Paul ‘Biff’ Rose came from New Orleans to Baltimore in the early 1960s. He was stationed locally in the service and attended Loyola College. He played banjo, guitar, and piano at local coffeehouses including the Blue Dog, where he appeared on the live album “Blue Dog Cellar – Project No. 1” (Kimberly 1245) in 1962 along with other local folk artists.
Biff toured as an opening act for Glenn Yarbrough as a stand-up comedian. Returning to music he later worked as part of a song-writing team with Paul Williams for A&M Records and signed a recording contract with Bill Cosby’s Tetragrammaton Records in 1969. He appeared on the Tonight Show and enjoyed quite a run of success, headlining at clubs such as the Troubadour in L.A., and The Bitter End in N.Y.
After two albums for Tetragrammaton, he signed with Buddah Records for two albums. Songs for his first Buddah LP “Biff Rose” were written at his John Street home in Baltimore (1971-72). Rose then went to United Artists for what turned out to be his last major release (1973). He continued to release recordings on various independent labels, including a collaboration with Wall Matthews on the 1973 LP “Hamburger Blues.”
1973(LP) Sweet Jane 1273 Hamburger Blues (with Wall Matthews)
