A FORMER Greenock IBM worker-turned-actor is now getting into the swing of things by realising an ambition to release a music album.

Paul Rasmussen, who lives in Gourock, has been singing for more than 20 years and has now achieved his goal of producing a jazz CD.

On his new six-track EP ‘Singing & Swinging’, Paul puts his own modern spin on classics such as ‘Come Fly with Me’ and ‘Mack the Knife’.

He has had airplay on national radio, and has had such good feedback that one station is making his new record their ‘album of the week,’ starting on Sunday.

Originally from Greenock, Paul worked at IBM until about three years ago and has since ventured into acting with a string of credits on his CV to date in shows such as  River City and Outlander.

But music has always been his big passion in life and he’s delighted to have finally recorded his own album.

Paul told Showbuzz: “I’ve been singing for many years but only recently got into the studio to record some standards for this CD.

“My CD has been chosen to be album of the week on The Jazz UK internet radio station. They’ve been playing my tracks on the station, but due to the listener interest they wanted to promote it further I’m hoping this focus will help boost the CD and my opportunities.

“This is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long while.
“A record company in Germany has shown interest and a British one as well.

“My dad was always a big fan of this style of music and I listened to it when I was younger and was always singing along.

“Last year I got the opportunity to record and the feedback has been great on Soundcloud and YouTube so I thought I would get a disc made up, which I did last week.

“It’s now on sale from AdLib Music in Greenock and online.”

Of late Paul has also been working on a string of TV shows and says it has been a great experience.

He said: “I’m now doing extra work – background work – and have been in the likes of Outlander. 

“I also played a cop in River City and I had a part in Trainspotting 2.

“It was actually my nephew who was doing some acting and said it was really good.

“I’ve been doing that for about two years now and it’s great fun.

“So far I’ve met the likes of Ewan McGregor and Jonny Lee Miller, Tim Roth in Rillington Place, Dougray Scott on The Replacement and Danny Boyle.  He was a great laugh and is a very good director. 

“You meet a real variety of people.”

For more from Paul and to listen to his tracks visit www.soundcloud.com/paul-rasmussen-556667230.