Biography
Paul Otis Gibbs III is an American alt-country singer-songwriter and podcaster who has independently released several albums since 2002.[3] Raised in Wanamaker, Indiana, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Indianapolis, Gibbs was introduced to music at an early age when he would sing in a nearby saloon while a friend of his aunt's played piano.[3] Before fully committing to music, Gibbs worked for over 10 years as a tree planter in Indiana, planting an estimated 7,000+ trees while developing his craft as a songwriter.[3][4] His early reputation was built through performances in small neighborhood bars and clubs in the Midwest and South, but his career gained significant momentum when he began playing gigs in the UK and Europe.[1]
Gibbs' musical style draws from classic American folk music, country, roots, and rock, combined with Methodist hymns from his childhood.[1] His songs feature narratives about everyday working people with relatable, self-deprecating tales and thought-provoking lyrics that tackle complicated social issues without condescension.[1] His 2014 album Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth was described by The Tennessean as "his most pleasing, direct and artful work," establishing him as a significant voice in independent country and roots music.[3] In 2024, his tenth studio album The Trust of Crows was recorded at the legendary Columbia Studio A in Nashville, where Bob Dylan recorded Blonde on Blonde and Nashville Skyline.[4]
Beyond his music career, Gibbs has become a cultural archivist and storyteller. He hosts the podcast Thanks for Giving a Damn, which has been featured on iTunes' "New And Noteworthy" and "What's Hot" lists, and he hosts Country Built on Pandora for over 3 million subscribers.[3][5] His YouTube channel, with more than 100,000 subscribers, preserves personal stories and folklore from legendary musicians, reflecting his reverence for history and lived experience in the spirit of the Lomax Family and Studs Terkel.[4] Gibbs has embraced a DIY ethic throughout his career, starting his own record label and creating his own artistic ecosystem while maintaining the independent spirit that defines his work.[4]
Fun Facts
- Gibbs has planted an estimated 7,176 trees during his 10+ years as a tree planter in Indiana, a fact he humorously includes in his artist biography alongside the claim that he 'once wrestled a bear and lost.'[4]
- His 2014 album Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth was recorded at Columbia Studio A in Nashville, the same studio where Bob Dylan recorded Blonde on Blonde and Nashville Skyline, a space that had been closed to the public for decades before Gibbs was granted permission to record there.[4]
- Gibbs has recorded over 100 podcast episodes for Thanks for Giving a Damn and hosts Country Built on Pandora for over 3 million subscribers, creating a living archive of American roots music stories in the spirit of the Lomax Family and Studs Terkel.[4][5]
- Despite being called 'the best unknown songwriter in music today,' Gibbs describes himself simply as 'a folksinger' and has maintained the same work shirt and old felt hat he wore while planting trees 25 years ago.[4]
Musical Connections
Mentors/Influences
- Methodist hymn tradition - Childhood religious musical influences from church in Wanamaker, Indiana (General musical foundation and lyrical sensibility) [Childhood]
Key Collaborators
- Amy Lashley - Long-term partner and fellow songwriter, native Indianan who settled with Gibbs in East Nashville (Podcast appearances and collaborative music life) [Multiple years, recently returned to Indianapolis together]
- Mando Saenz - Musician featured in podcast interviews (Thanks for Giving a Damn podcast) [Podcast era (100+ episodes)]
- Chris Shiflett - Foo Fighters guitarist featured in podcast interviews (Thanks for Giving a Damn podcast) [Podcast era]
- Delbert McClinton - Musician featured in podcast interviews (Thanks for Giving a Damn podcast) [Podcast era]
Artists Influenced
- Independent country and roots musicians - Serves as mentor and nexus figure in East Nashville music community; respected for songcraft and gray-beard wisdom (General mentorship and artistic influence) [2007-2019 in Nashville, ongoing]
Connection Network
Discography
Albums
| Title | Release Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth | 2014-08-19 | Album |
| Joe Hill's Ashes | 2010-02-22 | Album |
| Harder Than Hammered Hell | 2012-02-28 | Album |
| Hoosier National | 2020-09-18 | Album |
| Mount Renraw | 2017-01-13 | Album |
| Grandpa Walked A Picketline | 2009-01-20 | Album |
| Once I Dreamed of Christmas | 2018-11-02 | Album |
| The Trust Of Crows | 2025-09-19 | Album |
| Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth | 2014-07-07 | Album |
| Grandpa Walked A Picketline | 2009-01-20 | Album |
| one day our whispers | 2004 | Album |
| 49th and melancholy | 2002 | Album |
Top Tracks
- The Darker Side of Me (Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth)
- Ghosts of Our Fathers (Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth)
- Kansas City (Joe Hill's Ashes)
- Eastside (Eastside)
- It Was a Train (Souvenirs of a Misspent Youth)
- Big Whiskers (Harder Than Hammered Hell)
- Raze (Raze)
- Joe Hill's Ashes (Joe Hill's Ashes)
- Where Only the Graves Are Real (Joe Hill's Ashes)
- Panhead (Hoosier National)
External Links
References
Heard on WWOZ
Otis Gibbs has been played 1 time on WWOZ 90.7 FM, New Orleans' jazz and heritage station.
| Date | Time | Title | Show | Spotify |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 21, 2025 | 14:05 | Made to Breakfrom Harder Than Hammered Hell | Homespun Americanaw/ Ol Man River |