There’s more sad news from the States with soul great Billy Paul dying yesterday. He was 81.
“We regret to announce with a heavy heart that Billy has passed away today at home after a serious medical condition,” reads the official communiqué. “We would like to extend our most sincere condolences to his wife Blanche and family for their loss, as they and the world grieves the loss of another musical icon that helped pioneer today’s R&B music. Billy will be truly missed.
“Please share you thought, messages and stories of Billy as we remember this legendary artist, family member and friend...”
Part of the Philly soul explosion, he scored a massive worldwide hit with ‘Me & Mrs. Jones’ and was described by Stevie Wonder as “one of the criminally unmentioned proprietors of socially conscious post-revolution '60s civil rights music."