Paul Hardcastle

Perhaps he is forever to be best known as the man who brought electro-funk and Vietnam together in 1985's "19" but Paul Hardcastle has proven to be a studio innovator and an enduring contributor to the world of lite funk. His earlier '80s work showed an interest in R&B and the emerging sounds of hip-hop. His unlikely hit "19" brought massive amounts of attention to this English studio wizard, resulting in the equally unlikely combination of funk and the voices of English stalwarts Bob Hoskins and Lawrence Olivier. More at home behind the scenes, Paul Hardcastle has kept busy composing television themes for the BBC as well as releasing several albums under the pseudonyms Jazzmasters and Kiss the Sky, among others.