Lyn Paul

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Lyn Paul, born Lynda Susan Belcher (16 February 1949 in Manchester), is an English pop singer. She changed her name to Lyn Paul before joining the The New Seekers in 1970.

She had previously led her own teenage girl band the Crys-Do-Lyn's all over the continent in the 1960s before joining the much respected Manchester group the Nocturnes along with Eve Graham, who left to join The New Seekers. When Sally Graham left The New Seekers, Eve recommended Lyn for the position. Graham sang lead on most of their earlier hits, but Paul was gradually entrusted with some lead parts. She was the featured vocalist on hits including their 1972 Eurovision Song Contest entry, "Beg, Steal or Borrow"; the 1974 Number 1 hit "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me"; and the Top 10 single, "I Get A Little Sentimental Over You". She also sang lead on the groups' final single "Sing Hallelujah" which, although being a decent song, without the group to promote it, sank without trace.

In 1974 after she left the group, she performed as a solo artist for many years. Her first solo single was the Golden Globe nominated "Sail The Summer Winds" which had a very good pedigree being a John Barry/Don Black composition and also the theme to the first film produced by Gregory Peck, 1974's The Dove. It hovered just outside the British Top 50 for an incredible four months. She had a British Top 40 hit in 1975 with "It Oughta Sell A Million". Ironically, it didn't. Her other Polydor singles include "Who's Sorry Now", "Love", "Here Comes That Wonderful Feeling" and "Mama Don't Wait For Me". In 1977 Paul sang "If Everybody Loved The Same As You" in the Song for Europe pre-Eurovision heats, coming fourth. She then went on to record "I Don't Believe You Ever Loved Me", the Doobie Brothers' "Echoes Of Love" and an '80's power-ballad "Make The Night".She also recorded lead vocals for a Gonks Christmas single "The Gonks Are Here For Christmas" in 1985. Times became hard, however, she endured a brief unhappy marriage and then bravely declared herself bankrupt in 1995.

Shortly afterwards, an upturn occurred, when she starred in the West End production of Blood Brothers. It was a part she continued in until 1997, though she has also very successfully reprised the role many times up to and including 2006. She also starred in the stage production of the Boy George musical, Taboo in which she sang one of the shows leading songs "Talk Amongst Yourselves". Paul has also turned to acting with some success, appearing in ITV's Emmerdale and also Doctors and In Deep on BBC TV.

She released a new album in 2006 entitled Late Night. It contains her versions of some of her favourite songs, including "Crying", "I Only Have Eyes For You", Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father" and Nanci Griffiths' "Late Night Grande Hotel". In addition, it also contains two new tracks written for her, "Dance With Desire" and "Clouds". She will also be seen on British TV screens in December 2006 in the BBC's Holby City.

Lyn Paul is very happily married, and with her husband Alan Young, has a son Ryan. From late 2006 to February 2007 they ran a pub, The Beehive in Englefield Green, Surrey.

She is a fan of the English football club Sunderland AFC. Her support of the team borne out of the happy memories she has of appearing in the Sunderland Empire Theatre's 1987 Christmas pantomime production of Aladdin. According to an interview she gave to the local newspaper Sunderland Echo, on September 6, 2005, "Sunderland has some great people...they welcomed us all and were so friendly". She also recalls "...being invited to the football on New Year’s Day [1988] too. I’ve had some terrific times in Sunderland".