Jeff Paris

An American singer and guitarist launched his professional path inside the jazz-rock outfit Pieces. Brief stints with several like-minded groups followed, during which he earned respect as a skilled backing vocalist and capable songwriter. Cinderella, Y&T, Vixen, and Lita Ford all employed him in that role, and the exposure brought a solo contract from PolyGram Records in 1986. His debut album, Race To Paradise, arrived the same year and offered a sleek, tuneful batch of AOR anthems styled after Michael Bolton and Eric Martin. Paris shifted toward a tougher sound on Wired Up. The record typified mainstream North American rock and prompted comparisons to Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams. Commercial returns for both projects proved disappointing, leading PolyGram to drop him in 1988.