Born in California with a combined Irish/Scottish and Eastern European heritage and into a musically rich environment, Paul Machlis played trumpet in bands and orchestras while developing at the same time a love for folk music, singing and playing the banjo. The music of the sixties led to an interest in the piano and to composing. For ten years he also was player of the Campanile chimes at UC Berkeley, composing and arranging hundreds of pieces for that venerable instrument. In addition, he studied with Ali Akbar Khan at the Ali Akbar College of Indian Music.