Art Paul Schlosser

State Street mainstay Art Paul Schlosser was among the victims in a spate of beatings in the downtown area late last week. The quirky musician was at his usual spot in front of State Street Brats Sept. 17 at about 2 a.m., according to a criminal complaint, strumming his guitar and singing for tips, when a man approached and asked to play his guitar. Schlosser told him no, and the man told him his life was worthless, spit on him, then punched him in the face. Police arrived to find Schlosser's face covered in blood. Police later arrested Joseph P. Conforti, 25, who allegedly told an officer, "I did it. I'll admit it. I was (expletive) stupid," even before the officer had a chance to question him about the incident.

Art Paul Picks His Dandelion Wacky State Street Musician Marries His Flower In Ceremony That Befits His personality. Wisconsin State Journal :: LOCAL/WISCONSIN :: B1 Monday, January 7, 2002 Natasha Kassulke Wisconsin State Journal Madison musician and artist Art Paul Schlosser has entertained thousands of people since he started singing his silly ditties on State Street in the mid-1980s. But on Saturday, Art Paul, who is best known by his first and middle name, played to a more intimate crowd than usual -- a crowd that included his bride. Art Paul, 42, married Madison artist and graphic designer Robin Good, 43,before about 50 friends and family members at the Sunrise Community Church,341 State St. The wedding, officiated by pastor Andy Hayner, came off in vintage Art Paul style -- combining child-like humor with wonderful wackiness and sweet sincerity. It was just the unconventional wedding that fans would have expected from the man who earned celebrity status by playing the kazoo and acoustic guitar on songs such as "Purple Bananas (On the Moon)," "I Want to Be Madonna?," "Venison Christmas," "My Cat Was Taking a Bath" and "Have A Peanut Butter Sandwich." During the wedding, though, Good was the only one allowed to request a song. The groom complied, strumming a ukulele and leading a sing-along to his own "You're the Only Dandelion in My Whole World (I Don't Want to Pick Another Flower)." When it was time to say, "I do," Art Paul beamed and declared, "Oh, Yeah!" The couple then danced down the aisle, twirling and kissing their way into a potluck reception that might be fodder for a future Art Paul song. Mainly a State Street musician, Art Paul's reputation extends beyond Madison. He's often featured on the nationally known "Dr. Demento" radio show(which is how spoof musician Weird Al Yankovic got his start); and he hosts a WYOU cable Ch. 4 show called "The Talent/No Talent Show" at 7 p.m. on Sundays. Art Paul has released seven CDs and 21 cassettes and authors a hand written newsletter called "Art's Garbage Gazette." In 1996, he jokingly ran for president of the United States with his cartoon character Buddy Holly Cheese Head. He has opened for the rock band Mojo Nixon and he's been filmed by MTV. His biggest fans include teen-agers who prowl State Street, Badger alumni who recall late-night Art Paul sing-alongs of "Dead Skunk Perfume" and "Pink Pants" -- and now, his wife. The wedding drew people from all facets of Art Paul's life. Among the guests were: Glenn Mitroff, WORT's volunteer outreach coordinator, who got to know Art Paul as a "recycling specialist" at the station; Masaki Terada, a Japanese researcher at UW Hospital, who got to know Art Paul when he became Terada's English conversation partner; and John Schmitz and James Sines, who got to know Art Paul at a prayer group at St. Paul's Catholic Center. On Sunday, the newlyweds recapped their big day while visiting their art exhibit at Cafe Assisi, 254 W. Gilman St. (there will be a 5 p.m. reception on Saturday). The show is called "Husband and Wife/Contrast of Art Styles by 2 People Who are in Love," and Good and Art Paul are especially fond of portraits they did of one another after meeting just over a year ago. They quickly learned they had a lot in common -- both artists and dreamers, both interested in astronomy, both Christians, both passionate about State Street and eclectic music. While Good admits that Art Paul's celeb status was tough to get used to at first, she says she has come to appreciate his humor and insight. "Art likes to make people smile," she says, beaming. "I liked him right away. He's fun, nice and real. ... I thought I knew weird music. But he turned me on to really weird music."

New Dad Art Paul Sings Happy Tune Friday, April 26, 2002 ART PAUL Schlosser sounded buoyant Thursday, and why not? "It has been a good year for me," the well-known State Street musician said. The topper came Wednesday, when Schlosser's wife, local artist Robin Good, gave birth to the couple's first child, Simon Peter Schlosser. "Nine pounds, two ounces, and 21 inches long," Art Paul said. If you've spent much time in downtown Madison since the mid-1980s, you likely know of Schlosser. He's a kind of alternative art Renaissance man – a painter (with a new exhibit at the Madison Hostel on Butler Street),cartoonist (his cartoons have appeared in the Daily Cardinal), host of a talent show on WYOU-TV, and a street (sometimes club) musician who plays the guitar and kazoo and specializes in what he Thursday called "weird" songs like "Have a Peanut Butter Sandwich" and "Dead Skunk Perfume." Schlosser -- known to all as "Art Paul" -- went national when his comic songs were picked up on the syndicated Dr. Demento program, but his heart never left State Street. When he and Good were married earlier this year, the ceremony was at State Street's Sunrise Community Church. At the ceremony, Art Paul took one request-- from his new bride -- and played the ukulele as all present sang his ditty, "You're the Only Dandelion in My Whole World (I Don't Want to Pick Another Flower)." Originally from Chicago, Schlosser, who is 42, came to Madison in 1971.He's produced seven CDs, a new book of poetry (available at Rainbow Books)titled "Lights of Insight," numerous paintings and, almost always, laughter in abundance. But he can be serious, as he was Thursday when he mentioned that he is sometimes bothered by a speech impediment. "I'm not perfect," Art Paul said. "But maybe that's part of my success. Someone with imperfect speech can write songs and poetry and succeed." ...

Versatile Art Paul Schlosser Strikes A Pose Like the Material Girl he immortalized in his song "I Wanna Be Madonna," Art Paul Schlosser's talents seem to know no limits. The offbeat Madison songwriter/guitarist/kazoo player has a concert, a cable show, a new CD and a song that is sizzling on the "Dr. Demento Show." Catch Art Paul live when he performs from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. Saturday at the Radical Rye, 231 State St. Request "Have a Peanut Butter Sandwich," which was recently No. 1 on the "Funny 5" list of the "Dr. Demento" radio show. Art Paul also appears on WYOU, cable Channel 4, Sundays at 7 p.m. His open mike show is called "Talent/No Talent." Interested artists may e-mail Art Paul at artpaul@mailcity.com or show up at the WYOU studios, 650 E. Main St., at6:30 p.m. Watch for Art Paul's new 15-song MP3 "State Street Sampler" to be released soon.<