Today we’d like to introduce you to Paul Harvey
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Hmm…no character limit..haha let us begin!
I am the 3rd oldest of 10 kids. As a family growing up we had a music ministry called the Saviors Songbirds. I played woodwinds,sax,clarinet ect. I’ve never had music lessons, can’t even read music🤣 just a God given gift for musical instruments.
As I grew older life got busy and music fell by the wayside. On a chance encounter several years ago I came across a Native American style drone flute at a small store in south Dakota. I bought it and would play for myself,never really sharing the music in my soul with the world. Then in 2019 I got bold.
I am an Ironworker with local 512 in Minneapolis and was working on a 30 story building in downtown. While whistling on my way into the building I heard the most epic,awe inspiring reverb in a huge room in the lower level of the building. I thought to myself”a flute would sound amazing here” so I brought it to work with me,set my phone on the window sill and played what came to me. I decided to post it on Reddit and it went viral. The dichotomy of a construction worker playing such a soothing tune in a construction site resonated with people.
I started getting messages from folks telling me how the song I had made helped them through a tough time,helped them relax, and often how their pets reacted.
One message hit me square in the jaw. A lady told me she had been planning on ending her life that night, but after hearing the music, was touched deep in her soul and that she couldn’t go through with it.
Hearing that made me realize that I was given a gift that I had to share with as many people as possible.
From that day on that has been my mission. I started a YouTube channel and started sharing the music at open mics and nursing homes. Since then I have been asked to play at Flutestock music fest and on a show on HBO MAX called Second Chance Stage .
I have hundreds of videos on YouTube TikTok,Spotify and anywhere else stteaming music is available
Many of my videos are in unique places like jobsites always on break or before/after work (gotta pay the bills🤣) silos, under bridges, in pools…pretty much anywhere i can find natural reverb.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Its something i love,thoigh trying to find the time is a struggle. I drive 4hrs a day most days for work depending on where the jobsite is . Being an ironworker is not exactly the typical flute player environment. I get plenty of derision from fellow workers (even though deep down they all love it in some way.)
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am an Ironworker. Sky cowboy, I work where eagles dare to deep underground in a cities lair.
If you have ever looked at a skyscraper you have seen Ironwork in the curtianwall (the outside skin of a tower) driven over a bridge (the rebar holding it all together) We are a special breed. Rough and crass but underneath a heart of gold. Most ironworkers will give you the shirt off their back if you’re in need.
I specialize in layout /blueprint and ornamental Ironwork currently.
I’m known as the flute guy (cause I always have a flute with me) Preacher Paul (because I don’t swear as much as most of my coworkers) and Tiny (I assume it’s due to my size 15 boot)
Something that sets me apart I guess is my willingness to share my music side. There are many talented folks who just need the right push to let their light shine.
I take pride in my attention to detail and work ethic. I was trained by the old guard to show up early ready to work and give my best even when it’s 20 below 0 out
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Hmmm. As the 3rd oldest of 10 kids i was always relatively responsible. I love the outdoors and helping people. History was my favorite class. I worked at a Renaissance faire for a couple of years as well as acting in many community plays
Hunting,fishing,canning,gardening,singing,cutting wood, all were important aspects in my childhood. Quite often I was the funny one,always making folks laugh Don’t get me wrong I had my moments of villainy 🤣 they didn’t call me Pyro Paul for nothing! Plenty of spats with my siblings but always had eachothers backs when it counted.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paulharveyfluteguy?igsh=MXRuNm5tcGxvems3aA==
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@paulharveyfluteguy?feature=shared
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Paulharveyfluteguy?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=3818d0a2-fd09-4e14-9623-c4e80f26a2c4
