Billy Paul

Life and career

Paul was raised in North Philadelphia. His love of music began at a young age, listening at home to his family's music collection. He recalled that his mother was always collecting records, buying everything from Jazz at Philharmonic Hall to Nat King Cole. He began singing along and tried to emulate the records he heard, favoring singers such as Nat King Cole, Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone, Johnny Mathis, Jessie Belvin, and Sam Cooke.

He wanted to sing "silky, like butter – mellow." Paul explained that he was particularly influenced by female jazz singers because of his high range; male singers with the same range did not do much for him, but female vocalists like Nina Simone, Carmen McRae, and Nancy Wilson inspired him. He called Billie Holiday a "BIG influence." He began developing a vocal style that would incorporate traces of jazz, R&B, and pop.

He started his singing career at age 11, appearing on local radio station WPEN, then owned by the Philadelphia Bulletin newspaper. He attended the West Philadelphia Music School and the Granoff School of Music for formal vocal training. He said his mother felt he needed training to hold his notes and deliver them, which gave him assurance and helped create his style. He stated, "All my life I wanted to sound like myself," and he treated his voice like a horn, which created a good style for him.

Did You Know?

• Billy Paul changed his name from Paul Williams to avoid confusion with songwriter Paul Williams and saxophonist Paul 'Hucklebuck' Williams.
• He boxed in the Army and said Miles Davis would challenge him to come to the gym, but after getting hit too hard he decided to focus on singing.
• Paul was a brief stand-in for the Blue Notes with Harold Melvin, but was fired because he didn't want to dance.
• He and Marvin Gaye were close friends—Gaye would help make sure Paul's wife's mother took her insulin when Paul was on tour.
• Paul's first single at age 16, 'Why Am I,' was backed by Tadd Dameron on piano and Jackie Davis on Hammond organ.