Paul Gray (songwriter)
Encyclopedia
Paul Gray is an Australia
n songwriter
, pianist
, singer and record producer
. He met with early success as the lead vocalist for the 1980s funk
/pop
band
. Wa Wa Nee
.
After the dissolution of Wa Wa Nee, Gray concentrated on work as a keyboard
player, musical director, songwriter and producer. He has worked with many highly successful Australian artists
, including Tina Arena
, Kate Ceberano
and Bardot
.
Paul even appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia between late-August and early-September 2007 as a performer and musical director. He sang 2 songs: "Stimulation" and "Sugar Free".
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, singer and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He met with early success as the lead vocalist for the 1980s funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
/pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
. Wa Wa Nee
Wa Wa Nee
Wa Wa Nee was an Australian funk/pop band, active from approximately 1985 to 1989.-Career: Led by singer/songwriter Paul Gray and guitarist Steve Williams, bassist Mark Gray and drummer 'The Sween', the band signed with CBS Records in 1985. Wa Wa Nee had four singles in the Australian top 40 from...
.
After the dissolution of Wa Wa Nee, Gray concentrated on work as a keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
player, musical director, songwriter and producer. He has worked with many highly successful Australian artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, including Tina Arena
Tina Arena
Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena is an Australian singer, songwriter and musical theatre actress. She has won several awards, most notably 6 ARIA Awards and in both 1996 and 2000 she received the World Music Award for the world's best selling Australian artist...
, Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
and Bardot
Bardot
Bardot was an Australian female pop group which formed in 1999 on the Australian reality television series of Popstars. Aired in early 2000, the program was a fresh concept to audiences, attracting high ratings and much attention in the media....
.
Paul even appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia between late-August and early-September 2007 as a performer and musical director. He sang 2 songs: "Stimulation" and "Sugar Free".
Selective discography
- 1986 Wa Wa NeeWa Wa NeeWa Wa Nee was an Australian funk/pop band, active from approximately 1985 to 1989.-Career: Led by singer/songwriter Paul Gray and guitarist Steve Williams, bassist Mark Gray and drummer 'The Sween', the band signed with CBS Records in 1985. Wa Wa Nee had four singles in the Australian top 40 from...
, Wa Wa Nee - Paul Gray: vocals, keyboards, songwriting - 1989 Wa Wa NeeWa Wa NeeWa Wa Nee was an Australian funk/pop band, active from approximately 1985 to 1989.-Career: Led by singer/songwriter Paul Gray and guitarist Steve Williams, bassist Mark Gray and drummer 'The Sween', the band signed with CBS Records in 1985. Wa Wa Nee had four singles in the Australian top 40 from...
, Blush - Paul Gray: vocals, keyboards, songwriting - 1994 Kate CeberanoKate CeberanoKate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
, Kate Ceberano and Friends - Paul Gray: keyboards, producer - 2000 BardotBardotBardot was an Australian female pop group which formed in 1999 on the Australian reality television series of Popstars. Aired in early 2000, the program was a fresh concept to audiences, attracting high ratings and much attention in the media....
, BardotBardot (album)Bardot is the debut album by Australian female pop group Bardot, released in May 2000 .The album went to number one in Australia and New Zealand and spawned the singles "Poison", I Should've Never Let You Go" and "These Days" ....
- Paul Gray: programmer, producer - 2001 Scandal'usScandal'usScandal'us were the winners of the Australian Popstars 2 in 2001 . They won an ARIA Award for the No. 1 debut single "Me Myself & I". Their second and final single, "Make Me Crazy", only reached No. 30. Their debut album, Startin' Somethin, debuted and peaked at No...
, Startin' Somethin - Paul Gray: producer - 2003 Tina ArenaTina ArenaFilippina Lydia "Tina" Arena is an Australian singer, songwriter and musical theatre actress. She has won several awards, most notably 6 ARIA Awards and in both 1996 and 2000 she received the World Music Award for the world's best selling Australian artist...
, Vous Êtes Toujours LàVous Êtes Toujours LàVous êtes toujours là is a 2003 live album by Australian singer Tina Arena. It includes the studio duet with Jay, "Je te retrouve un peu" which was the only single released from the album.-Track listing:...
- Paul Gray: musical director, keyboards - 2004 Trentwood, Autotunes - Paul Gray: keyboards, backing vocals
- 2005 Anthony CalleaAnthony CalleaAnthony Cosmo Callea is an Australian singer-songwriter who rose to prominence in the 2004 season of Australian Idol when he became runner up. He was signed to Sony Music Australia until 2009 and is now an independent artist...
, "Per Sempre" - 2005 Tina ArenaTina ArenaFilippina Lydia "Tina" Arena is an Australian singer, songwriter and musical theatre actress. She has won several awards, most notably 6 ARIA Awards and in both 1996 and 2000 she received the World Music Award for the world's best selling Australian artist...
, Greatest Hits LiveGreatest Hits Live (Tina Arena album)Greatest Hits Live is a live album by Australian singer Tina Arena which was recorded during her 2004 Greatest Hits Australian tour and released in late 2005. It was Arena's first live album to be released in her native Australia because Vous Êtes Toujours Là was only released in France...
- Paul Gray: musical director, keyboards