| Paul Williams | |
| Birth Name: | Paul Nigel Vincent Yarlett |
| Birth Date: | 19 September 1940 |
| Birth Place: | Surbiton, Surrey |
| Origin: | England |
| Years Active: | 1963–2018 |
| Instrument: | Vocals, bass, keyboards, percussion, harmonica |
| Genre: | Rock, blues, R&B, jazz rock |
| Occupation: | Singer, musician |
| Associated Acts: | Zoot Money, John Mayall, Aynsley Dunbar, Juicy Lucy, Tempest, Allan Holdsworth, Micky Moody, Blue Thunder |
Paul Williams (born Paul Nigel Vincent Yarlett; 19 September 1940 – 1 March 2019) was an English blues and rock singer and musician.[1] [2]
During his early career he joined Zoot Money's Big Roll Band on bass and vocals, alongside the guitarist Andy Summers.[3] He then replaced John McVie in John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers, while also recording with Aynsley Dunbar and Dick Heckstall-Smith. In 1970 he joined the band Juicy Lucy as lead vocalist and recorded the album Lie Back and Enjoy It. This band included future Whitesnake guitarist Micky Moody and featured in the 1971 film Bread.[4] Williams later collaborated with Moody on the album Smokestacks, Broomdusters and Hoochie Coochie Men in 2002.
In 1973 he joined the progressive rock group Tempest, led by Jon Hiseman on drums with Mark Clarke on bass and Allan Holdsworth on guitar. After relocating to the United States, he joined Holdsworth in the group known as I.O.U. and recorded the three critically acclaimed albums I.O.U., Road Games and Metal Fatigue.
His most recent touring band had been Blue Thunder, with release in collaboration with David Hentschel in 2018 of Blue Thunder 2.
With Zoot Money
With John Mayall
With Aynsley Dunbar
With Juicy Lucy
With Dick Heckstall-Smith
With Tempest
With Allan Holdsworth