Paul Francis Gray (28 November 1963 – 24 April 2018) was an

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal A ...

songwriter, pianist, singer and record producer. He met with early success as the lead vocalist for the 1980s

funk Funk is a music genre that originated in African American communities in the mid-1960s when musicians created a rhythmic, danceable new form of music through a mixture of various music genres that were popular among African Americans in the m ...

/pop band

Wa Wa Nee Wa Wa Nee was a 1980s Australian funk band. Career Singer/songwriter Paul Gray and guitarist Steve Williams formed the band in 1982. They were joined by Geoff Lundren (bass), Elizabeth Lord (keyboards, backing vocals) and Chris Sweeney (drums) ...

. After the disbanding of Wa Wa Nee, Gray concentrated on work as a keyboard player, musical director, songwriter and producer. He worked with many highly successful Australian artists, including

Tina Arena Filippina Lydia "Tina" Arena (born 1 November 1967) is an Australian singer-songwriter, musician, musical theatre actress and record producer. She is one of Australia's highest-selling artists and has sold over 10 million records worldwid ...

Kate Ceberano Catherine Yvette Ceberano ( or , born 17 November 1966) is an Australian singer and actress who performs in the soul, jazz, and pop genres, as well as in film and musicals such as '' Jesus Christ Superstar''. Her song " Pash" received a gold ...

and Bardot. Gray appeared in the Countdown Spectacular 2 concert series in Australia between late August and early September 2007 as a performer and musical director. He sang two songs: "Stimulation" and "Sugar Free". In 2012, Gray appeared on an episode of ''

Myf Warhurst Myfanwy Warhurst (, born May 29, 1973) is an Australian radio announcer and television personality, best known for her work at Triple J radio station and on ABC Television's long-running music-themed quiz show '' Spicks and Specks''. she has an ...

’s Nice'', singing a duet of " Islands in the Stream" with Warhurst.

Death

Gray was diagnosed with

multiple myeloma Multiple myeloma (MM), also known as plasma cell myeloma and simply myeloma, is a cancer of plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that normally produces antibodies. Often, no symptoms are noticed initially. As it progresses, bone pain, an ...

, a form of cancer, in 2014, and died from the disease on 24 April 2018, at age 54. The news was announced by his brother and fellow band member, Mark.

Selective discography

*1986

, ''Wa Wa Nee'' – Paul Gray: vocals, keyboards, songwriting *1989

, ''Blush'' – Paul Gray: vocals, keyboards, songwriting *1994

, ''Kate Ceberano and Friends'' – Paul Gray: keyboards, producer *2000 Bardot, '' Bardot'' – Paul Gray: programmer, producer *2001

Scandal'us Scandal'us (or Scandal'Us) were the winners of the Australian '' Popstars 2'' in 2001 (successors of Bardot, the winners of the first Australian ''Popstars'' in 2000). They won an ARIA chart award for their No. 1 debut single " Me, Myself & I". ...

, ''Startin' Somethin – Paul Gray: producer *2003

, '' Vous Êtes Toujours Là'' – Paul Gray: musical director, keyboards *2004 Trentwood, ''Autotunes'' – Paul Gray: keyboards, backing vocals *2005

Anthony Callea Anthony Cosmo Callea (born 13 December 1982) is an Australian singer-songwriter and stage actor who rose to prominence as the runner-up in the 2004 season of '' Australian Idol''. Callea's debut single, a cover of Celine Dion and Andrea Bocel ...

, "Per Sempre" *2005

, '' Greatest Hits Live'' – Paul Gray: musical director, keyboards He appears on three compilations and one video.

References

1963 births 2018 deaths Deaths from multiple myeloma Australian pianists Australian pop singers Australian rock singers Australian rock keyboardists Australian singer-songwriters Deaths from cancer in New South Wales Keytarists Male pianists Australian male singer-songwriters {{Australia-musician-stub