Paul David Wilson (born August 30, 1952) – Stand Up! (1981)

The unsung songwriter wrote, arranged, and performed this socially conscious anthem, which was never officially released.

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The unsung songwriter, arranger, and producer Paul David Wilson may be best known for “Breaking And Entering,” the #1 disco hit he and Jerry Butler co-produced for Dee Dee Sharp in 1981.

Born in Chicago, both his parents were choir directors and his mother was a pianist and child prodigy who herself raised a child prodigy. Wilson wrote his first songs while still in pre-school, and by elementary school was musically notating his compositions. When he was 12 he began putting together vocal groups to perform his songs, and started playing the flute at 13.

After studying music at DePaul University, in 1975 Wilson was introduced to influential UK Northern Soul DJ Ian Levine. They worked together writing and producing several disco records for artists including Evelyn Thomas, Carol Woods, and Eastbound Expressway, for whom they created superb instrumental jams like “Cloudburst” (1978).

Wilson next collaborated with Chicago soul great Jerry Butler, aka The Ice Man, one of the founding members and original lead singer of The Impressions. He wrote and produced tracks for three of Butler’s albums, all released in 1977: Suite For The Single Girl, It All Comes Out In My Song, and Thelma (Houston) & Jerry. Three years later in 1980, Wilson and Butler co-produced Dee Dee Sharp’s solo album Dee Dee, which featured the club hit “Breaking And Entering,” arranged by Wilson. It went to #1 and spent a month atop the disco charts. Another of its highlights was the hot dancefloor anthem “Let’s Get This Party Started,” which Wilson wrote, arranged, and co-produced with Butler and Homer Talbert.

For Norman Connors’ 1979 LP Invitation, Wilson wrote and arranged the beautiful title track, featuring Miss Adaritha on lead vocals. He also arranged and conducted the album’s superb funky jam “Together.”

In 1981, Wilson wrote and arranged the unreleased, socially conscious anthem “Stand Up!” His demo featured himself on lead and background vocals, and deserved to have been put on vinyl for the world to discover and enjoy.

#soul #funk #disco #PaulDavidWilson