Biography
Songwriter, producer, and keyboardist Paul Laurence accumulated seven number one R&B singles: Freddie Jackson’s “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake),” “Jam Tonight,” “Tasty Love,” “Hey Lover,” and “Do Me Again”; Stephanie Mills’ “(You’re Putting) A Rush on Me”; and Meli’sa Morgan’s “Do Me Baby.” Additional work encompasses Evelyn King’s summer 1981 number one R&B smash “I’m in Love,” recorded after her label RCA advised dropping the nickname “Champagne,” plus her number one R&B single “Love Come Down,” “Don’t Hide Our Love,” and “Get Loose,” together with several hits by Lillo Thomas.
Laurence and Jackson first connected during the 1970s while both attended school and services at Harlem’s White Rock Baptist Church. Valerie Simpson of the songwriting duo Ashford and Simpson, another congregant, instructed Laurence on piano. He subsequently formed the Laurence Jones Ensemble, which featured Jackson, and the ensemble played New York-area venues. During the 1980s the pair joined manager Beau Higgins’ Hush Productions roster. Laurence supplied Hush artist Melba Moore with “Love’s Comin’ at Ya” (number five R&B, summer 1982), “Keepin’ My Lover Satisfied,” and “Love Me Right,” later co-writing the ballad “I’m Not Gonna Let You Go” with Ondrea Dawkins-Duverney. Jackson performed as one of Moore’s background vocalists and also sang on Laurence’s song demos.
By fall 1982 Jackson had signed with Hush Productions and begun tracking his first album. Laurence composed the swaying ballad “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” specifically for him, performed keyboards, and programmed drums; bassist Timmy Allen, guitarist Mike “Dino” Campbell, and background vocalist Reggie King also participated. Higgins secured Jackson a Capitol Records contract, the same imprint to which Melba Moore was signed. “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” quickly reached number one R&B for six weeks on Billboard’s summer 1985 chart. The accompanying platinum album Rock Me Tonight climbed to number one R&B and number ten pop that same season.
Laurence helmed a version of Prince’s “Do Me Baby” for fellow Hush and Capitol artist Meli’sa Morgan; the ballad held number one R&B for three weeks in early 1986. He co-wrote “Tasty Love” with Jackson, which occupied the top R&B slot for four weeks in late 1986. One week earlier Jackson had topped the R&B chart with a duet alongside Melba Moore, “A Little Bit More.” “Tasty Love” served as the fourth number one R&B single from Jackson’s platinum LP Just Like the First Time, which also reached number one R&B. Another track from the set, the Laurence/Jackson composition “Jam Tonight,” had earlier drawn Melba Moore’s attention during a club performance by Jackson, prompting her to hire him as a background singer; the single reached number one R&B in summer 1987 and became a steppers classic. In late 1988 Laurence produced Jackson’s eighth number one R&B hit “Hey Lover,” penned by singer Keith Washington (number one R&B hit “Missing You,” “Candlelight and You”) and Sonny Moore, appearing on the gold, number one R&B album Don’t Let Love Slip Away. Further Laurence/Jackson successes included “Do Me Again” (Laurence/Humphrey/Jones/Dash), a number one R&B single in early 1991, and “Main Course,” a number two R&B hit from spring 1991 drawn from the album Do Me Again.
Laurence produced and co-wrote with Timmy Allen the chugging “(You’re Putting) A Rush on Me” for former Broadway performer and recording artist Stephanie Mills, delivering her third number one R&B single in fall 1987. The single, backed by its instrumental version, peaked at number 85 pop and appeared on her gold album If I Were Your Woman.
Laurence scored multiple hits with Brooklyn singer and Capitol artist Lillo Thomas: “(You’re A) Good Girl,” “Your Love’s Got a Hold on Me,” “(Can’t Take Half) All of You” (a duet with Melba Moore), “Settle Down,” “Sexy Girl” (Laurence/Timmy Allen), “I’m in Love”—distinct from the Evelyn King hit—which reached number two R&B in spring 1987, and “Wanna Make Love (All Night Long).”
These accomplishments enabled Laurence to launch a solo career. Capitol released his debut album, the critically praised Haven’t You Heard, in late 1985. Its first single, “She’s Not a Sleaze,” featuring Freddie Jackson and Lillo Thomas, reached number 50 R&B late that year. Subsequent singles comprised “You Hooked Me,” “Strung Out,” “Make My Baby Happy,” and “I Ain’t Wit It.” Laurence also contributed to the soundtrack of the 1990 horror film Def by Temptation starring Kadeem Hardison of NBC-TV’s Cosby Show spin-off A Different World. Kashif and Kenny G recorded one of his compositions, “Help Yourself to My Love,” as a duet.
