Paul Johnson (singer)

Last updated

Paul Johnson is a British gospel and soul singer who released two albums and a series of singles from 1987 through 1990 on CBS Records. [1] He was formerly a member of Paradise before going solo, and later recorded with Mica Paris. [2]

Paul Johnson had been recruited to Paradise when the London Gospel funk group was on a tour of the North of England. At the time Johnson was singing as a member of a Seventh-day Adventist choir, and noted for his high falsetto "in a style not dissimilar to Earth, Wind & Fire's Philip Bailey". He was recruited to share lead vocals with Paradise's Doug Williams and featured on all three of the band's albums. [3] In 1986 Johnson attracted the enthusiastic attention of Paul Weller. [4] His concerts on the London Gospel circuit led to a recording contract and his self-titled first album with CBS. [5] His 1989 second album Personal received favourable reviews in the jazz and soul press, but failed to make impact commercially. [6]

Discography

Albums

Singles

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Brothers Johnson</span> American funk and R&B band

The Brothers Johnson were an American funk and R&B band consisting of the American brothers George and Louis E. Johnson. They achieved their greatest success from the mid-1970s to early 1980s, with three singles topping the R&B charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander O'Neal</span> American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger

Alexander O'Neal is an American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger from Natchez, Mississippi.

Paul Louis Hardcastle is a British composer, musician, producer, songwriter, radio presenter and multi-instrumentalist. He is best known for his song "19", which went to number 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1985.

<i>...But Seriously</i> 1989 album by Phil Collins

...But Seriously is the fourth solo studio album by English drummer and singer-songwriter Phil Collins. It was released on 20 November 1989 in the United Kingdom by Virgin Records, and on 24 November 1989 in the United States by Atlantic Records. After Collins finished touring commitments with the rock band Genesis in 1987, the group entered a four-year hiatus, during which Collins starred in the feature film Buster (1988). By the spring of 1989, Collins had written material for a new solo album, which addressed more serious lyrical themes, like socio-economic and political issues, as opposed to his previous dance-oriented album, No Jacket Required (1985).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jet Records</span> British record label

Jet Records was a British record label started by Don Arden in 1974, featuring musicians such as Lynsey de Paul, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), Roy Wood, Gary Moore, Ozzy Osbourne, Alan Price, Adrian Gurvitz, Riot and Magnum.

<i>Faith</i> (George Michael album) 1987 studio album by George Michael

Faith is the debut solo studio album by the English singer George Michael, released on 30 October 1987 by Columbia Records and Epic Records. In addition to playing various instruments on the album, Michael wrote and produced every track on the recording except for one, "Look at Your Hands", which he co-wrote with David Austin. A pop album with influences of R&B, funk and soul music, Faith's songs include introspective lyrics, which generated controversies about Michael's personal relationships at that time.

Michelle Antoinette Wallen, known professionally as Mica Paris, is an English singer, presenter and actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siedah Garrett</span> American singer and songwriter

Deborah Christine "Siedah" Garrett is an American singer and songwriter who has written songs and performed backing vocals for many recording artists in the music industry, such as Michael Jackson, the Pointer Sisters, Brand New Heavies, Quincy Jones, Tevin Campbell, Donna Summer, Madonna, Jennifer Hudson among others. Garrett has been nominated for two Academy Awards for Best Original Song, and won the Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards for co-writing "Love You I Do" for the 2006 musical film, Dreamgirls.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eddy Grant</span> Guyanese-British reggae musician (born 1948)

Edmond Montague Grant is a Guyanese-British singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, known for his genre-blending sound; his music has blended elements of pop, British rock, soul, funk, reggae, electronic music, African polyrhythms, and Latin music genres such as samba, among many others. In addition to this, he also helped to pioneer the genre of "Ringbang". He was a founding member of the Equals, one of the United Kingdom's first racially mixed pop groups who are best remembered for their million-selling UK chart-topper, the Grant-penned "Baby, Come Back".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Errol Brown</span> Musical artist

Lester Errol Brown MBE was a British-Jamaican singer and songwriter, best known as the frontman of the soul and funk band Hot Chocolate. In 2004, Brown received the Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Contribution to British Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruby Turner</span> British Jamaican singer, songwriter, and actress

Francella Ruby Turner MBE is a British Jamaican R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and actress.

