 
Trombonist 
YouTuber 
TypeInternet 
Music 
Gendermale

Paul The Trombonist is a Los Angeles-based music producer, songwriter, DJ, performer, educator, film maker and trombonist.

Education

Paul graduated from Berklee College of Music on scholarship where he studied with some of other notable trombonists like Phil Wilson.

Career

Paul started his professional music career as a teenager when he received attention from Duke Ellington’s nephew, Ron Ellington Shy while he was playing with his own group at a jazz club in Cleveland. Paul started working on musical arrangements for Ellington Shy.

Paul was later credited with playing in Chico Hamilton’s band on Tri-C Jazz Festival. He became a member of the Glenn Miller Orchestra and went with them on their world tour. Later, Paul got the opportunity to play trombone for Bon Jovi keyboardist David Bryan on his Tony award winning (2010 Best Musical) “Memphis.” In December of 2010 Paul began putting up videos on youtube on the channel PaulTheTrombonist. As of March 31, 2017 it has 3,587,482 views.

Paul’s Berklee College of Music professor Phil Wilson flew out to Los Angeles to collaborate on a video series called the Phil Wilson/Paul The Trombonist videos series. This led to the development of internet show Bone Masters in which Paul features other trombonists. This resulted in a large educational video library about the trombone that on its own became notable.

Arturo Sandoval met Paul in Los Angeles and partnered with him to create a series of online videos. Their cover of the song Peanut Vendor went viral and as of March 2017 it had 1.4 Million views on Facebook.

Paul has also been a trombonist in Arethra Franklin’s band as well as performed with Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane, Frankie Valli.

Paul’s debut album was Journey to the World. The album received critical acclaim for fusing acoustic trombone with the electronic world. The album also charted on Amazon’s best seller list at #26 for jazz sales and #34 in the electronic music category in its first week. His live show is an extension of the album using trombone, looping, keyboards and DJing. He currently serves as a voting member of The Recording Academy for the Annual Grammy Awards.

Paul is credited with private performances in front of celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, Sean Penn, Charlize Theron, Robert Pattinson, Zac Efron, Bill Maher and Ryan Seacrest.

Paul has often fused his music, on stage, with the comedian Sinbad’s performances.

Discography

Albums

  • 2017: Journey to the World