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I met Paul Jabara in the early 80's at Studio One in WeHo. He was out promoting his girls. No real story to tell, but just a lifetime memory of a legend.

Even if he was short there was no bigger pain in my a** than Paul. But I miss and love him to this day. I think most of Paul's relationships were of the love/hate variety. A professional relationship that grew into a personal friendship, I will never forget Pauls enthusiasm for his profession and life in general. Even when he was kvetching it was done with such gusto that you couldn't help but be charmed. Though mentioned in disco history, I still don't think PJ has yet received the recognition in all entertainment areas that is due him... Rachael Lily Rosenblum will return some day, I'm sure.

I first meet Paul at Steve Paul's The Scene on West 46th Street in 1965 when we all were club kids... and alway hung out and had a great time, I booked the Weather Girls into Studio 54 for him 11 times and it really was "Raining Man"! Paul was FUN! - Thanks Paul! - Billy Smith

Actually, Paul is listed as the writer, not producer, of "Last Dance." His own version, oddly enough, is a ballad. I always felt that he was a much stronger writer than a vocalist, though "Trapped in a Stairway" and "Disco Queen", his contributions to the "Thank God it's Friday" soundtrack show him to be quite a good singer as well as a writer. Also did production work on Barbra Streisand's "Broadway Album"

Paul was also featured in the 1975 film "Day of the Locust" directed by "Midnight Cowboy" famed John Schlesinger. He played the role of the female impersonator in the nightclub who takes his wig off at the end of the number "Hot VooDoo".

I have been a HUGE fan of Paul Jabara's music and work since I can remember! When I met him at Hulas in Waikiki I was in total shock.He told told me how much he liked the music and I surprised him by showing him that I had EVERY album he ever made. At first he didn't believe me and it was then his turn to be totallly shocked when I pulled all of them out! He autographed them all and told me how flattered he was.....I bumped in to him on the street coming out of a video store in WEHO a couple of years after that and was flattered he remembered me...unfortunaltey I was just getting into a cab to go to a dance marathon to raise money for AIDS research and I couldn't talk to him as long as I wanted....I MISS YOU PAUL!!!! You are one of a kind baby!!!! - Johnny Torres

Paul Jabara...singer/actor/songwriter/
Producer. On Broadway Paul was in the original Broadway production of "Hair." He was the original "King Herod. Paul invited mw on stage of "Hair" many time to sing at the end of the night, so much fun!

Yes! Paul Jabara was always the hit of the party, anytime that I went to a hot party PAUL WAS THERE! Then I knew it was going to be a p-a-r-t-y! I had so much fun with him in the sixty's and all though Studio 54 days (11 years) party every nigh until 8am at the after-hours, and guess what Uncle Sam knew nothing what we were really doing, so to our USA, stick that up your know where! I still am LOL! They knew nothing LOL! We all had a f****** ball! From 1964 - 86 and it was the best years of my life, getting paid having a P-A-R-T-Y! Not anymore, but now, who cares. Guess what Paul, I just hit 61yo and loving every minute of it and still having a party, living in NYC in the same place , with a great new look, UWS! We did it all!!!!!!! YES!!!!!! LOL, LOL, LOL. - Billy Smith - still hot and living on the UWS/East Hampton (NYC)

Billy Smith ® ©

i met Paul in the summer of 1975 along with Hiram keller of Fellini's Satyricon fame. They stayed in our house that summer in the Pines on Fire Island. It was a summer to remember; he was so alive with energy. We all were back then. The house then continued to party thru the winter and into the spring and then we all gradually lost touch. He came back into focus during his Hollywood years and with his music. Paul was truly one of a kind.

Love Paul Jabara and mostly the Disco Wedding / Divorce.

"Pleasure Island" Folks,
That Was A Song That is Now A Disco Treasure!

I grew up with Paul. He lived around the corner from me in on 86th street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. We went to grammar school together and took piano lessons from the same piano teacher. I was always amazed at how he played from his heart. I struggled to read the classical music and Paul played for fun. He knew all the great musicals and especially Rogers and Hammerstein. He often came over my house (around age 11- 12) and played the piano for my mother and I. He obviously enjoyed doing it and we loved to listen. He had a gift, a passion for music and life and I feel blessed that we did spend that time together. His teachers never appreciated his gifts/talent but that obviously never stopped Paul. Later on, when I saw him at LIU campus in Brooklyn, Paul was glowing, and surrounded by friends. I'm sorry that we never kept in touch after that.