Additional Paul Laurence-associated projects include the motion-picture soundtrack for Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Keith Washington’s Make Time for Love, Tanya Blount’s Natural Thing, Styrenes’ All the Wrong People Are Dying, and 1999’s Silent Night, Soulful Night.
Laurence and Jackson first connected during the 1970s while both attended school and services at Harlem’s White Rock Baptist Church. Valerie Simpson of the songwriting duo Ashford and Simpson, another congregant, instructed Laurence on piano. He subsequently formed the Laurence Jones Ensemble, which featured Jackson, and the ensemble played New York-area venues. During the 1980s the pair joined manager Beau Higgins’ Hush Productions roster. Laurence supplied Hush artist Melba Moore with “Love’s Comin’ at Ya” (number five R&B, summer 1982), “Keepin’ My Lover Satisfied,” and “Love Me Right,” later co-writing the ballad “I’m Not Gonna Let You Go” with Ondrea Dawkins-Duverney. Jackson performed as one of Moore’s background vocalists and also sang on Laurence’s song demos.
By fall 1982 Jackson had signed with Hush Productions and begun tracking his first album. Laurence composed the swaying ballad “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” specifically for him, performed keyboards, and programmed drums; bassist Timmy Allen, guitarist Mike “Dino” Campbell, and background vocalist Reggie King also participated. Higgins secured Jackson a Capitol Records contract, the same imprint to which Melba Moore was signed. “Rock Me Tonight (For Old Times Sake)” quickly reached number one R&B for six weeks on Billboard’s summer 1985 chart. The accompanying platinum album Rock Me Tonight climbed to number one R&B and number ten pop that same season.
Laurence helmed a version of Prince’s “Do Me Baby” for fellow Hush and Capitol artist Meli’sa Morgan; the ballad held number one R&B for three weeks in early 1986. He co-wrote “Tasty Love” with Jackson, which occupied the top R&B slot for four weeks in late 1986. One week earlier Jackson had topped the R&B chart with a duet alongside Melba Moore, “A Little Bit More.” “Tasty Love” served as the fourth number one R&B single from Jackson’s platinum LP Just Like the First Time, which also reached number one R&B. Another track from the set, the Laurence/Jackson composition “Jam Tonight,” had earlier drawn Melba Moore’s attention during a club performance by Jackson, prompting her to hire him as a background singer; the single reached number one R&B in summer 1987 and became a steppers classic. In late 1988 Laurence produced Jackson’s eighth number one R&B hit “Hey Lover,” penned by singer Keith Washington (number one R&B hit “Missing You,” “Candlelight and You”) and Sonny Moore, appearing on the gold, number one R&B album Don’t Let Love Slip Away. Further Laurence/Jackson successes included “Do Me Again” (Laurence/Humphrey/Jones/Dash), a number one R&B single in early 1991, and “Main Course,” a number two R&B hit from spring 1991 drawn from the album Do Me Again.
Laurence produced and co-wrote with Timmy Allen the chugging “(You’re Putting) A Rush on Me” for former Broadway performer and recording artist Stephanie Mills, delivering her third number one R&B single in fall 1987. The single, backed by its instrumental version, peaked at number 85 pop and appeared on her gold album If I Were Your Woman.
Laurence scored multiple hits with Brooklyn singer and Capitol artist Lillo Thomas: “(You’re A) Good Girl,” “Your Love’s Got a Hold on Me,” “(Can’t Take Half) All of You” (a duet with Melba Moore), “Settle Down,” “Sexy Girl” (Laurence/Timmy Allen), “I’m in Love”—distinct from the Evelyn King hit—which reached number two R&B in spring 1987, and “Wanna Make Love (All Night Long).”
These accomplishments enabled Laurence to launch a solo career. Capitol released his debut album, the critically praised Haven’t You Heard, in late 1985. Its first single, “She’s Not a Sleaze,” featuring Freddie Jackson and Lillo Thomas, reached number 50 R&B late that year. Subsequent singles comprised “You Hooked Me,” “Strung Out,” “Make My Baby Happy,” and “I Ain’t Wit It.” Laurence also contributed to the soundtrack of the 1990 horror film Def by Temptation starring Kadeem Hardison of NBC-TV’s Cosby Show spin-off A Different World. Kashif and Kenny G recorded one of his compositions, “Help Yourself to My Love,” as a duet.
Additional Paul Laurence-associated projects include the motion-picture soundtrack for Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Keith Washington’s Make Time for Love, Tanya Blount’s Natural Thing, Styrenes’ All the Wrong People Are Dying, and 1999’s Silent Night, Soulful Night.
Albums
