Frankie Paul

Paul Blake (19 October 1965 – 18 May 2017), better known as Frankie Paul, was a Jamaican dancehall reggae artist. Born blind, he has been dubbed by some ‘The Jamaican Stevie Wonder’.

Biography

Born in Jamaica in 1965, Blake was born blind but as a child had his sight partially restored by an operation on a hospital ship. He sang for, and impressed Stevie Wonder when Wonder visited the school that Blake attended, prompting him to pursue a singing career.

Adopting the stage name Frankie Paul, he first found fame in the early 1980s, and he recorded prolifically throughout the decade. He has recorded for virtually every producer/studio in Jamaica at some time, and has been known to release several albums a year.

Notable works of Frankie Paul include the popular “Sara” and “Worries in the Dance”.

Paul has resided in The Gambia since 1994. In January 2016 he underwent surgery to amputate a foot and part of his leg.

Frankie Paul died on 18 May 2017 at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica

Citation

“Frankie Paul has a voice that improves with each release and, although initially compared with Dennis Brown, he has evolved a strange nasal, throaty style that makes him sound much older. It’s the sheer exuberance of his best performances that give away his youthfulness, and his two London appearances have been joyous occasions.” – NME (4 May 1985)

 

Discography

Albums

Give The Youth A Chance (1982), Freedom Sounds – also released as Rich & Poor

Pass the Ku-Sheng Peng (1985) Nyam Up

Tidal Wave – (1985) – Greensleeves

Over the Wall (1985) Crystal

Still Alive (1985) Jammy’s

Shut Up Bway (1986) Ujama

Sara (1987) Jammy’s (JA) / Live & Love (UK/US)

Warning (1987) RAS

Alesha – (1987) [3]

Fire Deh a Mus Tail (1988) Blacka Dread

Dance Hall Duo (1988) RAS

Slow Down (1988) VP

Frankie Paul at Studio One (1988) Studio One

Veteran (1989) VP

Reaching Out (1989), Blue Mountain

Can’t Get You Out of My Mind (1990) Rohit

Detrimental (1990) Rohit

Get Closer (1990) Profile

Start of Romance (1991) Sonic Sounds

Best in Me (1991), VP

Let’s Chill (1991) VP

Jamming (1991) VP

Should I (1991) Heartbeat

Money Talk (1991) Jammy’s

Sleepless Night (1992) Sonic Sounds

Hot Number (1992) VP

Tomorrow (1992) Sonic Sounds

Cassanova (1992) Dynamic Sounds

Live & Love (1992) VP

Sizzling (1992) VP

Don Man (1993) Philo

Talk All You Want (1994) VP

Hard Work(1994) RAS

Time Less (1995) Tan-yah

If You Want Me Girl (1995) Trojan

Come Back Again (1996) VP

Freedom (1996) RAS

A We Rule (1997) RAS

Live at Maritime Hall (1999) Artists Only

Give Me That Feeling Freedom Blues (1999) Foxtail

Forever (1999) World

Rock On (1999) Charm

Every Nigger Is a Star! (2000) Greensleeves

Remember the Time (2001) Artists Only

I Be Hold (2001) T.P.

Don’t Wanna Get Funky (2001) Prestige Elite

Sara (2002) Fatman

Blessed Me (2002) Scorpio

Hardcore Loving (2003) Charm

Asking for Love (2004) Jet Star

Who Issued the Guns (2006) Music Avenue

Are You Ready (2007) Cousins

Best of Friends (2007) Charm

Tink Say Dem Know Me (2008) Jet Star

Most Wanted (2011) Greensleeves

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