Paul was my dad's first cousin- he never met him in Lebanon but knew his mother and sister. As musicians, my sister and I are proud to be related and wish he were still around to meet.
There is a party compilation out there that I have heard at more than one person's house that has "Last Dance" and "It's Raining Men" back to back and I look like a liar when I tell people - my cousin wrote that and then the next song comes on and I say - he wrote that too.
I would love to hear from someone who knew him!

i'm 29, now, and i grew up in bay ridge, even though i moved here to california last year to try to be a screenwriter. But when i was kid i used to watch Thank God, Its Friday with my mom. I thought paul's character was hysterical. He reminded me of my cousin Franky "Bags" , and i always tried to look for him in movies, but never really found him again. Knowing nobody out here, i would read up on old actors when i was bored, and found out Paul's legendary feats in music, and since i always wanted to write a story about a songwriter, i could't think of a better biographical sketch. I would love to know as much as i could about him. Recently, i found out he was lebanese, and since half my friends are lebanese, and bay ridge being such a close-knit arab community, i've been asking all my friends parents if they knew the Jabara family. I think, his, is a story that MUST be told!!!

paul,was one my favorit dj and producers.he wrote disco classic disco honeymood in peurto rico and disco wedding and disco devolce.which play alot in the clubs here in miami.he will be miss by all he touch.

In 1992 the music world lost a Genius. His music is incredible. I have all of his viynal and his "Hits and Misses" on CD. My favorite is Heaven Is A Disco and It All Comes Back To You. I can only imagine what he would be contributing to the music world if he were still alive. I really miss him.

i knew you Billy Smith
and had no idea you went back
all the way to the Steve Paul
thing ( The Scene )

ever been to the bar/club "Headlines"
right near the NYT bldg.?

Max's Kansas City

always knew Billy Smith
would survive the 70's 80's

doc54,
Steve Pauls The Scene where it all started for me. I was in my last year of high school in Pelham Manor, NY in 1963 than pushing a rock group called "The Rascals" in 1964, and it was smooth sailing and i am still sailing at 63yo as of two days ago. boi what a life!!!!

Steve Paul was a very good buddy, i wonder if he is still around????

I met Paul at Studio One in West Hollywood and we dated for a while in the 80's. He was one great guy. We lost touch when he moved back to NYC. When we met I had no idea he had written such hits, but I thought he was one of the hottest guys around. I sure do miss the times we had..and the fun! But, his music lives on and every time I hear his songs, it brings me back to those days!

Oh the seventies were pretty wild. That constant party that never stopped. From one club to the next. Then to an after-hours, then someone's house or apartment, before starting the cycle all over again. Did you girls have fun?? It sounds like it. I knew Paul, but my meetings were all about the MUSIC! He put out a lot of great stuff didn't he! I was working, just started, at Miami Beach radio station DISCO 96. It was the summer of 1979, the station was giving away a "Honeymoon in Puerto Rico" with Paul Jabara as the main prize in their "Disco Wedding" promotion. It went on for over six weeks, thousands of couples entered hoping to get this all-expenses paid free trip. We had a stupid deejay who was friends with Paul, his name was "OZ". He arranged everything. He did too good a job, because "OZ'S" sister won the contest!! Off she went with "OZ" and Paul for their HONEYMOON IN PUERTO RICO. When they returned ten days later, "OZ" was out of a job, so was I, Al Chio, Frank Walsh, Leo Vella because the complaints were so many, that the FCC did the unthinkable, and pulled DISCO 96's operating license.That was that! We were all pissed off, but not at PAUL, he wasn't at fault. He just made great DISCO records!!

Just curious, was Paul a Jew or an Arab? He says "Welcome to my Baz Mitzvah" when he accepted his Oscar.

I cannot believe that no one mentioned his operetta "La De Le Noche". Every cut was hor. I ubderstand that there were actual performances given off broadway to benefits AIDS research. Wish that I had seen one.

Hey, Billy Smith - we go back to The Barge. Don't know if I should admit that. And you used my picture for the Sunday supplement story for the opening of Murray's World at Roosevelt Field, among other tricks. God, my hair was long and blonde at the time! And I remember your new fur jacket, Andy Warhol and Lou Reed at the Action House. How did you ever get me into those situations - I know, large quantities of alcohol and illegal substances. Oh well, you're only young once!

Still cruising the Hamptons? You go, guy!

I never knew Paul very well, but he was so funny when he was in the mood.