Biography
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Born
19 October 1965
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Born In
Kingston, Jamaica
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Died
19 May 2017 (aged 51)
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'.
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 and 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 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)
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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