Howard Hewett Jr. is an American singer–songwriter. Hewett rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the group Shalamar. In 1985, he left the group to pursue his solo career, but he later returned to the group in 2001. He signed with Elektra Records. In 1986, he released his debut solo album I Commit to Love. Hewett and his group Shalamar contributed material to the Beverly Hills Cop soundtrack. The soundtrack won a Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media in 1986.

James Earl Gilstrap is an American singer and session musician. He is best known for his 1975 solo hit single "Swing Your Daddy", as well as singing co-lead to the theme from the TV series Good Times.

Marvin Lawrence Winans is an American pastor and gospel singer, and a member of the musical Winans family. He is also known for his recurring role in the hit show Tyler Perry's House of Payne.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Where Is the Love (Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway song)</span>

"Where Is the Love" is a popular song written by Ralph MacDonald and William Salter, and recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Released in 1972 from their album, Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway. It peaked at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart and spent a week each at number one on the Billboard Easy Listening chart and R&B chart. Billboard ranked it as the No. 58 song for 1972. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

The discography of British singer Mica Paris consists of eight studio albums, one compilation album, four EPs and thirty six singles.

<i>So Good</i> (Mica Paris album) 1988 studio album by Mica Paris

So Good is the debut album by British recording artist Mica Paris. It was released on 1 August 1988 by 4th & B'way Records.

<i>Contribution</i> (album) 1990 studio album by Mica Paris

Contribution is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Mica Paris, released on 20 October 1990 by 4th & B'way Records and Island Records. It includes three singles which reached the UK Singles Chart: "Contribution", "South of the River" and "If I Love U 2 Nite".

Paradise were a British, London-based gospel quintet of the early 1980s, which were the first UK group to adopt funk elements into their sound after the pioneering style of US gospel acts such as Andrae Crouch and Rance Allen and later added reggae sounds to their music in the 1990s. In 1980 the group were signed to Pilgrim Records, a UK Christian record label whose roster included Marilyn Baker, and set to work in a collegiate style on their self-titled first album. From 1980-1985 the group included two lead singers, Doug Williams and Paul Johnson, noted for his high falsetto. Johnson left to attempt a mainstream solo career with CBS in 1986. Following Johnson's departure the group released one more single then split up.. Many of their hits include "World's Midnight", "Never Will Turn Back", "Here and Now", the smash trio hits "One Mind, Two Hearts", "With You", "Just Can't Stop", "Love Is the Answer"," Back Together", and "We Can Work It Out".

References

  1. "Young richly talented soul singer Paul Johnson". Blues & Soul . 1988. p. 14.
  2. Betts, Graham (2005). Complete UK Hit Albums, 1956–2005 (illustrated ed.). Collins. p. 144. ISBN   9780007205325. PAUL JOHNSON UK singer who was a member of Paradise before going solo. He later recorded with Mica Paris. PAUL JOHNSON CBS 4506401 PERSONAL CBS 4632841
  3. "Paradise: Britain's gospel funk pioneers of the 1980s now on CD". 15 August 2010.
  4. Reed, John (2009). Paul Weller: My Ever Changing Moods. Music Sales Group. ISBN   9780857120496. ... direction have often come from his listening habits so his enthusiasm that summer for young soul singers like Paul Johnson, Steven Duntaine and Pat Knight hinted at the direction The Style Council might take.
  5. Richardson, Clive (2012). Soul Citizen – Tales & Travels from the Dawn of the Soul Era to the ... (illustrated ed.). ISBN   9781291246735. 1987 ... A short while later, in a similar venue, came the chance to welcome Paul Johnson to the goldpaved world of pop music though sadly without the same results.
  6. CD Review Digest Annual 1990 " Personal Paul Johnson (voc). CBS (Great Britain) 463 284 773 'Taken as a whole, the set is a rivetingly complete exploration of soul music that is light enough for mass appeal and involved enough to be of lasting value."
  7. 1 2 "PAUL JOHNSON | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. Retrieved 22 October 2020.