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Paul Young facts: Singer's age, wife, children, songs and career explained
12 July 2024, 20:36
Paul Young was one of the most talented singers of the 1980s thanks to his brand of pop-soul anthems and ballads.
Not only did he sing the opening line of Band Aid's 'Do They Know It's Christmas?', he has also sold millions of records around the world, and currently performs with his band Los Pacaminos.
- Paul Young almost duetted with Whitney Houston, but turned down the song on offer
- Paul Young reflects on 'last minute' George Michael duet: 'It was incredible'
From his age to his family, here are the important facts about the talented star:
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How old is Paul Young and where is he from?
Paul Young - Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)
Paul Young was born on January 17, 1956. He celebrated his 68th birthday in 2024.
He was born in Luton, Bedfordshire. He also has an older brother, Mark, and a younger sister, Joanne.
Paul's first group was Kat Kool & The Kool Kats, and then in the late 1970s he joined Streetband, who had one hit, the novelty track 'Toast'.
The band eventually morphed into The Q-Tips, who had mild success before Paul embarked on a successful solo career in 1982.
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How did he get his start music?
Paul Young reveals how he almost duetted with Whitney Houston
Paul Young began his music career in the late 1970s. He first gained experience performing with local bands around his hometown of Luton. Young initially joined a band called Kat Kool & the Kool Kats, which provided him with early exposure to performing live.
In 1978, he joined a group called Streetband, which had a minor hit with the novelty song 'Toast'. However, it wasn't until he formed the band Q-Tips in 1979 that he started to gain more significant recognition.
Q-Tips became known for their energetic live performances and soul-influenced pop sound. Despite their moderate success and critical acclaim, the band did not achieve major commercial success and eventually disbanded in 1982.
Paul Young then embarked on a solo career, which proved to be the turning point for him. His debut solo album, No Parlez, released in 1983, featured hits like 'Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)' and 'Come Back and Stay', which catapulted him to international fame.
His soulful voice and distinctive style quickly established him as a prominent figure in the music industry during the 1980s.
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Who was Paul Young's first wife?
Paul Young and Stacey Smith in 1989. Picture: Getty Paul Young met his wife, former model Stacey Smith, on the video for his song 'Come Back and Stay' in 1983.
The couple later married while they were living in Los Angeles in November 1987.
Paul and Stacey split up in May 2006, but reconciled in March 2009.
Tragically, on January 26, 2018, it was announced that Stacey had died of brain cancer, aged 52.
Speaking about her death on This Morning, Paul said: “We just made the best of it for those two years. And as a family, we agreed that we [he and his children] wanted to get working and do something positive.
Paul Young Speaks About the Death of His Wife
"That’s what she was proudest of. She was really happy for me when things started to pick up again. [We are a close family] we see each other all the time.
“When she first got ill, we all said we’d cut out sugar, because it aggravates cancer, so we did that as a show of solidarity really with Stacey.
Paul Young and Stacey Smith in 2009. Picture: Getty "Having said that, looking after her for those two years, I wasn’t looking after myself, so I’ve got back on the trail now. I’m back doing exercise. I look after my voice and I warm up. I tend to do it in the car, which must look a little strange!”
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Is Paul Young married?
In October 2023, Paul confirmed that he was engaged to partner Lorna.
The couple tied the knot in July 2024.
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Does Paul Young have any children?
Paul had three children with Stacey: daughters Levi (born March 1987), Layla (born August 1994), and son Grady Cole (born January 1996).
