KELLY MCEVERS, HOST:
The soul singer Billy Paul died on Sunday. He was 81 years old. He is best known for his suave, smooth voice which made the song "Me And Mrs. Jones" a No. 1 hit.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ME AND MRS. JONES")
BILLY PAUL: (Singing) Me and Mrs. Jones.
MCEVERS: Billy Paul grew up in Philadelphia. He had a long career in music. As a teenager, he sang with jazz greats Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington and eventually Nina Simone. But it wasn't until years later in 1972 that Billy Paul scored the hit with "Me And Mrs. Jones," a soul ballad about an extramarital affair. Paul talked to NPR about the song back in 1989.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED BROADCAST)
PAUL: When needed one more song to complete the album. And when I first heard it, I said, oh, this is not for me. And me and my wife at that particular time was going through our own little personal problem. And the idea that came to my head - I say, hey, Billy Paul, make this song yours. And that's what I did, and it was a huge success for me.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "ME AND MRS. JONES")
PAUL: (Singing) Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Jones...
MCEVERS: And in 1973, the song won Paul a Grammy award for best R-and-B vocal performance.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED MAN: And the winner is "Me And Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul.
(APPLAUSE)
MCEVERS: But after that win, Paul struggled commercially with his follow-up single "Am I Black Enough For You?"
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "AM I BLACK ENOUGH FOR YOU?")
PAUL: We're going to move on up one by one. We ain't going to stop until the work is done. Am I black enough, black enough for you? Am I black, black enough for you?
MCEVERS: The song references the black power movement and had trouble getting played on mainstream radio. Paul later said the song was just ahead of its time. Billy Paul continued to record and perform music throughout his life, but he was never able to recapture the success of his first hit.
In February 1973, one month before his Grammy win, Billy Paul told The Washington Post he was still hoping to find himself through his music. The singer is just like a musician. Keep searching for whatever makes you peaceful, Paul said. I haven't found it yet.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DON'T THINK TWICE, IT'S ALL RIGHT")
PAUL: (Singing) It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, Babe. It don't matter anyhow.
MCEVERS: Billy Paul died Sunday. He was 81 years old.
(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "DON'T THINK TWICE, IT'S ALL RIGHT")
PAUL: It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, Babe. Honey, Honey, you better know by now. When the rooster crows at the break of dawn, look out your window, Honey, and I'll be gone. You're the reason I am traveling on. Don't think twice. It's alright. Walking down the long, lonesome road, Babe - where I'm bound I can't tell. The goodbye's too good a bye, Babe. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.