In between the musical work, he dug bottles at Victorian Rubbish dumps and sold them to collectors, managed a wine shop, and for a year located and cleared old mines and explosives ordinance from the Maplin Sands for the Royal Engineers.

He was also a gardener, bait digger, beachcomber (still active), and fisherman, amongst a host of other temporary occupations. His shortest job he recalls was gardening in the grounds of Southend Crematorium; "After 3 days the smell of the smoke got to me."

In 1976 after 21 years of smoking he decided to stop. His girl friend at the time, Carmen, knew Paul had fallen in love with a Ukulele Banjo in a junk shop and so as an aid in his attempt to quit the habit presented it to him that Xmas. "Every time I wanted a cigarette I would pick up the uke and strum... within 2 weeks I could play 'Aint She Sweet,' and after 6 weeks I had 10 songs under my belt, and had quit smoking and driven my neighbors away!!"
The Ukulele since has become an important part of his musical tools. Other string instruments include 1 string fiddle, guitar and guitar banjo. He can also be heard in the "Halls of Valhalla" practicing his 1920s Martin sousaphone.

In 1977 Paul traveled to North America and Europe busking on the street and at festivals. In 1978, after encountering troubles while trying to get through Afghanistan (on his way to Australia,) he hitchhiked through Turkey, Syria and Jordan, and arrived in Israel for the first time where he decided to winter on a Kibbutz. For the next 3 years he continued to travel and play in Europe and Scandinavia, returning each winter to live on the kibbutz. "It was like being a bird, migrating as the chill of autumn crept into my bones and I would feel the urge for warmer climes."

From 1981 Paul became a member of Kibbutz Shamir,and continued to perform  with his Jug Band called "Organic Energy" and working in the apple orchard when not traveling and playing. "I fell in love with the whole idea of Kibbutz, and they loved my music, especially when the band won the "Upper Galilee Song Competition" and became an overnight success on a TV chat show.  Glen the bass player left and went back to New Zealand, and Aharoni went to study music,  after that band played only on odd occasions.  I found my first wife on the kibbutz  we had a wonderful daughter, "Jasmine" in 1983. It did not last, though, and I finally left on my own in 1991."

He was a member of the "Taverners" from 1981 off and on till 2001 when the band folded. The Taverners were a Jerusalem based country, blues, Irish, folk, jazz, goodtime band, and performed at all the major Festivals in Israel during their time. They made several recordings, and many TV appearances. The "Taverners" were known specially for their "Naughty Songs" and spontaneous performances. "We were always playing tricks on one another, removing clothes, hiding instruments, singing opera in the middle of a country song. Anything went. Every member had a unique individuality which caused a lot of positive energy on stage but alas in the end with the death of a member and the conflict of egos it finally imploded. A fitting end for such an amazing Band."

Another high point in the '80s was in 1986 playing washboard and singing duets with Blues legend Memphis Slim during his tour of Israel. " It felt so natural playing with Memphis, and after the tour he invited me to Paris to play. However by the time I had got my act together to go he had died"

In 1991 with his new wife Daphna he traveled in America and Canada, Germany and Britain, living in a van and doing a street show with his One Man Band and junk made puppets (all made with his leatherman tool). "In between my act, Daphna would play the harp. It made a wonderful balance to an otherwise noisy morning's entertainment for the shoppers and passers by."

He lives now, for the past 5 years in Hod - Hasharon, Israel, with his family (wife Daphna, daughter Jasmine 18 and son Alon aged 8), renting a small house, with a half acre where he grows his own vegetables and raises chickens for fun, has 2 ducks, 6 cats and lots of visiting animals (many of them are human)!

He performs, records, sculpts with junk (this includes building all his own furniture, to working novelty electrical devices, human like statues, tree houses,and working musical toilet instuments.) "The Gods of Garbage watch over me. Whenever I need anything special it always turns up on the street, normally within days."

Paul's current shows..
One Man Band: an interactive show for kids and all the family.
A One Man Band Orchestra (also interactive) for adults, together with a Duo, Trio, combination when requested.
The Smallest Jazz Band On Earth
In all three shows he uses his unique home made instruments, amongst his Ukuleles.
"Building an Orchestra for Kids" from simple musical instruments, junk, and the imagination is his latest kid's project under construction.

 The kid's shows,emphasizes the importance of imagination, coordination, co-operation, and also attempts at raising ecological awareness.

