Paul Cotton born 26 February 1943

Norman Paul Cotton (February 26, 1943 – July 31, 2021) was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He was a member of the band Poco and the writer of their international hit song "Heart of the Night". Before that, he was co-guitarist for the Illinois Speed Press. 

Cotton was born in Fort Rucker, Alabama. His father, Norman, owned a line of grocery stores. His mother, Edna, kept the books for the family business. Young Norm, as he was known as the time, began playing guitar at 13 years old, and became involved in his first band a year later. When he was 16, the Cottons moved to Chicago, where he attended Thornton Township High School. He toured with various bands in the late 50s, and well into the 60's, including; the Capitols, Mus-twangs(1961) , Starfires (1962)  Gentrys (1965)  and Rovin' Kind (1966) that released several singles and appeared on “American Bandstand.” 

In 1968, after seeing them perform at a club in Chicago, the producer James William Guercio, best known for his work with the jazz-rock band Chicago, signed the group to Epic Records. Mr. Guercio advised them to change their name and relocate to Los Angeles, where they renamed themselves Illinois Speed Press.  Cotton began billing himself as Paul rather than Norm. 

Illinois Speed Press, with Cotton and Kal David as twin lead guitarists, released a pair of roots-rock albums for Epic, to little commercial effect. Mr. Cotton was invited to join Poco in 1970, to replace Jim Messina shortly after the release of the band’s second and last album, “Duet.” Poco was formed from Buffalo Springfield Rock Legends: Jim Messina (Loggins and Messina), and Richie Furay (Buffalo Springfield) when Neil Young and Steven Stills departed. Additions other than Paul Cotton  to the newly formed band included Rusty Young and drummer George Grantham from Colorado (Boenzee Cryque), and Timothy B. Schmit (Eagles). 

Most of Cotton's music career was as songwriter, lead guitarist and lead singer for the group. He said in a September 2000 interview with Sound Waves magazine, "I'm just drawn to the South. Hey, I spent 25 winters in Chicago." Cotton's best known song with Poco is "Heart of the Night", which was a major hit from the band's Legend album, released in 1978; the song is an evocation of the night life of the city of New Orleans. 

                                    

Cotton's experiences in New Orleans had been the basis for a previous composition, "Down in the Quarter", featured on the 1975 Poco album Head Over Heels’ In 1977 Cotton and Rusty Young went into the studio to record as the Cotton-Young Band. The following year ABC, the duo’s label, released the recordings, made with British musicians who had accompanied pop hitmakers like Leo Sayer and Al Stewart, but insisted on crediting the band as Poco. 

“Legend,” the album that resulted, yielded an unanticipated pair of hits, the band’s first Top 40 singles: the glittering “Crazy Love,” written and sung by Rusty Young, which reached No. 1 on the adult contemporary chart, and the similarly burnished “Heart of the Night,” written and sung by Paul Cotton. The album was certified platinum for sales of one million copies. 

Rooted more in rock and soul than in the country and bluegrass that had hitherto been the group’s primary influences, Cotton’s sinewy, blues-inflected guitar work and brooding baritone vocals on songs like the ballad “Bad Weather” greatly expanded Poco’s emotional and stylistic palette. He also penned such Poco classics as "Barbados", "Indian Summer", and "Ride The Country". He briefly left the band in 1987, before returning in 1992. 

Illinois Speed Press

Cotton moved to Key West, Florida, in 2005, shortly after Hurricane Wilma struck the area. He was actively involved in the Key West community performing at various benefit shows. He met his future wife there, and went fishing, sailing and sunning when not working on his music. In 2009, he organized the Illinois Speed Press' very successful reunion', where he and former partner Kal David rocked the deep blue sea on a Caribbean Reunion Cruise. He continued to play and tour in his latter days fronting the Paul Cotton Band on annual Cruises with private concerts and personal meet and greet gatherings during 2015. Paul moved to Oregon in 2017 for family reasons. 

Cotton died at his summer home near Eugene, Oregon on July 31, 2021, at the age of 78. 

(Edited from Wikipedia, New York Times and PocoPaulCotton.com)