Paul was born and raised in Indiana. He started singing before he can even remember and playing trumpet & guitar at the age of 10. He then started to pick up piano & keyboards in his early teens. Paul's been a full-time working musician since 1972, traveling extensively doing "road work" though the 70's & 80's. He's spent many years making a living performing on keyboards, guitar, bass, trumpet, and pretty much ANYTHING that makes sound. He's also been blessed to have graced the same stages as such musicians and performers as Britian's FOGHAT, JOURNEY'S Steve Smith and his Fusion Band, Jazz greats Ronnie Laws and Frank Gambale, The John Entwhistle Band (bassist for The WHO), Rick Nelson (just days before his tragic plane crash),the GREAT Chuck Berry, and Donnie and Marie Osmond. He's even performed on the stage of the famous Grand Ole Opry. 
     Having moved to Phoenix, AZ, with his family in the mid 80's, he played with The GROOVE MERCHANTS there for several years (GREAT band!). Paul also worked as a recording engineer and has been a musician/vocalist for many of the Phoenix based studios. He has performed on extensive Radio/TV jingle work for such clients as Air France, Motorola, McDonald-Douglas, Circle K, Shasta RV, The Phoenix JC's Rodeo, and the Arizona Dept. of Tourism,  just to name a few.

    Paul relocated back to the Midwest in 1991 and has never regretted it. He needed a long awaited "musical (and Life) change", and didn't play secular music for the next 10 years. He became staff Worship Leader for 5 years at Winding Waters Church, was a founding member of Granger Community Church's praise team, and then went on staff for the next 6 years with New Song Community Church. He also has helped recently to lead music & worship at CROSSROADS Community Church.

    A few years back, Paul was asked, by long-time friend Roby Robinson, to play a weekend at his, then new, restaurant on Simonton Lake. He did. Had a GREAT time. And decided it was time to start  playing out again. He has worked primarily with bands until 2007, when he began doing an acoustic duet with the very talented Phil Kilmer (they played together also in UNFINISHED BUSINESS). 
    Paul never really pursued the idea of "playing alone" until he kept getting calls to do solo gigs and his wife, Libby, finally said "heck, just TRY it, if ya don't like it, then nothing lost". So, most of the past year has been spent doing just that...solo. And guess what...he loves it!

     Paul was also fortunate enough to be sent to Frankfurt, Germany in 2007 by CONN-SELMER  to perform at a function at the European Musik Merchandise Show with a group of outstanding players from all over the world, which included most of the current members of his R&B/Motown/Jazz band, The REAL DEAL.

  He has been playing many venues in the Michiana area of late:
Mad Anthony Brewing Co., Villa Macri Restorante', 523 TAP & GRILL, McCarthys on the River Walk, The Wood Fire, Indigo On 17, Lucchese's, The Beanery, Ugly Mugs, Lakeshore Grill, Pete's @ Simonton Lake, The Winner's Circle, Michael's, Simeri's, Knollwood CC, Elks CC, Harrison Landing, Swiss Valley Ski Resort, Ugly Mugs, The Beanery, Constant Spring, The Electric Brew, and even that iconic Michiana showcase-place of music, ZIMMY'S.

 

Notes from Venues / Bookings:

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    "Friday evening Martha and I dined at the INDIGO Restaurant on CR 17 and to our pleasure there was a band called The Real Deal, whose lead is Paul Decker.  We listened to two hours of the best music we’ve heard in a long time, along with the atmosphere of the Indigo we kept saying to ourselves "are we in Elkhart..."??? 

Tom & Martha Shoff

SHOFF SECURITY

ELKHART, IN  46516
293-6157

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   “WOW !!...We had a blast at our dance night at the Escapees RV Club Fall Escapade in Goshen, IN, last month (400+ attended). It was one of our most  successful  dance parties by far. You guys had us up and moving from the very first number. We would highly recommend “ya’ll” (Texan) for any group that wants a spirited, musical, fun time.”

Bill & Dee Holt  /  Entertainment chairmen

Escapees RV Club Escapades, USA (National Club)