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROJECT

 Paul also has developed a unique and special musical interactive show for the physically and mentally challenged, which he does at institutions for children and adults throughout Israel

The "Amazing Washboard Wizards" has been active since 1994 consisting of Paul on ukes, vocals, kazoo, teapots, washboards, bathtub bass, suit case bass drum, Grandads old wooden leg (the zob stick), and lots of home made junk instruments. Along with Paul we have Aharoni Ben Ari on guitar and guitar banjo; Merton Cahm saxophones and clarinet; and on bass, "Boy we have a pool of them from a member of the Philharmonic, to Chet Bakers ex- bass player Michael Blum , and a 20 year old student who is nothing short of a genius." Special guests include: Adam Madar who plays a lot with the band on fiddle, mandolin, penny whistle, recorder, guitar .. mouth.. etc.

Musical Styles:
Americana, meaning jazz, blues, swing, jug, country, novelty, Hawaiian, Klezmer, rock, folk songs, etc.
Eclectic, meaning anything else that takes their fancy.

The Wizards have performed at all major Festivals in Israel, including Jazz Blues and Videotape 1995. Elsewhere in 1998 the Edinburgh Jazz Fest, and Brecan Jazz Fest in the UK, and as part of a larger band in the Ukraine, 2000 and 2001 and Elat International Jazz Festival 2001. In 1999 Paul and the Wizards were invited to perform in a concert series around the County. In a Program of American Music written by musicologist Asterit Baltsan featuring The Music of Charles Ives, and Modern American Composers, Paul sang a selection of Spirituals unaccompanied. Then with the Wizards, the finale included the band together with a classical trio of violin, cello, and piano. The tour was a sell out everywhere it went.

In April 2001 Paul became the only One Man Band in the world to be hosted by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Playing in Israel's Carnegie Hall (Michal Ha Tarboot) under the direction again of Asterit Baltsan, he performed in a series of concerts of American Music "From the New World." The event was televised and broadcast recently on National Television .
In Sept 2001 Paul was invited to MC and perform at The Ukulele Expo in New Jersey, on the 8th and 9th. "What a joy to finally hear real Hawaiians playing beautiful Hawaiian music, and accompanied by Hula Dancing. Little did we know that day that the beauty and innocence of our Ukuleles would be shattered by the coming events". On the 11th Sept while staying with a friend in Manhattan, he found himself caught up in the terrible tragic events of the day. "A friend had invited me up to see the view from the Towers that morning. As luck would have it he was unable to make it and I had overslept. I have been lucky regarding terror attacks, having been shot at in Israel, and narrowly missing being hit by missiles on the first day of the attacks by Iraq in Tel Aviv in 1991."

The Washboard Wizards Has 2 CDs out...
"The Return of the Ukulele" 1996 "The Musical Medicine Show" just out now in 2002 

Paul cooperates with other bands and musicians: The Isra Dixie Band of Avram Felder and the pianist Leonid Ptashka to name but a few.
Other Jobs include writing and recording songs for educational language books and occasional acting roles in films, commercials, TV shows (list available on request) including all Musical TV work and commercial video work.
Freelance writer, and reviewer of musical CDs. His poetry is still in a plastic bag waiting to be edited for publishing! Then there was teaching English through Drama and Music workshops for teachers (not currently active in this field.)
Story Telling, Interactive Story Telling with and without objects and music. Paul is a song writer, and member of Acum the writers union, as well as I.U.P.A., Israel Union of Performing Artists, affiliated of international federation of actors (F.I.A) and a member of the Independent Musicians Union.
His most current projects are writing a Book on "One Man Bands," and you can add input to the project if you are, or know of any One Man Bands past and present by contacting him.   paulmoore@aquanet.co.il
With the release of the new disc and while working on current projects Paul hopes to be traveling more throughout the world performing with his One Man Band, and with "The Amazing Washboard Wizards." "I just want to continue to do what I am told I do best, spreading mirth and merriment throughout the world. Children have so much pressure on them to grow up fast these days. I still do not know what to do when I grow up, but I think I would like to retire to Hawaii when I do."

The continuing saga will be updated from time to time. VISIT THE WEB SITE FOR MORE DETAILS. If you want to contact Paul for bookings, or about any of his projects, or just for a chat, Please do. E mail paulmoore@aquanet.co.il phone or fax 00 972(0) 9 7457287. mobile 00 972 (0)58 928787 or put pen to paper like we all used to do to Paul Moore c/o Orion. 7 Hasalom St Hod Hasharon 45204 Israel