Paul Hardcastle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Hardcastle
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| Birth name | Paul Louis Hardcastle |
| Also known as | Deff Boyz |
| Born | 10 December 1957 |
| Origin | Kensington, London, England |
| Genres | Synth-pop, freestyle, electronic, ambient, electro house, breakstep, smooth jazz, new age |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Synthesizer, keyboards, piano, guitar, bass, drums, percussion, programming |
| Years active | 1981–present |
| Labels | Chrysalis, Motown, V2, Profile, Trippin 'N' Rhythm |
| Associated acts | Direct Drive, First Light, Dance Aid, Carol Kenyon, Helen Rogers, Jaki Graham |
Paul Louis Hardcastle (born 10 December 1957) is an English musician who writes and produces music. He can play many instruments, including the synthesizer, keyboards, and guitar. He is most famous for his 1985 hit song "19", which was number one in many countries.
Contents
Musical Beginnings
Paul Hardcastle was born in London, England. His music career started in 1981 when he played keyboards for a soul band called Direct Drive. A year later, he and singer Derek Green left to form their own group, First Light. They had some success, but after two years, Hardcastle decided to become a solo artist.
His early solo songs did well. A 1984 instrumental track called "Rain Forest" became a hit on the dance and soul music charts in the United States. The album it was on, also called Rain Forest, was even nominated for a Grammy Award.
The Song That Made Him Famous
In 1985, Hardcastle released the song that would make him a star: "19". The song was about the Vietnam War and used spoken-word clips from a television documentary. The title "19" referred to the average age of an American soldier in the war.
The song's serious message and unique electronic sound made it a huge success. It was the number-one song in the United Kingdom for five weeks. It also topped the charts in many other countries around the world. For this song, Hardcastle won the Ivor Novello Award for the best-selling single of 1985.
A Career of Hits and Themes
After the success of "19," Hardcastle continued to make popular music. His next single, "Just for Money," was also a hit in the UK and Europe.
In 1986, his song "Don't Waste My Time" reached the top ten in the UK. It featured the singer Carol Kenyon. That same year, his track "The Wizard" was chosen as the theme music for the famous BBC music show Top of the Pops. The show used his theme for over five years.
Hardcastle has also recorded music under different names. He used the name Deff Boyz for the 1990 single "Swing." Since the 1990s, he has released many smooth jazz albums. He releases these albums under his own name and also under the project names the Jazzmasters and Kiss the Sky.
Personal Life
Hardcastle married his wife Dolores in 1985. They have three children. His daughter, Maxine Hardcastle, is a singer, and his son, Paul Hardcastle Jr., is a DJ and saxophonist. Both have worked with their father on his music projects.
Discography
Hardcastle has released many albums throughout his career. Here are some of his main studio and smooth jazz albums.
Studio Albums
- Zero One (1985)
- Rain Forest (1985)
- Paul Hardcastle (1985)
- No Winners (1988)
- Sound Syndicate (1989)
- Time for Love (1993)
- Hardcastle (1994)
- Hardcastle II (1996)
- Hardcastle III (2002)
- Hardcastle 4 (2005)
- Hardcastle 5 (2008)
- Hardcastle VI (2011)
- Hardcastle VII (2013)
- Hardcastle VIII (2018)
- Hardcastle IX (2020)
- Hardcastle X (2022)
The Jazzmasters Series
- The Jazzmasters (1993)
- The Jazzmasters II (1995)
- The Jazzmasters III (1999)
- The Jazzmasters 4 (2004)
- Jazzmasters V (2006)
- Jazzmasters VI (2010)
- Jazzmasters VII (2014)
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
- List of 1980s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- List of smooth jazz performers
- List of synthpop artists
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
