Paul Young, not to be confused with the late Paul Young who sang for Mike & the Mechanics and Sad Cafe, is a popular British, blue-eyed soul singer, who tasted limited U.S. success but saw 14 of his records reach the UK Top 40.

Born in Luton, Bedfordshire in 1956, he worked in a factory after graduating school and moonlighted in a cover band called Kat Kool & the Kool Kats (no, really). Initially a bass player, he quickly transitioned to frontman thanks to his powerful, soulful voice, and undeniable good looks. In 1978, he joined a group called the Streetband, who had a Top 40 hit in the U.K. with the novelty song, "Toast."

After the group split, he formed the Q-Tips, which toured extensively but had no hits. In 1982, he signed to CBS Records as a solo artist, and though his first few singles didn't crack the Top 40, his third, a re-make of Marvin Gaye's "Wherever I Lay My Hat (That's My Home)" shot straight up to #1 on the charts.

Between the summer of 1983 and the early 1990s, Young had over a dozen hits, although his initial US tour in 1984 caused him considerable throat damage, which forced him to take the year off. He bounced back later that year by singing the opening line from Band Aid ensemble's charity single, "Do They Know It's Christmas?." Shortly thereafter, he enjoyed a worldwide smash with a cover of the Hall & Oates power ballad, "Everytime You Go Away." The song reached #1 in the US and most of the rest of the world. It would be Young's only #1 in the States, though his 1990 track "Oh, Girl" reached #8.

He continues to write, record, and tour, mostly in Europe and Japan.