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HARDCASTLE, Paul

(b 10 Dec. '57, London) Studio genius; a back-room boy who scored with one of the '80s' most insistent and unlikely hits. Began dabbling with tape recorders and synthesizers as a teenager; joined Direct Drive (signed to Charlie Gillett's Oval label), then funk band First Light '82; formed own Total Control label '84; his 'Rainforest' was used as a theme to a hip-hop film. He made no. 1 UK early '85 with '19', which went on to no. 1 in 13 countries: moved by a TV documentary on Vietnam veterans, he used part of the soundtrack on a hypnotic 'scratch' single whose success coincided with the tenth anniversary of the war's end, set to a nagging 'N-n-n-nineteen' riff (19 was the average age of soldiers in Vietnam. A court case with a US broadcaster prevented the hit's release in USA, but vets took it up and it reached no. 15 there.) This inspired a cricket parody, Rory Bremner's 'Nineteen Not Out'. Then in the uncomfortable position of having to follow up something unique, the album Paul Hardcastle '86 inevitably disappointed, merely demonstrating mastery of studio techniques. He also remixed songs for Ian Dury and Belle Stars; single 'Just For The Money' employed actors Bob Hoskins and Lord Olivier (amply covering lack of musical originality), reached an ironic no. 19 UK. 'Don't Waste My Time' was an engaging funk single featuring session singer Carol Kenyon; also wrote new theme for UK TV's Top Of The Pops 'The Wizard'. He didn't sing, was always going to be happier in the back room. Albums Rainforest '85 on Profile, Hardcastle '94 on JVC charted in USA; meanwhile he'd formed Fast Forward Records '90, then duo Kiss the Sky '92. His stuff became more eclectic and music stores weren't sure what category to put it in: Jazzmasters '93 was followed by Jazzmasters 2 '95, Jazzmasters 3 '99, with vocals by Helen Rogers, Snake Davis on 'sax': this might be smooth jazz with more personality than most, but is it typical of 'smooth jazz' fans that they don't know or care whether it's an alto sax, tenor or what? Cover To Cover '97 was described as an autobiography.