Lynsey de Paul

Lynsey de Paul Artistfacts

  • June 11, 1948 - October 1, 2014
  • The English singer-songwriter was born Lyndsey Monckton Rubin. She had chart hits in the UK and US in the 1970s, starting with the single "Sugar Me." She represented the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest and then had a successful career as a composer, actress and television celebrity.
  • Her UK and European hit "Won't Somebody Dance With Me" received an Ivor Novello Award, and she was the first woman to gain the award. A second Ivor Novello Award followed a year later for "No Honestly," which was also the theme tune to the TV comedy No, Honestly and provided her with another UK Top 10 hit. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Brian - Asia, for above 2
  • At the suggestion of manager Gordon Mills, she adopted the last name de Paul before recording "Sugar Me." She explained to the UK's Independent: "There had been the massacre at the Munich Olympics and I was told that it would be better not to have a Jewish name. I took De from my mother’s maiden name, De Groot, and my father’s middle name was Paul."
  • In 1976, she successfully sued notable '70s manager Don Arden (Small Faces, Black Sabbath) for withholding earnings and refusing to release her album Take Your Time.
  • She was a vegetarian who also eschewed alcohol and cigarettes.
  • She died of a brain hemorrhage at age 66.
  • She never married, but had a longtime relationship with actor James Coburn, and also dated actor Dudley Moore and musicians Roy Wood and Ringo Starr.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Gary Lewis

Gary LewisSongwriter Interviews

Gary Lewis and the Playboys had seven Top 10 hits despite competition from The Beatles. Gary talks about the hits, his famous father, and getting drafted.

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"

Jack Tempchin - "Peaceful Easy Feeling"They're Playing My Song

When a waitress wouldn't take him home, Jack wrote what would become one of the Eagles most enduring hits.

Keith Reid of Procol Harum

Keith Reid of Procol HarumSongwriter Interviews

As Procol Harum's lyricist, Keith wrote the words to "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." We delve into that song and find out how you can form a band when you don't sing or play an instrument.

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)

Richie Wise (Kiss producer, Dust)Songwriter Interviews

Richie talks about producing the first two Kiss albums, recording "Brother Louie," and the newfound appreciation of his rock band, Dust.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Don Dokken

Don DokkenSongwriter Interviews

Dokken frontman Don Dokken explains what broke up the band at the height of their success in the late '80s, and talks about the botched surgery that paralyzed his right arm.