Paul Carrack

Few voices in rock have the sheer warmth and soulful depth of Paul Carrack, the Sheffield-born singer and keyboardist who somehow managed to be the secret weapon behind some of the most beloved songs of the seventies and eighties. Carrack first turned heads as the frontman of Ace, delivering the sublime blue-eyed soul classic How Long in 1974, a track that still holds up beautifully today. Rather than riding that wave solo, he became one of rock's most sought-after collaborators, lending his voice and keys to Squeeze, where he sang Tempted, and later joining Mike and the Mechanics, where his vocal on The Living Years became a genuine cultural touchstone and a massive transatlantic hit in 1988. His style sits at that rich crossroads of rock, soul, and pop where Steely Dan and Hall and Oates also made their homes, built on warm Hammond organ tones, immaculate songcraft, and that impossibly smooth voice. His solo catalog, including albums like Suburban Voodoo and Blue Views, rewards deep listening and showcases a musician who never chased trends. Carrack remains something of an underrated gem, the kind of artist that serious music fans trade recommendations about like a well-kept secret.