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Lyn Paul (born Lynda Susan Belcher, 16 February 1949, Wythenshawe, Manchester, England) is an English pop singer. She changed her name to Lyn Paul before joining the international pop group The New Seekers in 1970. She has now found most recognition and critical acclaim as the lead role Mrs Johnstone, in the long running West End musical, Blood Brothers.^[1]

Early years

Paul began her career in show business as a child actress with a small part in the television drama Coronation Street in 1960 which led her to be in the first ever episode^[2]. In the early 1960s she changed her name to Tanzy Paul^[3] and began a solo career as a pop singer. She went on to lead her own teenage girl band the Crys-Do-Lyns, touring all over the continent in the 1960s, before joining the Manchester group the Nocturnes along with Eve Graham, who subsequently left to join the New Seekers.^[4]

The New Seekers

When Sally Graham left The New Seekers, Eve Graham recommended Paul as a replacement. Eve Graham sang lead on most of their earlier hits, but Paul was gradually entrusted with a lot of the lead parts. She was the featured vocalist on their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry, "Beg, Steal or Borrow".^[5] She was also lead vocalist on the 1974 No.1 hit "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" and the No.5 single, "I Get A Little Sentimental Over You". Among the group's other works, they recorded the song "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing", adapted from an advertising jingle for Coca-Cola, which still remains one of the 100 best-selling singles in the UK. They had many other hits and performanced at the London Palladium and Royal Albert Hall. The band were also invited to perform at President Richard Nixon's inauguration ball.^[6]

Solo career

In 1974, after she left the group, Paul performed as a solo artist for many years and became a television personality, appearing on many television programmes including: Emergency Ward 10, Skyport, Give Us a Clue, Celebrity Squares, as well as countless variety programmes. Her first solo single was the Golden Globe nominated "Sail the Summer Winds", a John Barry and Don Black composition, which was the theme to the first film produced by Gregory Peck, 1974's The Dove.^[7] She had a UK Top 40 hit in 1975 with "It Oughta Sell a Million".

During her solo career, she has worked with Andy Williams, Jack Jones, Dionne Warwick and Liza Minnelli, and has won various accolades including the Carl-Alan Award several times. Her other Polydor singles include "Who's Sorry Now", "Love", "Here Comes That Wonderful Feeling" and "Mama Don't Wait for Me". She also released her first solo album Give Me Love in 1975. In 1977, Paul sang "If Everybody Loved the Same as You" in the Song for Europe UK selection, coming fourth. She went on to record "I Don't Believe You Ever Loved Me", a cover of the Doobie Brothers' "Echoes of Love" and a 1980s power-ballad "Make the Night". She released a single "Hold Me" with her brother Paul (whose name she took as her stage name) in 1984. She also headlined at many cabaret clubs including: The Cockney Cabaret, the Talk of London, and the Café Royal.

In 2006, she released a new album titled Late Night. It contains her versions of some of her favourite songs, including "Crying", "I Only Have Eyes for You", "Dance With My Father" and "Late Night Grande Hotel". In addition, it also contains two new tracks written for her, "Dance With Desire" and "Clouds".^[8]

In 2009 Paul toured in a show called 'The Sound of The New Seekers', in Japan, Australia, Netherlands, Germany and Spain. ^{[9] [10]}

Musical theatre and acting

Paul found success, when she starred in the musical Blood Brothers, in the matriarchal lead role of Mrs. Johnstone. It was a part she debuted in 1997, and played regularly in the West End and occasionally on the National Tour, up to and including 2010.^[11]Paul has received such personal and critical success in the show and in 2008 was voted the "undisputed Mrs J. of all time" by a Blood Brothers fansite.^[12]

Paul starred in the stage production of the Boy George musical Taboo, playing Josie James, a part specifically written for her ^[13] in which she performed two of the show's numbers "Talk Amongst Yourselves" and "Independent Woman".

Paul joined the cast of Footloose - the Musical! in the West End 2007 National Tour company in the role of Vi Moore. After the six-month tour, the cast re-opened the show at the Playhouse Theatre, London on 17 August 2007.^[14]

In 2003, Paul performed in a new workshop musical called The Biz!, playing the part of Amanda Power, a theatrical diva. The following year she performed in another new workshop musical written by Yusaf Islam, entitled Moonshadow. Paul has also played many principal roles in traditional pantomimes, her most recent being the title role in Dick Whittington and His Cat in the Theatre Royal Windsor's annual production performed during the 2001 Christmas season.

Paul has also turned to television acting, appearing in ITV's Emmerdale. She has also appeared in episodes of Doctors and In Deep on BBC TV. She was seen on British TV screens in December 2006 in the BBC's Holby City.^[15] As well as these acting roles, most recently she has appeared on Songs of Praise as a performer and The Weakest Link as a contestant.

Personal life

During the 1970s Paul dated pop star Rod Stewart.^[16] In 1980 Paul had a short lived marriage to notorious Liverpool night club owner Vincent McCaffrey.^[17]

She is now married to Alan Young, with whom she has a son, Ryan. Between 2006 and February 2007 they ran a pub, The Beehive, in Englefield Green, Surrey.

Paul's sister is the West End actress and choreographer Nikki Belsher^[18], with whom she performed alongside in Footloose - the Musical!.^[19]

Theatre and filmography (2000-present)

References

1. ^ http://www.willyrussell.com/blood_stars.html
2. ^ http://www.citylife.co.uk/theatre_dance/news/14724_interview__lyn_paul
3. ^ http://www.lynpaulwebsite.org/Then-1966.htm
4. ^ http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/126455-is-lyn-paul-seeking-a-reunion/
5. ^ http://www.esc-history.com/details.asp?key=289
6. ^ http://www.thenewseekers.com/new_seekers_web_site_019.htm
7. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071438/awards
8. ^ http://www.play.com/Music/CD/4-/3062312/Late-Night/Product.html
9. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1182829/How-New-Seekers-wanted-teach-world-sing-fell-perfect-disharmony.html
10. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1177733/Perfect-disharmony-The-ex-New-Seekers-fallen-plans-40th-anniversary-tour.html
11. ^ http://www.whatsonstage.com/features/theatre/northwest/E8831254640921/Lyn+Paul+On....Blood+Brothers.html
12. ^ http://www.lowestoftjournal.co.uk/content/lowestoftjournal/news/story.aspx?brand=LOWOnline&category=NEWS&tBrand=lowonline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED30%20Oct%202009%2009%3A31%3A27%3A970
13. ^ http://www.birminghammail.net/what-is-on-in-birmingham/rock-and-pop/2006/10/06/lyn-s-thrown-in-at-the-deep-end-97319-17883142/
14. ^ http://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/features/biginterview/1403793.Lyn_s_Footloose_in_starring_role/
15. ^ http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/scottish/scottish_listings/scottish_music/523394/Lyn-Paul-reveals-all-about-music-theatre-loveand-the-soaps.html
16. ^ http://www.lynpaulwebsite.org/Then-2006.htm
17. ^ http://www.lynpaulwebsite.org/InPrint80s.htm#anchorSun800405
18. ^ http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/whoswho/biography/18053
19. ^ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1200554/bio

External links

• Lyn Paul
• Footloose the Musical
• Willy Russell's Blood Brothers
• Bill Kenwright Blood Brothers