Paul Melvyn Carrack (born 22 April 1951) is an English singer,
songwriter and musician who has recorded as both a solo artist and as a
member of several popular bands. The BBC described him as "The Man with
the Golden Voice", adding: "Carrack is a journeyman of British rock,
soul and pop whose career has unfolded slowly and steadily until he has
become something of a national treasure." William Pinfold of Record
Collector, acknowledging Carrack's cult status, remarked: "If vocal
talent equalled financial success, Paul Carrack would be a bigger name
than legends such as Phil Collins or Elton John."
Carrack arose to prominence in the mid-1970s as the frontman and principal songwriter of
Ace, and gained further recognition for his work as a solo artist and for his tenures as a member of
Roxy Music,
Squeeze and
Roger Waters'
backing group, The Bleeding Heart Band, intermittently handling lead
vocals on Squeeze and Waters recordings. From the mid-1980s to the late
1990s, he enjoyed considerable success as the co-frontman (with Paul
Young) and a songwriter for
Mike + The Mechanics; following
Young's death in 2000, Carrack served as the band's sole lead vocalist
until his departure in 2004. He maintains an active solo career to the
present day.