Paul Kelly (born June 19, 1940) is an American singer-songwriter. He is best known for the soul songs "Stealing in the Name of the Lord", which was a major hit in 1970, and "Hooked, Hogtied & Collared". He also wrote "Personally", which has been widely covered, and was a hit for soul singer Jackie Moore and singer-songwriter Karla Bonoff and country singer Ronnie McDowell. Other songs have been covered by gospel artists, including the Mighty Clouds of Joy and The Staple Singers.
Early life
Kelly was born in Overtown Miami, Florida, the fourth of six siblings. Kelly was brought up by his grandmother. In about 1956, Kelly's brother Henry formed a vocal group, with Paul as lead vocalist. It only lasted a few months, before Henry left Miami to go to college. Paul then formed a group with school friends from 20th Street School — The Spades, later known as The Valadeers. Another member was Jimmy Cherry, who later sang with The Fantastics.
Solo career
In 1960, Kelly left the group to go solo, recording the standard, "I'll String Along with You" for Dade Records, which was never released, following a dispute between Kelly and the label.
A Miami-based singer-songwriter/producer, Clarence Reid (who would later perform as Blowfly), heard Kelly rehearse, and asked him to fill in on lead vocals with his group, The Delmiros, whose lead singer had laryngitis. Kelly recorded a single, "Down with It, Can't Quit It"/"Sooner Or Later", which was released on Selma Records in 1963, under the name Clarence Reid & The Delmiros. Kelly began performing the song live in clubs and became associated with the song. Reid asked him to join The Delmiros on a permanent basis.
Kelly's official debut solo single, "It's My Baby" b/w "The Upset," appeared on the Lloyd label in 1965. It was inspired by the surprise boxing victory of Cassius Clay over Sonny Liston. A second single, "Chills and Fever," written by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke, was picked up by Dial Records and distributed by Atlantic. Relations between Kelly and Reid became strained. Nashville producer Buddy Killen, who had also fallen out with Reid, approached Kelly about working together. Meanwhile, Lloyd Records issued an answer record, "Thrills and Chills", by Helene Smith. Kelly released a third single, "Since I Found You" under the name Paul Kelly & the Rocketeers.
After this, Kelly released four singles on Philips Records, produced by Killen in Muscle Shoals, including a ballad, "Nine Out of Ten Times," written by Kelly, Reid and Clarke). Meanwhile, Dial had released two singles by Joe Tex, one of which,"We're Gonna Make It," was co-written with Kelly. At the time, Kelly often opened for Tex on tour.
In 1967, Kelly decided to move to Brooklyn, New York City, and invited a songwriting collaborator, Juanita Rogers, to join him. They became a couple and moved in together. Kelly cut material in 1968 for Stan Watson's Philly Groove label, but it remains unissued.
"Stealing in the Name of the Lord" Kelly wrote "Stealing in the Name of the Lord", with Sam & Dave in mind. However, Sam Moore, whom he had known in Miami, rejected it.
The song, whose title references "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone", tackles the hypocrisy of church leaders. It includes the lines:
"That's been my way of thinking all the time," Kelly said about the song. "Thinking about what's wrong with [the] church... And what they talk about and what they do are two different things..."
Kelly sold the rights to the song to Buddy Killen, and recorded it at Muscle Shoals. Killen got it released through the Hollywood-based Happy Tiger Records. However, R&B radio stations were worried that the song would offend sponsors, such as those on gospel shows. The record was consequently slow to take off.
Around the same time, Annette Snell, recording as Annetta, released "Since There Is No More of You," a single written by Kelly, who sang background on the release.
"Stealing" received a push from Jerry "Swamp Dogg" Williams Jr., who was about to undertake a promotional visit to Baltimore Along with Kelly, he visited a WWIN radio DJ, Rockin' Robin. Although Kelly was now trying to push the b-side, "The Day After Forever", Rockin' Robin liked "Stealing," and played it several times in a row. As Kelly recalled, "Everybody started calling in and I never looked back after that." The single first appeared on the Cashbox R&B charts on June 13, 1970, and in Billboard a week later. It peaked at No. 5 (Cashbox) and No. 14 on Billboard'''s Best Selling Soul Singles chart and No. 49 on the Hot 100.
The song was covered by Thelma Houston on her eponymous 1972 album, Thelma Houston.
