Paul Cotton
The guitarist and songwriter who penned Poco's smooth-rock classic 'Heart of the Night' and helped define the band's later sound.
1943–2021 (age 78)·American guitarist·Birthday: February 26·The Silent Generation
Biography
Paul Cotton stepped into a pivotal role in Poco just as the pioneering country-rock band was at a crossroads, following the departure of founding member Richie Furay. With his soulful, melodic guitar playing and a knack for crafting radio-ready songs, Cotton helped steer Poco toward a more mainstream, soft-rock direction in the 1970s. His signature contribution, 'Heart of the Night,' became a global hit and the band's most recognizable track, its smooth groove and lyrical yearning capturing a specific moment in West Coast rock. Before Poco, he cut his teeth with the rock band Illinois Speed Press. Cotton's steady presence and hit-making ability provided a second wind for Poco, ensuring their longevity and leaving an indelible mark on their catalog.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Paul was born in 1943, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Paul Was Born
The biggest hits of 1943
#1 Movie
For Whom the Bell Tolls
Best Picture
Casablanca
Paul's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1943Born
Allies invade Sicily; Battle of Stalingrad ends
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,290Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry JamesBest Picture: Casablanca
1948Started school
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1956Became a teenager
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1959Could drive
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1961Could vote
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1964Turned 21
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1973Turned 30
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1983Turned 40
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1993Turned 50
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2003Turned 60
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 70
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2021Died at 78
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
Key Achievements
- Wrote and sang lead on 'Heart of the Night,' Poco's biggest international hit single.
- As a lead guitarist and vocalist, he was a core member of Poco from 1970 until the band's hiatus in 2013.
- Co-wrote the song 'Bad Weather' which became a staple of the band's live sets and albums.
- His work is featured on key Poco albums like 'Legend,' 'Under the Gun,' and 'Blue and Gray.'
Did You Know?
Before joining Poco, he released two albums with the band Illinois Speed Press.
He was briefly considered as a replacement for Gram Parsons in The Byrds in 1968.
Cotton owned and operated a charter fishing boat in Florida after his time with Poco.
He rejoined Poco for several reunion tours in the 2000s after initially leaving in the 1990s.
“I just wanted to write good songs and play guitar in a great band.”
