Paul, or Wally as he's known by friends, is the Bass of the quartet. He was born into a musical family, the youngest of eight to be exact. His Mother and Father, along with his 5 oldest brothers and sisters, formed the Zeien Family Band. They performed throughout southeastern Wisconsin and Northeastern Illinois in the late 50s and early 60's.
From 4th through 8th grade, Paul sang in the St. Peter's school choir in Antioch IL. His love of singing 3, 4 and 5 part harmony, came from many country and rock groups of the 60's and 70's. From The Statler Brothers and the Oak Ridge Boys, to The Beatles, The Monkees and the Beach Boys. While attending Antioch High School, he sang Bass in 5 different choirs ranging from Gospel, to contemporary A Cappella and Swing Choir. He competed 4 times with the large choir and Swing choir, and achieved 1st place honors each time. Paul gives thanks to his director/teacher/friend, Mr. Ralph Brooke for honing his early career. It was Mr. Brooke's belief in Paul's abilities, that earned him a solo on a Christmas album the choir recorded his Senior year. The song, was 'Jesu Bambino'.
After High School, he spent 4 years singing 'sets' as a guest singer, on the weekends with various live bands in a Country and Western bar in Silver Lake WI. There he met Julie, who he married in 1982. He even sang with the band at their wedding reception. But all through these years, he still had not heard of the "BarberShop style" of singing.
In 2001, his oldest daughter Emily
was in a music class at Badger H.S. in Lake Geneva WI. The local BarberShop
chapter, The Country Gentlemen chorus, sent a quartet to perform for the
students. Their goal was to ask the students for the names of their fathers that
like to sing. Emily "turned him in" as they like to joke. Shortly thereafter he
was invited to a guest night, and
after only 2 weekly meetings,
he became a full fledged member of The Country
Gentlemen. In 3 short years he became the Bass section leader, Bass in the
"Teaching Quartet"
and recently served as
the Chapter President in 2005. Paul has been the Bass of GENEVA
since it's inception in 2002, and has sung in
dozens of chorus and quartet performances and 8
competitions.
Paul is a 26 year employee of Olsun Electric Corporation in Richmond IL, where he takes part in building industrial transformers. He and his wife Julie, and their daughters Emily and Erin live in Genoa City WI.