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Artist News Obituaries
Lynsey de Paul 1950-2014
By Aly Barchi | Published on Friday 3 October 2014
Lynsey de Paul, singer and Ivor Novello-winning songwriter, died in a London hospital earlier this week at the age of 64. Whilst her cause of death is still not confirmed, it’s thought that she might have suffered a brain haemorrhage.
Born Lyndsey Monckton Rubin in Cricklewood, de Paul began releasing singles in the early seventies, writing her biggest solo hit in 1972’s top five track ‘Sugar Me’. She became the first ever female songwriter to win an Ivor Novello Award with later single ‘Won’t Somebody Dance With Me’, winning again in 1974 for ‘No Honestly’, the theme to an ITV sitcom of the same name. Then in 1977, de Paul was chosen to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest, eventually coming second with her single ‘Rock Bottom’.
Throughout the late 1970s, 80s and 90s she primarily composed television themes, radio jingles and songs for films, though also worked as a songwriter for other artists – not least Shirley Bassey – while taking various acting and TV-presenting roles. She became a director on the PRS board in 2006, and was re-elected in 2009 to serve an additional three year term.
Esther Rantzen, a long-time friend of de Paul’s and host of BBC One series ‘Hearts Of Gold’, for which Lynsey wrote the theme, has described her as “a renaissance woman”, adding: “She could do everything – she could sing, she could compose, she was an immensely talented artist. She became a huge star but she was also a loyal and generous friend. It’s an absolutely tragic loss”.
De Paul is survived by her brother, John.
