Ray Hildebrand, the “Paul” in ‘60s pop duo Paul & Paula, died Friday (Aug. 18) in Kansas Metropolis, Missouri, on the age of 82.
Hildebrand handed away “peacefully,” and was surrounded by his household, in response to an announcement from his publicist.
Born December 21, 1940, in Joshua, Texas, Hildebrand met his singing associate Jill Jackson (Paula) whereas attending Howard Payne School (now referred to as Howard Payne College) in Brownwood the Lone Star State.
Although by no means romantically concerned, Paul & Paula landed a string of songs on Billboard’s charts, together with “Younger Lovers,” “First Quarrel,” “First Day Again at Faculty,” and “One thing Previous, One thing New,” and their best-known hit, the multi-million-seller from 1963 “Hey Paula,” which Hildebrand penned. The only logged three weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Scorching 100 chart.
Mercury Information chief Shelby Singleton signed the pair, and reissued “Hey Paula” on its Phillips subsidiary. It was additionally Singleton who renamed the pair as Paul & Paula, apparently involved that an act named Ray and Jill singing about “hey, hey Paula” and “hey, hey Paul” was a bridge too far.
Paul & Paula launched two albums and a Christmas-themed set, earlier than disbanding in 1965, Hildebrand eager to finish his faculty training and pursue a distinct musical route.
The pair would stay pals, and infrequently reunited for particular gigs.
A religious Christian, Hildebrand’s post- Paul & Paula solo recordings had been largely a mirrored image of his religion. “Say I Do” is claimed to be a trailblazing report of the up to date Christian style. Later, he would workforce up with Paul Land, performing Christian music below the identify of Land & Hildebrand.
Hildebrand traveled the nation sharing his music and religion, and labored with The Fellowship of Christian Athletes, reps say.
The late singer and songwriter is preceded in demise by his spouse, Judy Hendricks, and survived by his daughter, Heidi Sterling, and son Mike Hildebrand, each of Kansas Metropolis.
