More Info on Billy PaulSimilar Undetermined MusicSearch Artistopia
Biography
: For the British saxophonist also named Billy Pauls, see the Wizzo Band . BLP sources|date=April 2010Infobox musical artist| | name = Billy Paul | image = Billy Paul Concert Tunis Avril 2006.jpg | caption = Billy Paul in concert (2006) | image_size = 250px | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Paul Williams | birth_date = birth date and age|1934|12|1|birth_place = Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States | origin = | alias = | occupation = Singer | associated_acts = | genre = Soul music|Soul , Rhythm and blues|R& B | years_active = 1959–present | label = Philadelphia International Epic Records | website = http://www.billypaul.com | Podcast = http://phillysounds.mypodcast.com Billy Paul (born Paul Williams ; December 1, 1934) is a Grammy Awards of 1973#R.26B|Grammy Award winning United States|American soul music|soul singing|singer , most known for his 1972 Record chart|number-one single (music)|single , " Me and Mrs. Jones " as well as the 1973 album and single " War of the Gods " which blends his more conventional pop, soul and funk styles with electronic and psychedelic influences. He is usually identified by his diverse human voice|vocal style which ranges from mellow and soulful to low and raspy.
Biography
Born and raised in North Philadelphia, Pennsylvania , Paul began his singing career when he was twelve, appearing on local radio shows. Listening at home to his family's collection of Gramophone record|78s , Paul began developing a vocal style that would eventually incorporate traces of jazz , Rhythm and blues|R& B and Pop music|pop .
Paul attended Temple University , West Philadelphia Music School, and Granoff School of Music , for formal vocal training. Switching from rock music to soul to pop ballads, he soon became known through his performances on the underground musical circuit in Philadelphia. Paul's popularity grew and led to appearances in clubs and at college campuses nationally. This led to further opportunities, appearing in concert with Charlie Parker , Dinah Washington , Nina Simone , Miles Davis , The Impressions , Sammy Davis, Jr. and Roberta Flack .
Paul formed a trio and cut his first record, "Why Am I" for Jubilee Records before being drafted into the U.S. Armed Forces|Armed Services . After his discharge, he joined the New Dawn record label, and was a brief stand in for one of the Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes|Blue Notes with Harold Melvin. His first Philly album, Feeling Good at the Cadillac Club combined Billy Paul and Gamble and Huff|Gamble/Huff produced songs, and was released on the Gamble Label. This was followed by Ebony Woman , a more commercial release on the Gamble & Huff Neptune Records|Neptune Label .
Later still, Going East , Paul's first album released on the Philadelphia International Records label, placed him into the mainstream arena. However, it was with his second album that he received both commercial and critical recognition, 360 Degrees Of Billy Paul , with " Me and Mrs. Jones " being the most notable track.
" Me and Mrs. Jones " was a Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1972 (USA)|No. 1 hit for the last three weeks of 1972, selling two million copies (platinum single status), and went on to win Paul a Grammy Award for Best Male R& B Vocal Performance|Grammy Award . The Music recording sales certification|gold album and Music recording sales certification|platinum single broke the artist on world charts, including the United Kingdom where the single entered the Top 40|Top 20 of the UK Singles Chart reaching number 12 in early 1973.cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 420 In the years since then, the song has been covered numerous times, most notably by Freddie Jackson in 1992 and Michael Bublé in 2007.
In addition to receiving the Grammy, Paul has won several Ebby awards (given by the readers of Ebony Magazine ); has been the recipient at the American Music Awards , the NAACP Image Award and numerous proclamations and Freedom of the City|keys to cities across the United States. He has also toured internationally in the United Kingdom|UK , and Latin America .
Paul was on the Neptune Records label for many years. He recorded much other material of note, including "Am I Black Enough For You? ", "Let's Make a Baby" and an alternate version of " Let's Stay Together (song)|Let's Stay Together ". Other songs he recorded include "Thanks for Saving My Life", " Let 'Em In ", " Your Song ", " Only the Strong Survive (song)|Only the Strong Survive " and "Bring the Family Back".
In 2011 Paul participated in the album of French singer Chimène Badi by recording a duet with her "Ain't not no mountain high enough"
Discography
Albums
1968 '' Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club (Gamble Records SG 5002)
1970 Ebony Woman (Neptune NLPS 201)
1971 Going East (Philadelphia International KZ 30580)
1972 360 Degrees of Billy Paul (Philadelphia International KZ 31793)
1973 Ebony Woman (Philadelphia International KZ 32118 - reissue of Neptune NLPS 201 )
1973 '' Feelin' Good at the Cadillac Club (Philadelphia International KZ 32119 - reissue of Gamble SG 5002)
1973 War of the Gods (album)|War of the Gods (Philadelphia International KZ 32409)
1974 Live in Europe (Philadelphia International KZ 32952)
1975 Got My Head on Straight (Philadelphia International KZ 33157)
1975 When Love Is New (Philadelphia International KZ 33843)
1976 ''Let 'Em In (Philadelphia International KZ 34389)
1977 Only the Strong Survive (Billy Paul album)|Only the Strong Survive (Philadelphia International KZ 34923)
1979 First Class (Billy Paul album)|First Class (Philadelphia International KZ 35756)
1980 Best of Billy Paul (Philadelphia International Z 2-36314)
1985 Lately (Billy Paul album)|Lately (Total Experience TEL8-5711) http://www.discogs.com/Billy-Paul-Lately/release/1856253 Billy Paul- Lately album @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-10-2011.
1988 Wide Open (Billy Paul album)|Wide Open (Ichiban ICH 1025) http://www.discogs.com/Billy-Paul-Wide-Open/release/1681661 Billy Paul- Wide Open album @Discogs.com Retrieved 3-10-2011.
See also
Guests on Soul Train
List of disco artists (A-E)
R& B number-one hits of 1972 (USA)
List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
List of people from Philadelphia
Philadelphia soul
List of disco artists (A-E)
List of soul musicians
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.billypaul.com/ Billy Paul's Official Website
Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5113|pure_url=yes Billy Paul biography at Allmusic website
http://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Billy-Paul.html Biography at Oldies.com
http://www.phillysoulclassics.com/artists/billy-paul Billy Paul at PhillySoulClassics.com
Persondata | NAME =Paul, Billy | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =December 1, 1934 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , United States | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Paul, Billy Category:1934 births Category:Living people Category:American male singers Category:American soul singers Category:American pop singers Category:People from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Jubilee Records artists Category:Temple University alumni Category:Grammy Award winners Category:African American musicians Category:Philadelphia International Records artists
de:Billy Paul es:Billy Paul fr:Billy Paul nl:Billy Paul pt:Billy Paul simple:Billy Paul sv:Billy Paul
Copyright Citations
This article is licensed under the GNU License
Click here for original article: Billy Paul
