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Chicago has always produced great musical talent. Paulette is absolutely no
exception to that rule. What a voice!!Luther Vandross use to say it's like "liquid velvet!!!" She started singing even before she could talk, and as a
child Paulette amazed her listeners with her low, deep, sultry, velvety tones
and an incredibly wide range.
She has quite a long and extensive musical
history.
The lead singer and one of the original members of Ask Rufus, and before leaving the group, she introduced them to her friend Chaka so she could audition to take her place. They sang together with Rufus for a short period and have remained close friends through the years.
A little later Paulette was introduced to Quincy Jones via cassette sent by Phil Uprchurch
(famous jazz guitarist).Paulette use to jam with Upchurch and Donny Hathaway at a place in Chicago called Ratsos on the North side. After hearing her tape Quincy immediately sent for her and she became his solo/lead singer for the Body Heat tour. Quincy introduced her on the "Mellow Madness" album of which she co-wrote the title song. While they toured Japan, Quincy surprised her by inviting Sarah Vaughan to join Paulette they shared the stage singing a duet on "Everything Must Change" while Q conducted the orchestraQuincy told Paulette many times that she reminded him of a young "Sassie". Since then, she has recorded and/or sung live duets with Marvin Gaye (on his last tour), Johnny Mathis 2 duets on his album Different Kinda Different) and she sang a solo on Noel
Pointer's last CD. Paulette has sung backups, live on tour for artists too many
to mention! She also toured and recorded with Luther Vandross (whom she met when they both sang backup for Bette Midler) Paulette was a Harlette!!She continued to record with Luther on mostly all of his records and tours for over 20
years. She has also recorded with Mary J. Blige as well as recorded and appeared with Aretha Franklin, Lauryn Hill, Celine Dion, Anastacia, Whitney Houston, Patty LaBelle,
Deborah Cox, Michael Jackson, David Bowie and many others. The list goes from
A-Z.
You don't realize it, bu you have heard her voice many times. She is the voice
behind the TV commercials you hear daily such as Folgers, McDonalds, Diet Pepsi
with Britney Spears, Cadillac, Cover Girl, American Express, Celebrex and the
"Love Jones" by Mercedes. She is also on many movie soundtracks. She appears
on and off the screen for the Emmy award winning PBS children's show, "Between
The Lions."
Paulette is finally doing the music she listened to and learned
to love as a child. She is a gifted songwriter and is co-writing her new CD
with Anne Schelle Herring.which is to be released in Japan in February 2007,
She is currently joined by her good friends and partners Vincent Herring on saxophone, Nat Adderley Jr. on piano,(also producer on the CD!) Richie Goods on bass, and E.J. Strickland and Greg Hutchinson on drums.
In addition to being a vocalist/songwriter/actress (Paulette studied at Stella
Adler in New York and Lee Strasberg in Los Angeles and has appeared in a few
movies) she is working to educate younger artists about the music industry and
how to keep themselves productive and in control of their destiny.
