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Clarence Otto Pauling (March 19, 1928 – May 6, 1995)[1] better known and published as Clarence Paul, was an American songwriter, record producer and singer who was best known for his career with Detroit's Motown Records.
Clarence Paul | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Clarence Otto Pauling |
| Also known as | CP |
| Born | March 19, 1928 Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States |
| Died | May 6, 1995 (aged 67) Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Occupation(s) | Songwriter, record producer |
| Labels | Motown |
Early life and career edit
Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, Paul was the son of Lowman Pauling and Arsula Price.[1] His brother was guitarist/songwriter Lowman Pauling Jr.[1] The two brothers co-founded The "5" Royales singing group.[2] Their father was a coal miner in Bluefield, West Virginia, where the brothers listened to country music on the town's only radio station. In Winston-Salem, the brothers formed the gospel group, the Royal Sons Quintet, later to become The "5" Royales. Paul dropped the "ing" from his last name after moving to Detroit in the 1950s, so he would not to be confused with his older brother.
Writing and production career edit
In 1958, he had one of his first major songwriting credits. He co-wrote and recorded "I Need Your Lovin'" for the Hanover label.[3] It was covered less than a year later, in 1959, and became a number-14 R&B hit for Roy Hamilton. His other notable songs included "A Place in the Sun", "Hey, Love", and "Until You Come Back to Me".[4]
At Motown, he gained fame as Stevie Wonder's mentor and main producer, during Wonder's teenage years.[5] He co-wrote Wonder's first hit song, "Fingertips" (1963).[5] He also sang backup vocals on Wonder's top-ten version of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind", and Wonder's version of "Funny How Time Slips Away". Paul also produced early Temptations records and wrote/co-wrote such hits as "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" originally for Wonder, and later given to Aretha Franklin who made it a #1 hit, and "Hitch Hike" for Marvin Gaye, later covered by The Rolling Stones, and others. Paul relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles in the early 1970s.
Later life edit
Paul retired to Las Vegas, Nevada. He died of complications of heart disease and diabetes, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California on May 6, 1995, at the age of 67.[5]
Selected discography edit
Singles edit
| Year | Title | Artist | Chart | Writers | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | "I Need Your Lovin'" | Roy Hamilton | US#62 | Clarence Paul, Sonny Woods, Kenny Martin | Joe Sherman |
| 1962 | "Hitch Hike" | Marvin Gaye | US#30 | Clarence Paul, Mickey Stevenson, Marvin Gaye | Mickey Stevenson |
| 1962 | "I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues" | Little Stevie Wonder | US#101 | Berry Gordy Jr., Clarence Paul | Clarence Paul |
| 1963 | "Fingertips" | Little Stevie Wonder | US#1 | Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby | Berry Gordy Jr. |
| 1964 | "Once Upon a Time" c/w "What's the Matter with You Baby" | Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells | US#19 | Paul, Stevenson, Barney Ales, Dave Hamilton | Mickey Stevenson |
| 1965 | "Pretty Little Baby" | Marvin Gaye | US#25 | Paul, Gaye, David Hamilton | Clarence Paul |
| 1965 | "You've Been in Love Too Long" | Martha Reeves & The Vandellas | US#36 | Paul, Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter | Paul, Stevenson, Hunter |
| 1965 | "Danger! Heartbreak Dead Ahead" | The Marvelettes | US#61 | Paul, Stevenson, Hunter | Paul, Hunter |
| 1966 | "Just a Little Misunderstanding" | The Contours | US#85 | Paul, Wonder, Morris Broadnax | Paul, Stevenson |
| 1966 | "Blowin' in the Wind" | Stevie Wonder | US#9, UK#36 | Bob Dylan | Clarence Paul |
| 1973 | "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" | Aretha Franklin | US#3 | Paul, Wonder, Broadnax | Aretha Franklin, Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler |
Albums edit
| Year | Title | Artist | Chart | Producers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie | Stevie Wonder | - | Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby |
| 1962 | Tribute to Uncle Ray | Stevie Wonder | - | Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby |
| 1965 | With a Song in My Heart | Stevie Wonder | - | Clarence Paul, Mickey Stevenson |
| 1966 | Up-Tight | Stevie Wonder | US#33, UK#14 | Paul, Cosby, Stevenson, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier |
| 1966 | Down to Earth | Stevie Wonder | US#92 | Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby |
| 1967 | Reach Out | The Four Tops | US#11, UK#4 | Paul, Holland, Dozier, Smokey Robinson |
| 1967 | I Was Made to Love Her | Stevie Wonder | US#45 | Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby |
References edit
- ^ a b c Bob L. Eagle, Eric S. LeBlanc (2013). "Clarence Paul". Blues: A Regional Experience. ABC-Clio. pp. 282–283. ISBN 9780313344244.
- ^ Profile of Clarence Paul, Discogs. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
- ^ Bill Dahl (2011). Motown: The Golden Years: More Than 100 Rare Photographs. Penguin Publishing Group. ISBN 9781440225574.
- ^ "Obituaries: Clarence Paul; Motown Record Producer, Songwriter". Los Angeles Times. May 10, 1995. p. EVB13.
- ^ a b c Carolyn Bingham (May 18, 1995). "ENTERTAINMENT TIDBITS; Motown Veteran Passes". Los Angeles Sentinel. p. B5.