THE EMPEROR'S STORY

The music bug bit Paul Craver at an early age. The Ripete Records recording rtist and Greensboro, NC, native entered high school - trumpet in tow - and quickly joined the school band. After graduation, he took his place in the United States Military and served in Vietnam.

In the meantime, Craver found himself more and more attracted to the sounds of Rhythm & Blues. One of his favorite nightspots in those days was the famed Castaways Club, where he attended performances by well-known bands like the Embers, Bill Deal and the Rhondals and The Mighty Men.

In 1972, he joined a group called Medium Cool and from his very first gig with the group, no
one could keep him away from the microphone. He - and everyone who heard him
- knew from that point on that the entertainer
had found his calling.

Before long, Craver joined another band, Cannonball, and with the group recorded "You Keep Telling Me Yes" which went on to become a Carolina Beach Music classic.The tune was the hottest thing around Ocean Drive in 1972, at which time Craver took over Cannonball and kept the group performing over the next few years.

Craver got an offer he couldn't pass up in 1978 when Bill Griffin (Castaways) and Bobby Tomlinson (Embers) recruited him to reconstruct the O'Kaysions, now known as the Fabulous Kays. Having completed that task, Craver moved to Columbia, SC, in 1981, where he teamed up with Willis Blume to form Shagtime, a band producing a number of
Carolina Beach hits in the latter part of the 1980s including "Mr. Beach." Craver sang lead vocals on the project, and the single became a defining milestone in his career.

After several years with Shagtime, Craver moved on to partner with Tony Davis. The two revived the Kruze Band, resulting in recordings like "Shoo Do Foo Foo Ooh" which was included on the Shag Yer Blooz Away, Vol. 2 Ripete compilation as well as Salt Air, a various artists release from Quickhouse Productions.

Returning to Shagtime, Craver stood as the group's
leader until 1993, when the Men of Distinction band was formed. That group - with Craver singing lead vocals on singles like "It Won't Be This Way Always,""Brand New Me," "Anna," "Don't Be Afraid," and "Uptown" on its three CD projects - earned four Carolina Beach Music Awards for its efforts.

Craver has a history of his own in terms of the CBMA with a string of
nominations and a good number of wins. He was a 2002 inductee into the organization's Beach Music Hall of Fame. Once he released Let the Music Play - his first solo project - the honors kept coming in 2003 with two wins.

The artist also earned numerous CBMA awards for his 2004 sophomore release - Where Ever Love Is Found - plus Macon, Memphis & Muscle Shoals in 2006.

In 2007, he received Smoothie of the Year for "Emperor of My Baby's Heart," released on KHP Music's Keep On Shaggin compilation.

In March 2008, Craver retired from the Men of Distinction and is now devoting more time to his solo career and deejay opportunities. He resides in the North Myrtle Beach area.