Paul Kelly -

Paul Kelly (born June 19, 1940) is an American soul singer from Miami, best known for the 1970 hit “Stealing in the Name of the Lord” and the later singles “Don’t Burn Me” and “Hooked, Hogtied & Collared.” He made five albums through 1977 on Warner Bros.

Background

Paul Kelly was born Paul Laurence Dunbar Kelly on June 19, 1940, in Overtown, Miami, Florida. He was the fourth of six children and grew up under the care of his grandmother. Older brother Henry formed the Superiors around 1956 with Kelly as lead vocalist. Kelly formed the Spades with classmates from 20th Street School after Henry left Miami for college. The Spades became the Valadeers, whose members included future Fantastics singer Jimmy Cherry. The Valadeers recorded “Dry Your Eyes” (b/w “The Big Sound”) in 1960 for Miami entrepreneur Henry Stone at Dade Records. Kelly left the group and cut the standard “I’ll String Along with You” for Dade as a prospective solo single. Stone withheld the release after a dispute with Kelly.

Clarence Reid heard Kelly rehearse in Miami and recruited him for a Delmiros session when laryngitis sidelined Reid. The Delmiros recorded “Sooner or Later” (b/w “Down With It Can’t Quit It”) in 1963 for Selma Records. Reid subsequently brought Kelly into the group for club dates before Kelly resumed solo work. Kelly made his solo debut in 1965 with “It’s My Baby” (b/w “The Upset”) on Lloyd Records. Buddy Killen signed Kelly to Dial after hearing the Lloyd material and reissued “Chills and Fever” (b/w “Only Your Love”) through Atlantic Records. Killen subsequently produced Kelly at Muscle Shoals and American Sound in Memphis for a run of Dial and Philips singles between 1966 and 1968. Kelly also opened concerts for Joe Tex.

Kelly moved in 1967 to Brooklyn with songwriting collaborator Juanita Rogers. He began playing guitar in New York and concentrated increasingly on original songs. Kelly cut material in 1968 for Stan Watson at Philly Groove. He wrote “Stealing in the Name of the Lord” for Sam & Dave and pitched the song to Miami acquaintance Sam Moore, who declined it. Kelly returned to Buddy Killen with the song, and Killen produced a recording at Muscle Shoals before placing the master with Happy Tiger Records. Kelly reached No. 14 on the Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles chart and No. 49 on the Billboard pop chart with the April 1970 release “Stealing in the Name of the Lord” (b/w “The Day After Forever”). Happy Tiger commissioned a full-length follow-up after the hit, and Kelly returned to Memphis, Nashville, and Muscle Shoals for additional sessions.

Discography: