Clarence Paul

Clarence Otto Pauling (March 19, 1928 – May 6, 1995), better known and published as Clarence Paul, was an American songwriter and record producer who was best known for his career with Detroit's Motown Records.

Early life and career Born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on March 19, 1928, Paul was the son of Lowman Pauling and Arsula Price. Their father was a coal miner in Bluefield, West Virginia, where the brothers listened to country music on the town's only radio station. In Winston-Salem, the brothers formed the gospel group the Royal Sons Quintet, later to become The "5" Royales. Paul dropped the "ing" from his last name after moving to Detroit in the 1950s to avoid being confused with his older brother.

Career In 1958, Paul had one of his first major songwriting credits. He co-wrote and recorded "I Need Your Lovin for the Hanover label. It was covered less than a year later, in 1959, and became a number-14 R&B hit for Roy Hamilton. His other notable songs included "A Place in the Sun", "Hey, Love", and "Until You Come Back to Me".

At Motown, he gained fame as Stevie Wonder's mentor and main producer, during Wonder's teenage years. He also sang backup vocals on Wonder's top-ten version of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind", and Wonder's version of "Funny How Time Slips Away". Paul also produced early Temptations records and wrote/co-wrote such hits as "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" originally for Wonder, and later given to Aretha Franklin who made it a No. 1 hit, and "Hitch Hike" for Marvin Gaye, later covered by The Rolling Stones, and others. Paul relocated from Detroit to Los Angeles in the early 1970s.

Later life Paul retired to Las Vegas, Nevada. He died of complications of heart disease and diabetes, at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California on May 6, 1995, at the age of 67.

Selected discography Singles Year Title Artist Chart Writers Producers 1959 "I Need Your Lovin'" Roy Hamilton US No. 62 Clarence Paul, Sonny Woods, Kenny Martin Joe Sherman 1962 "Hitch Hike" Marvin Gaye US No. 30 Clarence Paul, Mickey Stevenson, Marvin Gaye Mickey Stevenson 1962 "I Call It Pretty Music, But the Old People Call It the Blues" Little Stevie Wonder US No. 101 Berry Gordy Jr., Clarence Paul Clarence Paul 1963 "Fingertips" Little Stevie Wonder US No. 1 Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby Berry Gordy Jr. 1964 "Once Upon a Time" c/w "What's the Matter with You Baby" Marvin Gaye and Mary Wells US No. 19 Paul, Stevenson, Barney Ales, Dave Hamilton Mickey Stevenson 1965 "Pretty Little Baby" Marvin Gaye US No. 25 Paul, Gaye, David Hamilton Clarence Paul 1965 "You've Been in Love Too Long" Martha Reeves & The Vandellas US No. 36 Paul, Stevenson, Ivy Jo Hunter Paul, Stevenson, Hunter 1965 "Danger! Heartbreak Dead Ahead" The Marvelettes US No. 61 Paul, Stevenson, Hunter Paul, Hunter 1966 "Just a Little Misunderstanding" The Contours US No. 85 Paul, Wonder, Morris Broadnax Paul, Stevenson 1966 "Blowin' in the Wind" Stevie Wonder US No. 9, UK No. 36 Bob Dylan Clarence Paul 1973 "Until You Come Back to Me (That's What I'm Gonna Do)" Aretha Franklin US No. 3 Paul, Wonder, Broadnax Aretha Franklin, Arif Mardin, Jerry Wexler

Albums Year Title Artist Chart Producers 1962 The Jazz Soul of Little Stevie Stevie Wonder - Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby 1962 Tribute to Uncle Ray Stevie Wonder - Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby 1965 With a Song in My Heart Stevie Wonder - Clarence Paul, Mickey Stevenson 1966 Up-Tight Stevie Wonder US No. 33, UK No. 14 Paul, Cosby, Stevenson,Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier 1966 Down to Earth Stevie Wonder US No. 92 Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby 1967 Reach Out The Four Tops US No. 11, UK No. 4 Paul, Holland, Dozier, Smokey Robinson 1967 I Was Made to Love Her Stevie Wonder US No. 45 Clarence Paul, Hank Cosby