Mica Paris
| Mica Paris | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Michelle Antoinette Wallen |
| Born |
27 April 1969 Islington, London, England |
| Genres | Soul, gospel, R&B, jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, presenter |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Island, Chrysalis |
| Website | www.micaparis.com |
Mica Paris (born Michelle Antoinette Wallen 27 April 1969 in Islington, London) is an English singer, presenter on radio and television and occasional actress.
Paris's roots are in soul and gospel music. She grew up singing in her grandparents' church and by her mid teens was making regular appearances with 'The Spirit of Watts' gospel choir (with whom she featured on the 1985 EP Gospel Joy). She abbreviated her forename to Micha, before adopting a "phonetic version". At the age of seventeen, she got her first break as a backing vocalist with the UK band Hollywood Beyond. Paris appeared on their album, If (1985).
In 1988, she released her debut, platinum-selling album So Good with 4th & Broadway when she was 19 years old. "My One Temptation" was the lead single. This led to a collaboration with American soul singer Will Downing on a cover version of a classic "Where Is the Love", made famous by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack in the early 1970s.
The follow-up album, Contribution was released in 1990. This extended Paris' soul and gospel influences to bring in hip-hop and house music and featured the track "If I Love U 2 Nite", written by Prince and recorded at his Paisley Park studios.
With Omar Lye-Fook, a classically trained musician Paris recorded "I Should've Known Better" in 1990. It was issued on the B-side to "South Of The River". Paris also recorded with Anita Baker, Bonnie Raitt and Natalie Cole on the album Nelson Mandela: An International Tribute for a Free South Africa (1990), and provided the title track to Isaac Julien's Young Soul Rebels movie soundtrack the following year. She worked with the saxophonist Courtney Pine ("Redemption Song" – 1992), the Stereo MCs ("Don't Let Up" – 1992) and Bobby Womack ("I Wish I'd Never Met You" – 1991).
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