Paul Abela was born on 1 March 1954. He started studying music at a very young age, mainly playing the accordion, organ and piano. In 1967 he joined a Maltese band and played with it for 11 years, producing musical hits for the local market. In 1978, Paul went to Boston, USA to obtain a degree in music at the Berklee College of Music

He graduated from Berklee in 1981 after which he returned to Malta where he resumed his composing. He started composing songs for Maltese festivals and in this period he also represented Malta in festivals as a composer and as a conductor in Poland, Prague, Bratislava, Turkey, Yugoslavia and Korea. He also composed numerous rock-operas and musicals, some of which are still very popular today. In 1986 he married the Maltese singer Georgina and together they gave concerts in Australia and Canada, besides taking part in many festivals both in Malta and abroad.

Paul continued producing Maltese musicals and in the meantime, representing Malta as a composer, arranger and conductor in the Eurovision Song contest with the songs: Could it Be in 1991 (sung by Georgina and Paul Giordimaina) placing sixth, Little Child in 1992 (sung by Mary Spiteri) placing third, In A Woman’s Heart in 1996 (sung by Miriam Christine), and Another Summer Night (sung by Fabrizio Faniello). He was also the musical director for the productions of various musicals such as Jesus Christ Superstar, The Sound Of Music, Evita, Annie, Les Miserables in concert, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, La Cage Aux Folles, Anything Goes, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific, Blood Brothers and Cabaret. He has also produced and conducted concerts for orchestra, big band, and for TV, he has arranged and conducted bands and written music for TV series.

n How old are you? Star sign and date of birth?

50 years old, Pisces, born on 1 March 1954.

n Significant other? Children?

Married to Georgina. One 14-year-old son Ryan.

n What would you like to be doing in 10 years’ time?

What I have always done – Music.

n What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Good health, good friendship.

n What is your greatest fear?

I don’t like flying much.

n What is it that you most value in your friends?

Kindness and being there when you need them.

n How would you like to die?

Listening to music that I like.

n What is your greatest regret?

Having to go on a diet.

n What is your most treasured posession?

My car (because I live in Mellieha).

n Which talent would you most like to have apart from the ones you already have?

To be able to write poetry.

n What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Having to wake up early on a cold morning.

n Where would you like to live?

Where there is no winter.

n What is your most marked characteristic?

Leaving things till the last moment but in the end, I get there.

n Who are your heroes/heroines in real life?

No one really, there is good and bad in everybody.

n What is it that you most dislike?

Arrogance and to be kept waiting.

n What is your motto?

Never arrive early so you don’t have to wait.