Behind the Business: Meet the professional singer Paul Black

I’m an 80’s child. I was born in Westhill and grew up in Cults with my Mum and younger brother and sister. My mum was a music teacher, so I’ve always had a passion for music and gravitated towards singing at an early age. As a three-year-old, I’d be strumming on a tennis racquet and singing The Beatles, so I guess it was always in my blood. I remember watching a video of Elvis in Las Vegas and listening to hours of Sinatra at my grandparent’s house as they danced together. 

During my school years I joined choirs and drama groups, before moving to London in my early 20s to pursue my dream career. I sang in holiday parks, large tourist venues and toured with musical companies before moving back to Aberdeen to start what would take me to where I am now. Over the years, I’ve played at some pretty special venues including London’s ExCel, Skibo Castle and Aberdeen’s HMT. I’ve also sung for Sir Jackie Stewart, Susan Boyle and Sir Alex Ferguson. 

When I’m not performing, it’s all about family time. I have two beautiful daughters, Frankie and Rudi and my gorgeous fiancé Libby. We love heading to the beach, trips with our dog Levi and movie nights when the girls build a cinema sweetie counter and charge us! I’m also 39 going on 80. I love gardening, cooking and walking, especially when the walk ends at a decent pub!

It’s hard to nail down the kind of music I provide because I play at so many varied events. I sing background/chilled sets at wedding drinks receptions or arrivals for large events. But then I bring out the bangers for upbeat sets at bridal showers, birthdays or garden parties. It’s a boost that every event is different.

I have far too many influences to list, but I’ve always been a huge fan of Motown, Soul, Jazz and Swing music. In my teens I listened to punk, dance music in my 20s and now everything’s more balanced. My favourite artists of all time are The Streets and Stevie Wonder, but currently I’m listening to a lot of The 1975, Frank Ocean, Luke Combs and Fred Again.

Singing at events has been my work for a long time, way before my daughters were born, so they’ve always grown up with their dad not being in an office from nine to five. It has its ups and downs, but like any other job, you work around it and it means you plan and look forward to spending time with your loved ones and friends even more. 

Paul can be contacted by email on paulcblack1984@aol.com
or socials @paulblackmusic1