Music
Clarence Paul
1928–1995 · songwriter, record producer
Co-founder of the "5" Royales who moved to Detroit, became Stevie Wonder's mentor and first producer, and co-wrote "Fingertips" and "Hitch Hike".
- Born
Winston-Salem, North Carolina- Died
Los Angeles, California
aged 67- Birth name
- Clarence Otto Pauling
- Detroit years
- 1950s–early 1970s
- Field
- Music
01 / The Detroit story
The Detroit story
Paul and his brother Lowman Pauling Jr. started the gospel group that became the "5" Royales in North Carolina. After moving to Detroit in the 1950s he shortened his surname to avoid confusion with his brother, and in 1958 he co-wrote "I Need Your Lovin'", later a hit for Roy Hamilton. At Motown he became the mentor and main producer of the young Stevie Wonder, co-writing his breakthrough "Fingertips" (1963) and singing backup on his versions of "Blowin' in the Wind" and "Funny How Time Slips Away". He also produced early Temptations records and co-wrote Marvin Gaye's "Hitch Hike", later covered by the Rolling Stones, and "Until You Come Back to Me", which became a number-one R&B hit for Aretha Franklin. He moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s and died there in 1995.
Highlights
- Co-founder of the "5" Royales
- Mentor and producer of the teenage Stevie Wonder
- Co-wrote "Fingertips" (1963) and "Hitch Hike" (1962)
- Co-wrote "Until You Come Back to Me", a hit for Aretha Franklin
02 / Their Detroit places
Their Detroit places 1
Where they lived, worked, performed and liked to hang out. Closed and demolished places stay here too, because they are part of the city's history.
Worked here · 1960s–early 1970s
Motown Museum
Produced Stevie Wonder and early Temptations sessions in Studio A.