History of Paula Cole in Timeline
Paula Cole is an American singer-songwriter and producer who rose to fame after touring with Peter Gabriel. Her breakthrough album, "This Fire" (1996), achieved global success, reaching number 20 on the Billboard 200 and featuring hit singles like "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and "I Don't Want to Wait." The former earned her three Grammy nominations, while the latter became the theme song for the popular TV show "Dawson's Creek." Cole, a prominent figure in the Lilith Fair music festivals, made history in 1998 by becoming the first woman to be solely nominated for the "Producer of the Year" Grammy, which she won alongside the Best New Artist award.
April 5, 1968: Birth of Paula Cole
Paula Dorothy Cole was born on April 5, 1968.
1992: Signing with Imago Records
Paula Cole signed with Imago Records in 1992 after impressing label president Terry Ellis.
1993: Secret World Tour and Live Album Release
Paula Cole joined the last two legs of Peter Gabriel's Secret World Tour in 1993.
1993: Joining Peter Gabriel's Secret World Tour
Paula Cole received a last-minute invitation to join Peter Gabriel's Secret World Tour in 1993. She flew to Germany for a single rehearsal before performing.
1993: Paula Cole Joins Peter Gabriel's Secret World Tour
Paula Cole was invited to join Peter Gabriel's Secret World Tour in 1993, replacing Sinéad O'Connor.
1994: Release of "Harbinger" and Duet with Melissa Etheridge
After the Secret World Tour, Paula Cole released her debut album, "Harbinger", in 1994. She also performed a duet with Melissa Etheridge on VH1.
1994: Meeting Hassan Hakmoun
Paula Cole met Moroccan musician Hassan Hakmoun on her Secret World Tour in 1994. They later married in 2002.
1994: Release of Debut Album "Harbinger"
Paula Cole released her debut album, "Harbinger", in 1994.
1995: Signing with Warner Bros. Records and "Harbinger" Re-release
Paula Cole signed with Warner Bros. Records in 1995, and they re-released her debut album, "Harbinger", in the autumn of that year.
1996: Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? Release
In 1996, Paula Cole released "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" as a commentary on gender stereotypes, though its satirical intent was sometimes missed.
1996: Lilith Fair Prototype Tour
Paula Cole participated in a four-show mini-tour in 1996, which served as a prototype for the Lilith Fair tour.
1996: Release of "This Fire" and Lilith Fair Performance
Paula Cole released her second album, "This Fire", in 1996. The album featured hit singles like "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and "I Don't Want to Wait." She also performed at the Lilith Fair mini-tour this year.
1996: Release of "This Fire" and Chart Success
Paula Cole released her self-produced album "This Fire" in late 1996. The album featured hit singles like "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and "I Don't Want to Wait," which was later used as the theme song for the TV show "Dawson's Creek".
1996: Grammy Award for "Secret World Live"
The concert video for Peter Gabriel's "Secret World Live", in which Paula Cole was featured, won a Grammy Award for Best Long Form Music Video in 1996.
1997: Lilith Fair Headliner and Grammy Nominations
Paula Cole was a headliner for the Lilith Fair tour in 1997. She also received multiple Grammy nominations, including "Producer of the Year."
1998: Grammy Award for Best New Artist and Lilith Fair Performance
Paula Cole won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1998. She also headlined the Lilith Fair tour again.
1999: Release of "Amen" and Musical Experimentation
Paula Cole formed the Paula Cole Band and released the album "Amen" in 1999. The album, while incorporating R&B and hip-hop elements, did not achieve the same level of success as her previous work.
1999: Release of "Amen"
Paula Cole released her third album, "Amen", in 1999. This album marked a stylistic shift in her music.
2000: "Be Somebody" Featured on "Charmed"
Paula Cole's song "Be Somebody" was featured on an episode of the TV show "Charmed" in 2000.
2001: Birth of Daughter, Sky
Paula Cole and Hassan Hakmoun welcomed their daughter, Sky, in 2001.
June 2002: Marriage to Hassan Hakmoun
Paula Cole married musician Hassan Hakmoun in June 2002, whom she had met during her Secret World Tour in 1994.
2003: My Hero, Mr. President Release
Paula Cole released "My Hero, Mr. President", a song critical of President George W. Bush and the Iraq War, as a free download in 2003.
