Mica Paris

Mica Paris (born Michelle Wallen, 27 April 1969, South London) is an English soul singer, radio and television presenter, and occasional actress. Her forename is pronounced Misha.

Singer

Beginnings

Paris' roots are in soul and gospel music. She grew up singing in her grandparents' church and by her mid teens was making regular appearances with 'The Spirit of Watts' gospel choir (with whom she featured on the 1985 EP Gospel Joy). She abbreviated her forename to Micha, before adopting a "phonetic version". At the age of seventeen, she got her first break as a backing vocalist with the UK band Hollywood Beyond. Paris appeared on their album, If (1985).

In 1988, she released her debut, platinum-selling album So Good with 4th & Broadway when she was 19 years old. "My One Temptation" was the lead single. This led to a collaboration with American soul singer Will Downing on a cover version of a classic "Where Is the Love", made famous by Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack in the early 1970s.

The 1990s

The follow-up album, Contribution was released in 1991. This extended Paris' soul and gospel influences to bring in hip-hop and house music and featured the track "If I Love U 2 Nite", written...
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