Jermaine Paul
 |
This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page.
|
| Jermaine Paul | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jermaine Paul |
| Also known as | JP, Preacher |
| Origin | Upstate, New York, United States |
| Genres | R&B, soul, neo soul |
| Occupations | Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano/keyboards, synthesizer, drums, bass guitar, acoustic guitar |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | Twisim/A&M Records (1996-2000) |
| Website | http://www.jermaine-paul.com |
Jermaine Paul is an American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Jermaine Paul was raised in Spring Valley, New York. When twelve years old, he began to acquire a reputation for singing while playing the drums at local churches and talent shows with his family. Jermaine joined numerous adult choirs.[1]
At the age of 12, Jermaine and his brother (Charles Paul) moved to Alabama with his grandfather. There, he was introduced to the guitar. He played his step-grandmother's old Gibson guitar at the local church. He began listening to R&B music and imitating the voices of Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Jackie Wilson and Otis Redding. With some knowledge of the guitar, and the yearning to go back to New York, he wrote his first song.[1]
At age 14, he moved to upstate New York (Hudson Valley). There he attended high school and was introduced to pop, rock and jazz. While taking piano lessons he was selected to join the all-state, all-county chorus, and the classically-trained high school voice ensemble.[1]
[edit] Music career
At 15, Paul joined a quartet group named 1Accord signing to basketball star Shaquille O'Neal's label, Twism Records. He began writing and producing songs of his own. Paul also began recording backing vocals for artists such as Mary J. Blige, Joss Stone, Blackstreet and Jaguar Wright.[1]
In 2001 Paul joined a band named Focus but not to be confused with the Dutch Rock band of the same name. He began traveling internationally as an opening act and background vocalist to Alicia Keys. He was hand picked by Keys out of the crowd one night at a club in New York to come onstage for an impromptu performance for her. She was so impressed with his talent that she later invited him to become one of her background singers. Since then, they have had numerous collaborations.
[edit] Discography
| Year | Song | Album |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Shaquille O'Neal featuring 1Accord) | You Can't Stop The Reign |
| 1997 | "Don't Stop, Don't Quit" (1Accord) | Booty Call Soundtrack |
| 1998 | "Rivers" (Shaquille O'Neal featuring 1Accord) | Respect |
| 2003 | "Diary" (Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! and Jermaine Paul) | The Diary of Alicia Keys |
| 2005 | "Unbreakable" (Alicia Keys featuring Jermaine Paul) | Unplugged |
| 2005 | "Gold Digger" (Remix) (Kanye West featuring Focus) | Late Registration |
| 2005 | "If This World Were Mine" (Alicia Keys featuring Jermaine Paul) | So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross |
| 2008 | "The Preamble" | The Preamble |
| 2009 | "Airplane" | Single |
[edit] Awards and Nominations
- 2006: Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals - "If This World Were Mine" (with Alicia Keys) (Nomination)
- 2006: Grammy Award for Best R&B Album - "Alicia Keys Unplugged" (Backing vocalist) (Nomination)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e "Jermaine Paul Fansite & Fanlisting". Archived from the original on February 16, 2007. http://web.archive.org/web/20070216093052/http://www.jermainepaul.com/. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
[edit] External links
- African American singer-songwriters
- American child singers
- American keyboardists
- American pianists
- American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters
- American soul musicians
- American tenors
- Living people
- Neo soul singers
- Musicians from New York
- People from New York City
- Rhythm and blues pianists
- The Voice series contestants
