Paul Jabara

Music Producer / Songwriter

 

Inscribing her senior photo to **Paul Jabara**, one of his classmates wrote, “To one of the swingingest kids around: Best wishes for your success, especially your name in lights.” Her dreams for Paul came true.

From an early age, it was evident that this affable alum would find success in the performing arts. He began modeling and appearing in commercials in his teens and piano lessons taken in while in grammar school surely helped lead to his great success as a songwriter and music producer.

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Paul’s Broadway debut in 1968 was in the original cast of *Hair* and the performance he created for the role of King Herod in the original production of *Jesus Christ Superstar* in London garnered regular standing ovations. At the age of 23, Paul wrote and starred in the musical *Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don’t You Forget It* which made it to the Broadway stage. He also appeared at the Roxy in Los Angeles as Dr. Frank N. Furter in *The Rocky Horror Picture Show*. Film and television credits, to name a few, included roles in *Midnight Cowboy*, *The Lords of Flatbush* and 1978’s *Thank God It’s Friday*, the movie for which he won the Academy Award for Best Original Song, *Last Dance*. In addition to that Oscar, *Last Dance* won a Grammy (Best Rhythm & Blues Song), an American Music Award and a Golden Globe for Paul as well as a Grammy for Donna Summer (Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.) Jabara co-wrote with Paul Shaffer *It’s Raining Men*, a big hit for The Weather Girls. Whitney Houston’s first recording was on *Paul Jabara and Friends*, his fourth studio album. Barbara Streisand, Julio Iglesias, and Diana Ross are just some of the many talents he wrote songs for or produced.

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Because of Paul’s unpredictable schedule as a working teenager, he received his high school diploma from an institution that catered to kids in the performing arts — but Fort Hamilton has always been considered his high school. He even attended the class of 1965’s 25th reunion to the delight of many old friends.

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In 1991, Paul co-founded the Red Ribbon Project to raise awareness of AIDS, the disease that sadly took his life the following year.

 

Paul Jabara returned to Brooklyn from L.A. one last time, to be interred at Green-Wood Cemetery where his grave at Section 34, Lot 33232 is regularly visited by those honoring his contributions to the world. His memory and music live on.