Clarence Paul

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 nameClarence Otto Pauling
Also known asCP
Born(1928-03-19)March 19, 1928
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
DiedMay 6, 1995(1995-05-06) (aged 67)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation(s)Songwriter, record producer
LabelsMotown
Associated actsStevie Wonder
The "5" Royales
The Royal Sons Quintet

Early life and career

He was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States,[1] and was the brother of guitarist/songwriter, Lowman Pauling Jr. 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. Lowman Pauling Jr. wrote the hit song "Dedicated to the One I Love".

Writing and production career

In 1958, he had one of his first major songwriting credits. He co-wrote and recorded "I Need Your Lovin'" for the Hanover label. It was covered less than a year later, in 1959, and became a #14 R&B hit for Roy Hamilton.

At Motown, he gained fame as Stevie Wonder's mentor and main producer, during Wonder's teenage years. 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

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 age 67.[1]

Selective Discography

Singles
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
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
  1. Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed November 21, 2011
  2. Profile of Clarence Paul; Discogs. Retrieved 2017-09-07.
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