Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

De PAUL, Lynsey

(b Lynsey Rubin, 1951) UK singer-songwriter. She studied classical music, then art; turned to pop after graduation; her first hit song was co-written with Ron Roker for vocal group the Fortunes: 'Storm In A Teacup' no. 7 '72; her first own hit came the same year with 'Sugar Me', no. 5, relying like all her hits on keyboard skills backing her high, girlish voice while hammering home a naggingly infectious hook. Wrote top 20 'Getting A Drag' with David Jordan; her own tune 'Won't Somebody Dance With Me' '73 was reminiscent of labelmate Gilbert O'Sullivan (in many ways her male counterpart), made no. 14 and won a Novello award '74, as did her TV theme 'No Honestly' (no. 7 '74). Other TV themes followed. She teamed with Barry Blue for other songs; switched to Mike Moran for Eurovision entry 'Rock Bottom' '77, coming second in that contest and reaching the top 20 UK, top 10 in five other countries. She concentrated on writing; made the news through friendship with actor James Coburn. Album Tigers And Fireflies on Polydor '79.