Paul King (musician)
Encyclopedia
Paul Malcolm King was a member of Mungo Jerry
between 1970 and 1972. He contributed occasional lead vocals, and played acoustic guitar
(6 and 12 string), banjo
, harmonica
, kazoo
and jug
. His song
s on the first Mungo Jerry album
and on the early maxi-singles were generally more folksy and lighter in style than those of group leader Ray Dorset
, and he was frustrated when his own songs were constantly rejected for subsequent albums.
On the second album, Electronically Tested
, his composition "Black Bubonic Plague" appeared on Europe
an copies only, but not on the British
release. King recorded
a solo
album, Been in the Pen Too Long in 1972, and left Mungo Jerry shortly afterwards.
He and the group’s keyboard
player Colin Earl (born 6 May 1942, Hampton
) formed the King Earl Boogie Band with guitarist
Dave Lambert, bassist
Russell John Brown and washboard
player Joe Rush
, who had been a part-time Mungo member. Their album Trouble at Mill was well reviewed, but a single "Plastic Jesus" was banned by the BBC
on grounds of blasphemy
. The group disbanded a few months later, and Lambert later joined Strawbs.
King then pursued a solo career, releasing occasional records under the names P. Rufus King and D’Jurann D’Jurann (no connection with the British group Duran Duran
), as well as under his usual name.
King and Earl later formed Skeleton Krew, though in the 1990s they reverted to the name of King Earl Boogie Band. King retired to Cornwall
in 1996, though since then he has occasionally joined his colleagues and former members for one-off gigs
, sometimes under the name Skeleton Krew or Skeleton Crew.
Mungo Jerry
Mungo Jerry is an English rock group whose greatest success was in the early 1970s, though they have continued throughout the years with an ever-changing line-up, always fronted by Ray Dorset. They are remembered above all for their hit "In the Summertime". It remains their most successful and most...
between 1970 and 1972. He contributed occasional lead vocals, and played acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
(6 and 12 string), banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
, kazoo
Kazoo
The kazoo is a wind instrument which adds a "buzzing" timbral quality to a player's voice when the player vocalizes into it. The kazoo is a type of mirliton, which is a membranophone, a device which modifies the sound of a person's voice by way of a vibrating membrane."Kazoo" was the name given by...
and jug
Jug (musical instrument)
The jug as a musical instrument reached its height of popularity in the 1920s, when jug bands, such as Cannon's Jug Stompers were popular. The jug is just that: an empty jug played with the mouth...
. His song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
s on the first Mungo Jerry album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
and on the early maxi-singles were generally more folksy and lighter in style than those of group leader Ray Dorset
Ray Dorset
Ray Dorset is an English guitarist, singer, songwriter, and founder of Mungo Jerry...
, and he was frustrated when his own songs were constantly rejected for subsequent albums.
On the second album, Electronically Tested
Electronically Tested
Electronically Tested is the second album by Mungo Jerry. The UK release was on Dawn Records, and it appeared with slightly different track listings in other countries, as many territories outside the UK had already added the group’s first hit "In The Summertime" to the running order on the...
, his composition "Black Bubonic Plague" appeared on Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an copies only, but not on the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
release. King recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
a solo
Solo (music)
In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...
album, Been in the Pen Too Long in 1972, and left Mungo Jerry shortly afterwards.
He and the group’s 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 Colin Earl (born 6 May 1942, Hampton
Hampton
-In Australia:*Hampton, Queensland*Hampton, Victoria*Hampton East, Victoria*Hampton Island*Hampton Park, Victoria-In Canada:*Hampton, New Brunswick*Hampton, Nova Scotia*Hampton, Ontario*Hampton, Prince Edward Island-In the United Kingdom:...
) formed the King Earl Boogie Band with guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Dave Lambert, bassist
Bassist
A bass player, or bassist is a musician who plays a bass instrument such as a double bass, bass guitar, keyboard bass or a low brass instrument such as a tuba or sousaphone. Different musical genres tend to be associated with one or more of these instruments...
Russell John Brown and washboard
Washboard
A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing. With mechanized cleaning of clothing becoming more common by the end of the 20th century, the washboard has become better known for its originally subsidiary use as a musical instrument....
player Joe Rush
Joe Rush
Joe Rush influenced by the film 'Mad Max' and 'Judge Dredd' comics, was the co-originator of the travelling multi media art group Eat my face, an underground art collective who specialised in building large scale installations out of waste material...
, who had been a part-time Mungo member. Their album Trouble at Mill was well reviewed, but a single "Plastic Jesus" was banned by the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
on grounds of blasphemy
Blasphemy
Blasphemy is irreverence towards religious or holy persons or things. Some countries have laws to punish blasphemy, while others have laws to give recourse to those who are offended by blasphemy...
. The group disbanded a few months later, and Lambert later joined Strawbs.
King then pursued a solo career, releasing occasional records under the names P. Rufus King and D’Jurann D’Jurann (no connection with the British group Duran Duran
Duran Duran
Duran Duran are an English band, formed in Birmingham in 1978. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and a leading band in the MTV-driven "Second British Invasion" of the United States...
), as well as under his usual name.
King and Earl later formed Skeleton Krew, though in the 1990s they reverted to the name of King Earl Boogie Band. King retired to Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
in 1996, though since then he has occasionally joined his colleagues and former members for one-off gigs
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
, sometimes under the name Skeleton Krew or Skeleton Crew.