Billy Paul

Billy Paul in concert.

For the British saxophonist also named Billy Paul, see the Wizzo Band.

Billy Paul (born Paul Williams on 1 December, 1934) is a Grammy Award-winning American soul singer, most known for his vocals on the 1972 number-one single "Me and Mrs. Jones".

Biography

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Billy Paul began his singing career when he was twelve, appearing on local radio shows. Listening at home to his family's collection of 78's, Billy began developing a vocal style that would eventually incorporate traces of Jazz, R&B and Pop. "That's how I really got indoctrinated into music", Paul recalled.^{[citation needed]} "My mother was always buying and collecting records, and she would buy everything from Jazz At The Philharmonic Hall to Nat King Cole.^{[citation needed]}

Paul attended Temple University, West Philadelphia Music School, and Granoff School of Music, for formal vocal training. Switching from Rock 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, such as appearing in concert with such artists as Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, the Impressions, Sammy Davis, Jr. and Roberta Flack. Nancy Wilson was so impressed with a track off his debut album that she recorded it herself.

Paul formed a trio and cut his first record, "Why Am I" for Jubilee Records before being drafted into the Armed Services. After his discharge, he joined the New Dawn Label, and was a brief stand in for one of the Blue Notes with Harold Melvin. His first Philly album, Feeling Good at the Cadillac Club combined Billy Paul and Gamble/Huff produced tunes, and was released on the Gamble Label. This jazz L.P. was followed by Ebony Woman, a more commercial release on the Gamble & Huff Neptune Label.

Still later, Going East, Paul's first album released on the Philadelphia International 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", and "Me and Mrs. Jones" being the most notable tracks.

"Me and Mrs. Jones" was a No. 1 hit for the last three weeks of 1972, selling two million copies (platinum single status), and went on to win Billy a coveted Grammy Award. The gold album and platinum single broke the artist on world charts, including Britain where the single entered the top five of the national charts.

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 keys to cities across the United States. He's toured internationally with overwhelming response in the United Kingdom, and Latin America.

Although he is sometimes regarded as a one-hit wonder, because nothing else came close to matching the success of "Me and Mrs. Jones", Paul has been a frequent hit maker and member of the soul music scene in the years before and after his Grammy Award, especially with the use of the consistently popular Philadelphia soul style as his backing.

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". Other songs he recorded include "Thanks for Saving My Life", "Let 'em In", "Your Song", "Only the Strong Survive" and "Bring the Family Back".

Paul is married, and continues to tour around the world extensively.

Donate to Wikimedia