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Hawaiian songstress Pauline Wilson was previously the lead singer and principal writer for the cult fusion outfit
Seawind, which gained the respect of jazz and R&B lovers in the 1970’s and 80’s.
She has toured and recorded with artists as diverse as Bruce
Hornsby, Celine Dion and The Crusaders.
“Tribute” is her second solo album and, as the title suggests, this is a set of classic songs made popular by other singers.
She’s assembled an impressive band. Check this – Harvey Mason, Alphonso Johnson, Lenny Castro, Larry Williams, Airto
Moreira. That’s not even mentioning the top-flight horn players, several of whom are
ex-Seawind members.
Most of the songs will no doubt be familiar to most people and so a track-by-track review would be largely pointless but I’d like to mention some highlights…
Pauline
Wilson is Hawaii's own Grammy Award winning vocalist. Her sultry,
powerful and pristine voice distinguishes her as a true, natural
vocalist of many capabilities. She loves jazz, innovates rhythm
and blues, gives new meaning to soul tunes and radiates true
spirit in her songs.
Herb
Caen, famed San Francisco columnist, once wrote: "She could
sing the "Q" section of the Terre Haute phonebook and
tears would well up in my eyes."
Pauline
was born & raised outside of Hilo, Hawaii and lists her dad,
an accomplished musician, as a continuing inspiration and
supporter.
Her
professional debut was with Larry Williams, Kim hutchcroft, Bud
Nuanez, Ken Wild, Jerry Hey and Bob Wilson as the popular Hawaii
group called "Ox".
In
1976 they moved to Los Angeles to advance their career and changed
the group's name to "Seawind". They performed throughout
the world and she recorded four albums with them.
The
next nineteen years were spent performing, doing commercials,
touring and recording soundtracks and background vocals as a
session artist for the likes of Bruce Hornsby, Bill Medley, Brenda
Russell, Michael Columbier, Celine Dion, the Crusaders and many
more.
She
has toured with Seawind, Boz Scaggs, George Benson, Michael Paulo
and the Pauline Wilson Band through the U.S., the Philippines and
the Orient.
In
1979 she received a Grammy Award for her duet,
"Friends", with George Benson on the "In
Harmony" album.
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