A native of Pontiac, Michigan, was only 4 years old when she began singing in her church choir. It was as a young child that music became a place of “refuge”. Paula remembers day dreaming often of singing and dancing on a huge stage. She would listen to music in her room and sing and dance along.

Fate would have it that after attending some years at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Paula answered a newspaper ad from a Top 40 Cover Band requesting a “professional vocalist”. She auditioned and was hired. Little did she know what great opportunities awaited her. In 1983, Paula was indeed traveling across the US and Canada full-time singing and dancing with the band ALEX GLOVER AND COMPANY. While Paula was with Alex’s band, they opened for TOM JONES and THE POINTER SISTERS.

After traveling with the band for four years, Paula decided to step out on faith and form her own band to play in the casinos of Atlantic City. In 1987, Paula became a solo artist and performed with her band for extended gigs in the show rooms of the casinos in Atlantic City, including Trump’s Taj Mahal, Trump Plaza, Trump Castle, The Sands, and Showboat. Promotional headlines described Paula as “THE VOICE THAT CAN HANDLE ANYTHING” because of her multiple octave range.

In 1991, the legendary RAY CHARLES flew Paula to Los Angeles where she joined his 26-piece orchestra and traveled across North America, Europe, Asia, and South America on his DIET PEPSI world tour. She sang both first soprano and alto parts. She was given a solo opposite Mr. Charles in the tune “HIT THE ROAD JACK”. In the ABC television show “RAY CHARLES: 50 YEARS OF MUSIC”, Paula can be seen singing with STEVIE WONDER, MICHAEL BOLTON, JAMES INGRAM, GLADYS KNIGHT and many others.

My working with Ray Charles was an experience I could never forget. It opened so many doors for me.

After spending 1991 and 1992 with Ray Charles, Paula moved to Los Angeles and worked there for the next six years. In Los Angeles, she sang with bands at numerous corporate events and parties, she auditioned and was hired to perform on the TV sitcom FULL HOUSE and the TV drama BEVERLY HILLS 90210, she performed as a backup singer to the singing sensation SHEENA EASTON, she sang with the R&B group ROSE ROYCE, she was hired to work with YANNI on his 95 World Tour, and she performed with Australian pop singer KATE CEBRANO on a 12-day cruise in the Caribbean.

For several years while based in Los Angeles in the 1990’s, Paula traveled back and forth to Japan performing with house bands in clubs in Kyoto, Tokyo, and Toyama. She sang a variety of styles of music including Jazz, Pop, Soul, R&B, and Broadway tunes. She also began to go on foreign tours with the group THE SOUNDS OF THE SUPREMES. Paula appeared with The Sounds Of The Supremes on the RICHARD SIMMONS exercise video “Dancing To The Oldies”. In 1996, The Sounds Of The Supremes toured Australia. The group promoted their tour on several TV shows. During the tour, Paula completely fell in love with Australia.

Just before moving permanently to Australia in 1998, Paula received an invitation from WHITNEY HOUSTON’s musical director to audition for a position as a backup vocalist. She also toured with the duo MARILYN McCOO and BILLY DAVIS, JR (original members of the FIFTH DIMENSION).

“I must say that Marilyn and Billy are at the top of my list for being the most enjoyable to work with.”

Paula lived and performed in Australia from 1998 to 2008. Australia was very kind in welcoming Paula and her style of R&B and SOUL. In Australia, much like in Los Angeles, Paula performed at many corporate events and parties. She also had solo performances at several “RSL” (military service) clubs and music festivals, she recorded radio and movie advertisements for corporate advertisers such as SONY and ERICSON, she performed as the back-up singer on the Australian tour of MAXINE NIGHTINGALE, and she opened the show for the PLATTERS on their Australian tour.

While living in Australia, Paula also began to regularly perform for multi-month gigs at BROWN SUGAR, a dance and music club in Taipei, Taiwan (www.brownsugarlive.com). In Taiwan, Paula had other side projects as well. She performed at several high-end corporate events for companies such as CHANEL and NOKIA, and recorded two Electronic House Music songs for ASTRO & GLYDE. She was featured in a solo performance of “Heal The World” at the internationally televised GLOBAL PEACE FESTIVAL.

In 2008, Paula relocated to the US with her American husband who she picked up along the way in her travels to Taiwan and Australia. Paula now lives in East Tennessee. Since 2008, Paula has continued to tour with The Sounds Of The Supremes on gigs in Ireland and Germany, she has continued to perform at Brown Sugar in Taipei as well as in their newly opened Brown Sugar club in Shanghai, China, and she recorded a CD of original gospel music for LUCY KOBUSINGYE titled “GATHER ALL YOUR CHILDREN” (To hear samples and purchase the CD see www.conga-kawala.com. Proceeds to benefit children in Uganda).

Paula’s local work in Tennessee includes performing solo or with her own band at:

• corporate events
• weddings
• performing as a lead vocalist for other local bands
• singing as a guest performer in churches
• and giving voice lessons.

is MUSIC.

is SOUL, RHYTHM and BLUES, and GOSPEL.

is JAZZ, POP, and DANCE.

Simply put……