2005: Unreleased Album and Political Activism
Paula Cole recorded an album with Hugh Padgham in the early 2000s, but it was shelved by the label. In 2005, she shared one of the tracks, "Singing Out My Life," on her website. During this time, she also recorded "It's My Life," which was used in Mercury car commercials, and released a protest song on her website titled "My Hero, Mr. President!"
February 16, 2007: Courage Debut at Berklee Performance Center
Paula Cole debuted songs from her upcoming album, "Courage," during a performance at Berklee Performance Center in Boston, Massachusetts on February 16, 2007.
February 19, 2007: The Boston Globe Review
On February 19, 2007, The Boston Globe published a positive review of Paula Cole's recent performance at Berklee Performance Center.
March 2007: Courage Previews on MySpace
Three songs from Paula Cole's "Courage" album—"Comin' Down," "El Greco," and "14"—were previewed on her official MySpace page in March 2007.
June 2007: Release of "Courage"
Paula Cole released her fourth studio album, "Courage", in June 2007 under Decca Records.
July 10, 2007: Performance at MLB All-Star Game
Paula Cole performed "God Bless America" during the seventh-inning stretch of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 10, 2007.
August 2007: Tour with Mandy Moore
In August 2007, Paula Cole embarked on a tour with Mandy Moore, performing at mid-sized venues across the western United States.
2007: Divorce from Hassan Hakmoun
Paula Cole and Hassan Hakmoun divorced in 2007 after five years of marriage.
2007: Release of "Courage"
Paula Cole released her jazz-influenced album "Courage" in 2007.
August 2008: Continued Touring for Courage
Throughout August 2008, Paula Cole continued to tour and promote her album, "Courage."
2009: Continued Touring for Courage
Paula Cole carried on touring and promoting her album, "Courage," into 2009.
September 21, 2010: Release of "Ithaca"
Paula Cole released her fifth studio album, "Ithaca", on September 21, 2010, which she wrote and co-produced.
2010: Release of "Ithaca"
Paula Cole released "Ithaca" in 2010, marking a return to her folk-rock sound.
October 29, 2012: Kickstarter Campaign for "Raven" Concludes
Paula Cole completed a Kickstarter campaign on October 29, 2012, raising funds for her album "Raven".
April 23, 2013: Release of "Raven"
Paula Cole released her sixth studio album, "Raven", on April 23, 2013.
2013: Berklee College of Music Faculty Position
Paula Cole began serving on the faculty at Berklee College of Music in 2013.
March 23, 2015: 7 Release (Cole's Website)
On March 23, 2015, Paula Cole released her seventh studio album, "7", exclusively on her website.
April 10, 2015: 7 Wider Release
On April 10, 2015, Paula Cole's album "7" was released on digital music platforms, following its initial release on her website.
May 1, 2016: This Bright Red Feeling Release and NYC Performance
Paula Cole performed live in New York City on May 1, 2016. A recording of this performance became her live album, "This Bright Red Feeling", initially sold exclusively at live shows and on her website.
June 16, 2016: Ballads Kickstarter Launch
On June 16, 2016, Paula Cole launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund her upcoming covers studio album, "Ballads". The campaign successfully raised $76,899.
August 11, 2017: Ballads Release
August 11, 2017, marked the release of Paula Cole's covers album, "Ballads", which reached #9 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Album Chart.
September 13, 2019: Revolution Release
On September 13, 2019, Paula Cole released her ninth studio album, "Revolution," under the label 675 Records.
2019: Revolution and Socially Conscious Music
Paula Cole released her album "Revolution" in 2019, featuring a cover of "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)" addressing environmental concerns and "Silent", reflecting her experience with sexual assault.
May 2021: Release of "American Quilt"
In May 2021, Paula Cole released her album "American Quilt".
May 2021: Hidden in Plain Sight Commentary
In May 2021, Paula Cole revealed that her song "Hidden in Plain Sight" was about the history of slavery.
2021: American Quilt Release
Paula Cole released her album "American Quilt" in 2021.
2024: The Masked Singer Appearance
Paula Cole participated in season twelve of "The Masked Singer" as "Ship" in 2024, with Jewel, the winner of season six, as her Mask Ambassador. She was eliminated in the Group A finals.
