Pavlo found out he had a radio hit — at least sort of — while flipping through the stations.
In 2000, the R. Kelly song “Fiesta” used an illegally sampled lick from Toronto-based guitarist Pavlo. The result was a smash hit, reaching No. 6 on the Billboard 100. It’s now included on an R. Kelly best of, “The R in R&B Collection, Vol. 1.”
Pavlo was in his car when he caught the song. He recognized his own work and sued. In 2002, he settled with the pop star, winning 25 percent of the publishing rights to the track “forever,” he said. So far, the song has earned him around $650,000, he estimated.
“I just invested in my career,” he said. “I didn’t go buy fancy houses. I put it into touring. This is not ‘American Idol’ here. This is the real deal. We tour every day.”
Indeed they do. On Saturday, the guitarist and his band will play a sold-out show at Everett Civic Auditorium, opening the Everett Civic Music Association’s 2008-09 season. Even greater success could be coming for the Canadian, thanks to a PBS special that has begun to air around the United States.
Pavlo Simtikidis, 39, grew up in Toronto, listening to Van Halen on the radio and Greek music at home. He was drawn to guitar, eventually forming a style he calls Mediterranean. It folds in flamenco, Latin, Greek and classical influences.
“You’re always striving for your own sound,” he said.
The style works, and Pavlo has the success to prove it. He has played Toronto’s famed Massey Hall twice. Two of his albums are certified as gold north of the border, and he was nominated for a Juno award, the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy, for his instrumental album “Fantasia,” in 2001.
Success in the United States has come more slowly, but Pavlo’s career is picking up steam. In January, he recorded a TV special, “Mediterranean Nights,” which is being rolled out on PBS affiliates around the country. Fans also can buy a DVD or CD of the show. While the special has yet to run in Seattle, it has aired in major markets including Los Angeles, Miami and Nashville.
During that concert, Pavlo delivered an energetic performance, complete with dancing girls. Live shows find him playing mostly original material and the occasional classic rock cover — sorry, kids, no R. Kelly.
He said he tries to upset the idea that some concertgoers may have of an acoustic guitar show, the image of “guys sitting on chairs and boring the hell” out of the crowd.
“We dance when we play,” he said. “I jump out into the audience. The musicians that are with me are world class players. They could have a concert on their own.”
Instead, they tour with Pavlo. The singer has taken his band to Europe nine times, he said, using the money he won through the R. Kelly settlement to bankroll shows.
While he has yet to turn a profit overseas, that’s not a huge concern. Thanks to “Fiesta,” the guitarist has an unusual amount of freedom.
“I can tell you one thing,” he said. “I don’t have to always worry about the bottom line.”
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