From the archives: Earl Monroe

In honor of his new autobiography Earl The Pearl: My Story, I present the story below about Earl Monroe. This was a really fun one for me to dig out and read. I forgot how unusual it was and how many people I spoke to, including a passel…

From the archives: Rasheed Wallace

In honor of Rasheed Wallace's second and presumably final retirement, I present this profile of him I wrote for Slam in 1999 or 2000. Lots of classic moments in here, including a convo with Sheed's mother and a good interview with Dean Smith. The…

“God Rest His Soul” – paying tribute to Dr. King on the 45th anniversary of his murder

45 years ago today Martin Luther King Jr. was murdered in Memphis. I think it's important to remember that he was there marching in support of striking garbage haulers. I'm also sure many of those striking men could have and would have done…

Why I Write Interview

This interview with me is part of a really interesting "Why I Write" series. " I do not keep regular hours. That’s why I’m a writer! If I wanted to keep regular hours, I’d go work in an office.'
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Allman Brothers’ Beacon rehearsal

I had the pleasure of sitting in on an Allman Brothers Band Beacon rehearsal in a Manhattan studio Sunday night for several hours. It was a really interesting and they sounded very good. I am sworn to secrecy on what specifically I heard,…

China-bound. Beijing and Shanghai dates!

Very excited about this upcoming jaunt to BEIJING AND SHANGHAI – playing music and talking books. Woodie Alan Reunion shows and Lit Fest Appearances SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL LITERARY FESTIVAL: •MARCH 15, 7 PM Appearing on a panel…
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St. Martin’s to release One Way Out as a full-length hardcover book

"If you want to know the real deal, read Alan Paul. I learned a lot reading One Way Out." -Oteil Burbridge, the Allman Brothers Band “No journalist knows the ins and outs of the Allman Brothers Band better than Alan Paul.” -Warren…

Big in China Excerpt: Laoshi Yechen on Fake Monks

I read this WSJ China Real Time with great interest: A fake monk scandal scars one of the country's sacred mountains.  It got me thinking and prompted me to post this Big in China excerpt about my Chinese teacher turned monk Yechen. He…
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When Dixie met Woodie

As detailed in Big in China, when my father, Dixie Doc, visited Beijing in July, 2008, he played two gigs with Woodie Alan. We transformed into a passable Dixieland jazz abnd for about 4 songs per night... "All of Me," "Bill Bailey," "When the…
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Larry McCray takes “Soulshine” to church

Bluesman Larry McCray was the first to record Warren Haynes' anthem "Soulshine." Larry is an old, dear friend of Warren's and I have had the pleasure of hanging out with the two of them together. That was backstage at Pine Knob outside Detroit.…