Top 10 Quotes & Sayings by Billy Paul

Explore popular quotes and sayings by an American musician Billy Paul.

Last updated on April 14, 2025.

Paul Williams, known professionally as Billy Paul, was a Grammy Award-winning American soul singer, known for his 1972 No. 1 single "Me and Mrs. Jones", as well as the 1973 album and single War of the Gods, which blends his more conventional pop, soul, and funk styles with electronic and psychedelic influences.

American - Musician | December 1, 1934 - April 24, 2016

Source: Wikipedia

It's a city of its own and has its own sound. I think what makes it different is the drama; you know how they say everyone marches to their own beat? Well, I think Philly has its own beat as well, and it's distinctive. It sounds easy, but it's hard to play.

Billy Paul

I think about Marvin every day. The love I have for this man is unbelievable. We were close; we were like brothers.

Billy Paul

The most sobering thing is to have a number one record across the whole entire world in all languages.

Billy Paul

When I heard The Beatles, that was my turning point. They were like my mentors. You know, the funny thing about that, when I heard 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand,' at first I said these guys are like a flash in the pan. But the second album, I had to take all that back. John Lennon - one of the greatest writers in the world.

Billy Paul

All my life, I wanted to sound like myself. I never wanted to sound like anybody else.

Billy Paul

I've always worked hard to create my own style. Nobody sounds like me. I've heard them call me 'legendary.' That feels pretty good... though the word is overused these days.

Billy Paul

I always liked Nat King Cole. I always wanted to go my own way, but I always favoured other singers like Dinah Washington, Sarah Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald - I loved Ella Fitzgerald. There are so many of them. Nina Simone was one of my favourites - Johnny Mathis.

Billy Paul

I took my uniqueness and treated it like a horn.

Billy Paul

The male singers who had the same range I did, when I was growing up, didn't do much for me. But put on Nina Simone, Carmen McRae or Nancy Wilson, and I'd be in seventh heaven. Female vocalists just did more with their voices, and that's why I paid more attention to them.

Billy Paul

I was singing totally jazz then, but when I heard the Beatles and heard the gospel influence and everything, I just said, 'I can make jazz with R&B.'

Billy Paul