Paul Rutherford (singer)

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]

Paul Rutherford
Rutherford in 1985
Background information
Born	(1959-12-08) 8 December 1959 (age 65) Liverpool, England
Genres	Hi-NRG dance-rock new wave synth-pop dance-pop
Occupations	Singer musician dancer
Instruments	Vocals keyboards tambourine
Labels	ZTT Island
Formerly of	Frankie Goes to Hollywood The Spitfire Boys

Early life

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

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

Frankie Goes to Hollywood

Rutherford, then member of Hambi and the Dance, joined Frankie Goes to Hollywood in 1982 after he 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

Rutherford's 1988 song "Get Real", a collaboration with ABC, reached No. 47 in the UK and remained on 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 commercially.^[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

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

Discography

Solo albums

• Oh World (1989)
• The Cowboy Years (2010)

Extended plays

• That Moon (with the Pressure Zone) (1989)

Singles

• "Get Real" (1988) - UK #47
• "I Want Your Love" (1989) - UK #82
• "Oh World" (1989) - UK #61