Jeremiah Jermaine Paul (born July 26, 1979) is an American R&B singer-songwriter. He is best known for his backing vocals on Alicia Keys' singles "Diary", "Unbreakable", and her cover of Marvin Gaye's "If This World Were Mine". The former of which received a nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. Paul was initially a member of the short-lived R&B group 1 Accord, who signed with Shaquille O'Neal's T.W.Is.M. Records in 1994.[1]

Jermaine Paul
Paul performing with Alicia Keys in foreground; 2006
Paul performing with Alicia Keys in foreground; 2006
Background information
Birth nameJeremiah Jermaine Paul
Born (1979-07-26) July 26, 1979 (age 45)
Harriman, New York, U.S.
GenresR&B, gospel
OccupationSinger-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar
Years active1996–present
Labels
Formerly of
  • 1Accord
Websitewww.jermainepaul.com

In 2012, Paul won season 2 of American reality competition series The Voice. That same year, his cover of R. Kelly's "I Believe I Can Fly" peaked at number 83 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2]

Early life

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Jeremiah Jermaine Paul was born on July 26, 1979, in Harriman, New York, and was raised in Spring Valley, New York, the fifth of 10 children.[3] His father encouraged his involvement in music by "turning their living room into a musical performance area". "It was loaded with instruments—piano, drums and guitars—and some of the kids, including Jermaine, formed a group to perform gospel songs in local churches."[3] By the time he was 12 years old, he began to acquire a reputation for singing at local churches and talent shows with his family. Jermaine joined numerous adult choirs.[4][better source needed]

At the age of two, Jermaine and his brother moved to Alabama with their grandfather. There, he was introduced to the guitar. He played his step-grandmother's old Gibson guitar at the local church. With some knowledge of the guitar, and the yearning to go back to New York, he wrote his first song.[4]

At the age of 14, he moved back to his birthplace in up-state New York to Harriman (Hudson Valley). There he attended Monroe-Woodbury High School and was introduced to rock and jazz. While taking guitar lessons he was selected to join the all-state, all-county chorus, and the classically trained high school voice ensemble.[4]

Music career

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At 15, Paul joined a quartet group named 1 Accord and signed to basketball star Shaquille O'Neal's label, T.W.Is.M Records. He began writing and producing songs of his own. Paul auditioned for the first season of American Idol but did not receive any callbacks from the producers.[4] He began recording backing vocals for artists such as Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Joss Stone, Blackstreet and Jaguar Wright.[4] He had a Grammy nomination at the 48th Grammy Awards in the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals category ("If This World Were Mine")[5] by Alicia Keys featuring Jermaine Paul. The track was from the J Records album So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross.[6]

The Voice (2012)

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In 2012, he auditioned for the 2nd season of The Voice singing "Complicated" from Avril Lavigne. Two of the four coaches turned their chairs (Blake Shelton and CeeLo Green), with Paul opting to be on Team Blake. He was the eventual winner of the second season.

Performances on The Voice
Show Song Original Artist Order Result
Blind Audition "Complicated" Avril Lavigne 2.14 CeeLo Green and Blake Shelton turned
Paul joined Blake Shelton's Team
Battles (Top 48) "Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car" (vs. ALyX) Billy Ocean 8.4 Saved by Blake Shelton
Live Show "Livin' on a Prayer" Bon Jovi 10.1 Saved (Public Vote)
Quarter-Finals (First Week) "Against All Odds" Phil Collins 12.7
Semi-Finals "Open Arms" Journey 18.5 Safe (123 Points)
Live Finale (Final 4) "I Believe I Can Fly" R. Kelly 20.1 Winner
"God Gave Me You" Dave Barnes 20.8
"Soul Man" (w/ Blake Shelton) Sam and Dave 20.10

After The Voice

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His winning song, a cover of "I Believe I Can Fly" made it up to #83 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The follow-up, "Soul Man", with his coach Blake Shelton did not break the Hot 100, reaching just #108.[citation needed]

His single "I Believe in This Life" reportedly taken from his forthcoming album premiered on The Voice on November 8, 2012.[7]

Discography

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Singles

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Year Single Peak positions Album
US
2012 "Complicated" Highlights from Season 2 The Voice
"Get Outta My Dreams, Get into My Car"
"Livin' on a Prayer"
"Against All Odds"
"Open Arms"
"I Believe I Can Fly" 83
"Soul Man"A
(with coach, Blake Shelton)
108
"I Believe in This Life"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart

Appearances

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Singles as back up vocals
Year Song Album
1996 "Don't Wanna Be Alone" (Shaquille O'Neal featuring 1Accord) You Can't Stop The Reign
1997 "Don't Stop, Don't Quit" (1Accord) Booty Call Soundtrack
1998 "Rivers" (Shaquille O'Neal featuring 1Accord) Respect
2003 "Diary" (Alicia Keys featuring Tony! Toni! Toné! and Jermaine Paul) The Diary of Alicia Keys
2005 "Unbreakable" (Alicia Keys featuring Jermaine Paul) Unplugged
2005 "Gold Digger" (Remix) (Kanye West featuring Focus) Late Registration
2005 "If This World Were Mine" (Alicia Keys featuring Jermaine Paul) So Amazing: An All-Star Tribute to Luther Vandross
2008 "The Preamble" The Preamble
2009 "Airplane"

References

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  1. ^ "The 48th Annual GRAMMY Awards Roundup: R&B/Rap Fields". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2013.
  2. ^ https://www.billboard.com/artist/jermaine-paul/chart-history/hot-100/
  3. ^ a b Boyle Cush, Christina. "Jermaine Paul Emerges as the Front Man". Success. VideoPlus. Archived from the original on October 11, 2012. Retrieved October 8, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Jermaine Paul". Jermainepaul.com. Retrieved July 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Jermaine Paul | Artist". Grammy.com.
  6. ^ PR Newswire: RCA Music Group Artists Earn 28 Nominations for the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, Prnewswire.com
  7. ^ [1] [dead link]
  8. ^ "Bubbling Under Hot 100 Week of May 26, 2012". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by The Voice (American)
Winner

2012 (Spring)
Succeeded by
Preceded by The Voice (American)
Winner's song
"I Believe I Can Fly

2012 (Spring)
Succeeded by