Although I can only recall hearing Billy Paul's massive hit Me and Mrs Jones that record alone had a profound effect on me and I remembered it well over the years and often wondered why I hadn't heard more of him. Many years later, with the emergence of Gregory Porter, I could see a similarity between the two jazz/soul icons and it didn't surprise me to discover his early infinity with such as Dinah Washington, Nat Cole and other jazz people. Paul also appeared with Charlie Parker at the Club Harlem in Philadelphia shortly before Bird's death saying "I was with him for a week and I learned more in that time than I would have in two years."
Billy Paul died April 24 at home in New Jersey aged 81.
A massive talent.
Lance.
2 comments :
Yes - he was one of the original big voiced Philly soul singers - and what a timeless, classic song! Such a meaningful message too .... It said on R4 that he'd died of pancreatic cancer.
For some reason I can't account for why I didn't see him with Jean Carn in Newcastle a few years back so I never saw him.
Real music with proper singers and proper songs puts the recent spate of popstar deaths in perspective.
Jones is my brothers girlfriends fave record and, when I used to DJ she always asked me to play it but, for the sake of my brother, who isn't much of a smoocher, I would play Brown Baby or his inspirational version of Let em in.
I can only imagine her pain.
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