Eli "Paperboy" Reed at MEZZ

Armed with his heartbreaking falsetto scream, a strong sense of pop melodies, and unstoppable energy, he delivers a sound where feeling, passion, and authentic soul are at the core. Eli “Paperboy” Reed has now been in the business for 20 years.

A milestone he celebrated with a vinyl reissue of his very first album from 2005. Since his official debut ‘Roll With You’ in 2008, things have moved quickly: from a legendary, energetic performance at SXSW festival to contracts with major labels like Capitol and Warner Bros. His music has been featured in countless films and series, and together with his formidable band, he knows how to blow away the audience. 

Reed continually challenges himself. For example, he recorded a highly praised album in the legendary Sam Phillips Studio in Memphis, with contributions from soul icons The Masqueraders and hip-hop pioneer Big Daddy Kane. And he paid a soulful tribute to country legend Merle Haggard, which earned him an invitation to the sacred stage of the Grand Ole Opry. 

Besides his own career, he shares his passion as a teacher in Harlem, from which the successful group The Harlem Gospel Travelers was formed. Now he’s back on stage to do what he does best: turn the tent upside down with his contagious sound full of blues and soul.