Paul Rutherford (singer)

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Paul Rutherford
Rutherford in 1985
Background information
Born (1959-12-08) 8 December 1959 (age 64)
Liverpool, England
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • musician
  • dancer
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • keyboards
  • tambourine
Labels
Formerly of

Paul Rutherford (born 8 December 1959) is an English singer, musician and dancer. He is best known as the dancer, keyboardist, and backing vocalist of the synth-pop band Frankie Goes to Hollywood.[1]

Early life[edit]

Rutherford was born on 8 December 1959 in Liverpool, but moved to the Cantril Farm district as a child during the 1960s. He attended St Dominic's Roman Catholic school in Huyton along with his twin sister.[citation needed]

Career[edit]

Rutherford emerged from the 1970s punk scene on Merseyside, finding initial fame with St. Helen's band The Spitfire Boys. The Spitfire Boys released a single "British Refugees/Mein Kampf".

Frankie Goes to Hollywood[edit]

Rutherford, then member of Hambi and the Dance, joined Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1982 after met them performing at "Pickwicks, a pub in the centre of Liverpool".[2] He sang backing vocals to Johnson and also danced,[3] and provided some keyboard parts to the band's recordings. The band ended five years later, and Rutherford attempted a solo career which was short-lived.[4]

After Frankie Goes to Hollywood[edit]

Rutherford's 1988 "Get Real", a collaboration with ABC, reached No. 47 in the UK and remained in the charts for four weeks.[5]

Rutherford released a single, a cover of the Chic track "I Want Your Love", and an album, Oh World, in 1989, which were unsuccessful.[6] He released another single, "That Moon", as Paul Rutherford with Pressure Zone in 1991, and worked as a stylist for bands. He appeared in the music videos for "Walking on Broken Glass" (1992) by Annie Lennox and "Give In to Me" (1993) by Michael Jackson.[6]

In late 2010, he released the album The Cowboy Years under the name "Paul Rutherford/Butt Cowboys".[citation needed]

Personal life[edit]

Rutherford and his civil union partner Perry live in New Zealand.[7]

Discography[edit]

Solo albums[edit]

Extended plays[edit]

  • That Moon with the Pressure Zone (1989)

Singles[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Warner, Timothy (2003), Pop Music: Technology and Creativity: Trevor Horn and the Digital Revolution, Ashgate Publishing, Ltd., p. 78, ISBN 0-7546-3132-X
  2. ^ Ward, Mark (December 1990). "Frankie Goes to Hollywood". Music Collector.
  3. ^ Strong, Martin Charles (2004), The Great Rock Discography, Canongate U.S., p. 561, ISBN 1-84195-615-5
  4. ^ Cassidy, Jude; Shaver, Phillip R. (1999), Rough Guide to Rock, London: Rough Guides, p. 668, ISBN 1-84353-105-4
  5. ^ "PAUL RUTHERFORD | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". officialcharts.com. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  6. ^ a b Aston, Martin (October 1992). "Where are they now?". Q.
  7. ^ Taylor, Phil (4 January 2014). "Frankie goes to Waiheke". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 April 2015.

External links[edit]