Jermaine Paul

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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)
MBK Records (2007-Present)
Website [http://www.jermaine-paul.com

Jermaine Paul is an American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.[1]

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[edit] Early life

Jermaine was raised in New York City. When eight 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, Twisim Records. He began writing and producing songs of his own. Paul also began recording backing vocals for artists such as Marry J. Blige, Joss Stone, Blackstreet and Jaguar Wright.[1]

In 2001 Paul joined a band named Focus. 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] References

[edit] External links