Paul Hardcastle

This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (March 2009) (Find sources: Paul Hardcastle – news, books, scholar)

Paul Hardcastle (born 10 December 1957, London, England^[2]) is an English composer and musician, specialising in the synthesizer.

Early career

In the early 1980s, Hardcastle played the trombone and also keyboards on several singles on the Oval record label by the dance music groups Direct Drive and First Light, before going solo. He achieved some acclaim for his early singles, notably the instrumental, "Rain Forest" (1984), but came to greater prominence in 1985.

Success of "19"

In early 1985, the release of the dance hit "19" brought Hardcastle acclaim and chart success. "19" was a straight-forward dance record, featuring stuttering samples of television narrator Peter Thomas speaking about Vietnam war veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Initially unhappy about having his voice used in this way, Thomas later relented and allowed the single to be released.).

A number one hit single for Chrysalis Records in the United Kingdom for five weeks,^[3] the record topped the charts in both France and Germany in two versions, the English language original and an authorised local language alternative. Altogether, it was number one in thirteen countries, selling just under three million copies worldwide.

The UK progressive rock musician Mike Oldfield claimed that a melodic element of "19" had been copied from a sequence of his multi-million selling concept album, Tubular Bells, and a settlement was made. Simon Fuller, who was Hardcastle's manager at the time of "19"'s release later adopted the title for his company, 19 Management.

Later hits

Hardcastle enjoyed several further hits in the UK, including "Don't Waste My Time" (with vocals by Carol Kenyon) (UK #8) and the now-classic "The Wizard", a UK #15 hit that became the theme tune from BBC Television's Top of the Pops. He also had a hit with "Just For Money", which reached #19 in the UK and featured Bob Hoskins and Sir Laurence Olivier. Earlier, he had cut a cover version of D-Train's most influential hit "You're the One For Me", segued with his own compositions "Daybreak" and "A.M." Hardcastle also wrote the theme tune for Saturday Live, a popular entertainment show which ran from 1985-1987. He also made the hit single the voyager, which was used for the BBC one program Holiday.

After 1986, Hardcastle started to specialise in television soundtracks and remix work, for artists as such as Five Star, Barry White, Third World, Sinitta, Johnny Logan, Hiroshima and Ian Dury.

Hardcastle has also recorded several synth jazz albums, alternating releases under the artist names The Jazzmasters, and Paul Hardcastle.^[2] Working regularly with vocalist Helen Rogers, Hardcastle has recruited several saxophonists including Gary Barnacle (on the first album), Snake Davis, Phil Todd and Tony Woods. All these albums have been played on smooth jazz radio in the United States, where some of the most played tracks include "Northern Lights", "Lost in Space", "Desire", "Shine" and "Serene". In 1988, Hardcastle released the concept album, No Winners, which focuses on the potential negative effects of the Cold War arms race. He won the Billboard Smooth Jazz Artist Of The Year award for 2008.

Personal life

Hardcastle is married to the former Dolores Baker, and together they have three children^[4]: Maxine (born April 1986^[5]), Paul, Jr. (born August 1990^[6]), and Richard.

Discography

Albums

Smooth jazz albums

Hardcastle series

The Jazzmasters series

Singles

• 1984: "You're the One For Me - Daybreak - A.M." (UK #41)
• 1984: "Guilty" (UK #55)
• 1984: "Rainforest" (UK #41)
• 1984: "Eat Your Heart Out" (UK #59)
• 1985: "19" (Switzerland #1 (7 Weeks) ; Norway #1 (7 Weeks) ; Germany #1 (6 Weeks) ; UK #1 (5 Weeks); Netherlands #1 (5 Weeks); New Zealand #1 (4 Weeks); Sweden #1 (2 Weeks); Austria #1; Italy #1; US Dance Club Play Chart #1 (2 Weeks); France #15; U.S. #15)
• 1985: "Rainforest" (re-issue) (U.S. #57 / UK #53)
• 1985: "Just for Money" (UK #19)
• 1986: "Don't Waste My Time" (UK #8)
• 1986: "Foolin' Yourself" (UK #51)
• 1986: "The Wizard" (UK #15)
• 1988: "Walk in the Night" (UK #54)
• 1988: "40 Years" (UK #53)

^[3]

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of 1980s one-hit wonders in the United States
• List of performers on Top of the Pops
• List of Euro disco artists
• List of smooth jazz performers
• List of synthpop artists
• List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart

References

External links

• Official website
• European website
• Trippin 'n' Rhythm Records
• (German) German fanpage
• (German) World fan club website
• Paul Hardcastle at the Internet Movie Database