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Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Paul Antony Young was born January 17th 1956. He was the middle child of three, has an elder brother Mark and a younger sister Joanne. His interest in music dates back to when he was very young, when he learnt to play the piano and then the guitar. On leaving school he worked with his father for Vauxhall Motors and played in various bands at night. He played Bass guitar in his first band but always wanted, and eventually managed, to become the singer. These were lean times musically because his preferred style of music, Soul, was not particularly popular. However he managed to sing i
Paul Antony Young is an English pop musician. Paul Antony Young was born January 17th 1956. He was the middle child of three, has an elder brother Mark and a younger sister Joanne. His interest in music dates back to when he was very young, when he learnt to play the piano and then the guitar. On leaving school he worked with his father for Vauxhall Motors and played in various bands at night. He played Bass guitar in his first band but always wanted, and eventually managed, to become the singer. These were lean times musically because his preferred style of music, Soul, was not particularly popular. However he managed to sing in local bands such as Kat Kool & The Kool Kats and later in the better known Streetband.
In December of ‘79 Streetband broke up and Paul went on to form the Q-Tips.During the next three years Paul introduced himself to more and more of the British public through the Q-Tips extensive touring playing 700 shows over three years in the UK and Europe. This period of intense activity gave Paul the chance to develop his unique voice and stage persona. The Q-Tips found their large membership of musicians worked against them in the new wave of synth-pop duos, and after struggling to find a record deal, they did one more tour then went their separate ways at the end of 82’. Paul signed as a solo artist with CBS/SONY Records in that same year.
The first single released in the UK was 'Iron Out The Rough Spots' in November 82 but despite strong radio support it wasn't a success; initially it was the same for the following release 'Love Of the Common People'. Success came at last with 'Wherever I Lay My Hat’, which maintained number 1 spot for the whole summer of 1983. The album 'No Parlez' pushed Paul and The Royal Family (his supporting band) to the top of the charts. 'Come Back & Stay' made Paul world famous. He met his future wife, Stacey Smith whilst making the video of 'Come Back and Stay'.
With the second album, 'The Secret Of Association' his status as a world star was confirmed. 'Every Time You Go Away' was and still is his biggest worldwide hit.
In 1987 he went to studios in Milan to record his third album 'Between Two Fires' and met the Italian singer Zucchero. They became good friends. 1987 was also the year of the birth of his first daughter Levi.
In 1989 Paul appeared in The Nelson Mandela Tribute Concert and sang a song by Crowded House -'Don't Dream It's Over' - which his fans pushed him to record later for his 1991 “Best-of” album, 'From Time To Time'
There followed a period of time out to be with his growing family followed by time spent in America where he was to write and record in Los Angeles and New York the material for his fourth album “Other Voices”, released in 1990.
In 1991 Paul recorded a duet with his friend Zucchero on the soon to be worldwide popular “Sensa Una Donna” which along with the afore mentioned “Don’t Dream It’s Over” were featured on his best of album, “From Time To Time”.
1992 was spent touring the world, which culminated in Paul’s wonderful appearance at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert singing “Radio Gaga” and the release of what turned out to be his final album for Sony, “The Crossing” in 1993. Working with the producer Don Was on the material for “The Crossing", Paul was exploring new styles of music and the gulf between the musical past and future had begun to seem impossible to bridge. The single “Otis Blue” from this album would be the last hit single with Sony. Once freed from his contract Paul took time out to take a breath and to reflect; “Every artist wants to change, yet every record company wants them to stay the same”.
In 1993, after ten years of his solo career he reformed the Q-Tips with his old partners for a series of concerts.
Also, around this time, Paul responded to the hiatus in his career by calling up friends and suggesting they get together in an informal group, simply for fun. The result was a loosely styled Tex-Mex band, Los Pacaminos. More of this comes later.
At the end of 1994 he released a compilation of soul songs for Christmas, 'Reflections' and went on tour to promote this album, which was only released in the UK.
His wife Stacey gave birth to a second daughter, Layla, in August 94.
In 1995, Paul took part in various Festivals in Europe and a summer tour in France.
During 1994-6 Paul also prepared new material with long time collaborator, singer-songwriter Drew Barfield and songwriters in Nashville, to assemble a collection of songs for the next album. A new single called 'I Wish You Love' was released on May 5th 1997 in the UK and the album called 'Paul Young' was released on May 19th.
Two songs from this cd were covered by Country artists; “Then There’s You” by The Wilkinsons and “Tularosa” by Ray Vega.
He also became the happy father of a son called Grady-Cole in January 1996.
Early 1999 saw Paul getting together again with his friends in “Los Pacaminos”. They recorded a four track CD-ep that found it’s way into London’s only Country music station and their self-penned song “Shadows On The Rise” was played on heavy rotation for three months. Paul, Obviously, the next step was an album.
During the summer of 99’ Paul undertook a tour of smaller intimate venues across the UK. Performing new and old material with stripped down arrangements built around his voice and acoustic guitar with piano, accordion and backing vocals provided by long time musical collaborator Matt Irving.
The self-titled “Los Pacaminos” album was released in April 2002.
In 2006, with the help of producer Dieter Falk and uber-arrangers Steve Sidwell and Simon Clark Paul released a Swing Album for the German, Austrian and Swiss markets entitled “Rock swings – On the Wild Side of Swing” This is being released in the USA in early 2010.
Paul continues to write, record and play live. He is breaking new ground each year. In 2009 he toured Israel, New Zealand and Croatia for the first time, amongst the many other countries he regularly visits. These dates were in support of the “No Parlez 25th Anniversary Edition “ re-release of his first Solo Album….
Paul met his wife, former model Stacey Smith, on his video for "Come Back and Stay" in 1983. They married while they were living in Los Angeles in November 1987. Together they have three children: daughters Levi (born March 1987), Layla (born August 1994), and son Grady Cole (born January 1996). Young and Smith split in May 2006; however, in March 2009, it was announced that they had reconciled. Young is a close friend of singer and Spandau Ballet front man Tony Hadley. The two toured Australia and New Zealand during October and November 2008.
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