PAUL & PAULA
In 1962, While Attending Howard Payne College On A Basketball Scholarship, Ray Hildebrand Wrote A Song Called "Hey, Paula". The Owner Of The Boarding House Where He Was Staying Introduce Him To Her Niece, Jill Jackson, And They Formed A Duo. They Performed The Song On Local Radio During A Fund Drive, In Brownwood, Getting Good Response. They Auditioned For Major Bill Smith, Record Producer In Ft. Worth, Who Released "Hey Paula" On His LeCam Label Under The Name Of Jill & Ray. When A Major Label Picked Up The Master...Jill & Ray Changed Their Names To Paul & Paula. With A New Name And Nationwide Distribution The Record Took Off Zooming To the Top Of the Pop Charts. It Went RIAA Certified Gold Staying At #1 For 3 Weeks. The Follow-Up Single, "Young Lovers" Taken From The Deleted Verses Of "Hey, Paula" Climbed To #6. At The Top Of Their Popularity, And While On Tour With "The Dick Clark Caravan Of Stars", Ray Hildebrand Walks Away. Dick Clark Had To Sing Ray's Part With Jill While Ray Was Somewhere In Oregon Hauling Hay. Ray Did Return To The Music Business For A Short Time Before Hanging Em Up for Good. Jill Was Born In McCamey, Texas.
