NEWS RELEASE

FOR RELEASE:                               CONTACT:  Betsy Donnelly

Date                                                    Phone: 913.236.7757

August 9, 2005                                 Email:  Betsy@KansasCityMusic.com

BILLY PAUL ADDED TO 2005 KC MUSIC BLUES AND JAZZ FESTIVAL

Singer Hit it Big with “Me and Mrs. Jones” in 1970’s;

Fan Base Remains Strong Today

KANSAS CITY, KS. – Famed Jazz Artist and Grammy Winning Singer Billy Paul has signed on as one of the headline acts at the 2005 Kansas City Music Blues and Jazz Festival, show   organizers announced.  The concert, which will be held at the Woodlands Horse Track in Kansas City, Kan., is scheduled for Labor Day weekend, Sept. 3-4.

An amazing soul man from the 1970's, Paul fans insist he gave birth to disco, with his first hit, “Your Song.”  He quickly followed up with the classic, "Me and Mrs. Jones.”

“Billy Paul has huge international name recognition,” says Mark Valentine, an area musician and festival organizer.  “It is an honor to have him in the Kansas City show.”

Born Paul Williams in Philadelphia, Paul began his singing career at the age of eleven, thanks to a neighborhood friend by the name of Bill Cosby.  It was Cosby who helped Paul land his first local singing gig, which eventually led to a string of other local appearances. It was then he discovered that he had to change his name to avoid confusion with another Paul Williams, who was then singing lead with the Temptations.

Listening at home to his family's record collection, Paul began to develop a vocal style that would eventually incorporate traces of jazz, R&B, and pop.    Paul later sought to increase his technical skills and attended Temple University Music School and Granoff Music School in Philadelphia.

As Billy Paul, he soon became an underground phenomenon in Philadelphia. Switching from rock to pop to soul ballads, he began getting national recognition and turned up in concert with Dinah Washington, Nina Simone, Miles Davis, the Impressions, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Roberta Flack.

Billy formed a trio and cut his first record, "Why Am I," for Jubilee Records, before being drafted into the armed services. After his release came a quick stop with the Flamingoes and a brief stand-in for one of the Blue Notes with Harold Melvin.

By the time Paul released his fourth album, he was considered "an all-round entertainer." The album, 360 Degrees of Billy Paul, included the tune “Me and Mrs. Jones,” a soul ballad about the touchy theme of adultery.

Not everyone approved of the song.  In fact, a number of stations refused to play the record because it discussed an "immoral" theme without condemning it. Regardless, "Me and Mrs. Jones" became one of the largest-selling singles of the year, with sales topping four and a half million copies.

Paul went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Male Rhythm and Blues Performance  for "Me and Mrs. Jones.”  Later, it was voted Song of the Year at the Second Annual Soul and Blues Night in Los Angeles.

"Me and Mrs. Jones" peaked on the charts in December 1972, yet remained a strong seller for another two months. Then, in April, the next Billy Paul single was released, and it nearly killed his career. Radio program directors recoiled, fearing community reaction to the mere title alone. For that reason, "Am I Black Enough for You?" received almost no air play and faded in five weeks. It took until the spring of 1974 for Billy to score another Top 40 hit, and even then, only barely. Its ironic title: "Thanks for Saving My Life."

Nowadays, Paul focuses on various tour engagements and is expected to be a favorite at the Kansas City Music and Blues Festival. 

Paul is just one of dozens of acts lined up for the festival. The show will also feature such popular national and local artists as Joanna Connor, John Lee Hooker, Jr., Chubby Carrier, Bobby Watson, Sons of Brasil, Big Woody Blues Review, Haji Ahkba, Millage Gilbert, KARMA, Old School Knights, Camp Harlow, Cotton Candy and Boulevard Big Band - and more to come.

Tickets are only $17.50 per day; children under 12 are free with a paid adult. The Woodlands offers concert-goers a covered grandstand, free parking and patrolled parking lots.

Show sponsors include Major Cadillac, Tommy Guns Vodka, 75th Street Brewery, Barley's, O'Dowd's Little Dublin, the Blue Moose Bar & Grill, Jerry Bait Shop, Jazz Louisiana Kitchen, Jostins,  EKC Online, BNSF Railway, RawhideDirect.com, and Big Dude's Music City. Media sponsors include Magic 107.3, Hot 103 Jamz,  and all the Kansas Cumulus radio stations.

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About The Kansas City Music Blues and Jazz Festival

For more information and up-to-date additions to the show, visit the Kansas City Music Blues and Jazz Festival website at www.kansascitymusic.com.

Message to the Press: To schedule an interview, please call Betsy Donnelly at 913.236.7757 or contact by email at betsy@kansascitymusic.com

Website: http://www.kansascitymusic.com/festival

Copyright 2005 : Kansas City Music Blues and Jazz Festival