Name: Paula Abdul (Paula Julie Abdul)
Birth Date: June 19, 1962
Height: 5' 2"
Stats: 34b-23-36
Birth Place: San Fernando, California U.S.
Nationality: American
Education: Graduated 1980- Van Nuys High School (honor student and cheerleader), Cal-State Northridge
(studied broadcasting)
Paula Abdul choreographed several popular artists for music videos prior to becoming famous herself. Before recording 1988's- "Forever Your Girl", Paula had little singing experience, but lots of training as a dancer. Regardless, her album sold 7 million copies domestically.
The second daughter of a French-Canadian mother and a Syrian-Brazilian father. She began taking dance lessons at the age of 7; at age 10, she studied tap and jazz dancing by winning a scholarship. She was the captain of her high school cheerleading squad and while attending California State Northridge, Paula joined the Los Angeles Laker's cheerleaders; she eventually became head cheerleader. Her work was discovered by Jackie Jackson (whom she eventually became romantically involved with), who asked Abdul to choreogaraph sister Janet Jackson's "Control" videos (Paula makes a cameo appearrance in "Nasty").
Some of Paula's other clients includes: the Pointer Sisters, ZZ Top and Duran Duran. She has also choregraphed for television: The Tracy Ullman Show and films: most known, The Doors and American Beauty.
Abdul signed on with Virgin Records and released her debut album: "Forever Your Girl", topping the albums chart which spawned four #1 singles: 1988's "Straight Up", in 1989: "Forever Your Girl", "Straight Up" and "Opposites Attract" (with the Wild Pair). Another song: "(It's Just) the Way That You Love Me", went to #3.
In 1991 she released the lp: "Spellbound", some of the songs were cowritten by Paula, but many were written and produced by Family Strand (a New York based trio). Other artists such as John Hiatt and Prince also contributed. The lp peaked at #1 with singles such as: "Rush, Rush" and "The Promise of a New Day", "Blowing Kisses in the Wind" (#6, 1991), "Vibeology" (#16, 1992), "Will You marry Me" (#19, 1992).
Then came legal troubles when backup singer Yvette Marine on "Forever Your Girl", sued Virgin Records, saying that her voice was overdubbed on some of the album's lead vocals. Virgin won the case in 1993. "Head Over Heels" peaked at #18 on the pop album chart, which also included: "My Love Is For Real" (#28, 1995).
Paula also did some acting, playing herself in cameos on sitcom episodes to TV movies. Later, she took a short hiatus to solve some personal problems. In 2000, Virgin Records released: "Paula Abdul: Greatest Hit's CD", which did not do so well, but sold 1 million copies worldwide.
In 2002, Paula was one of three judges on the hit TV series- American Idol, which till today is still going stronger than ever. In 2007, Paula Abdul Jewelry launched its nationwide consumer debut on QVC. And on Jaunuary 16, 2008, Abdul's new song entitled: "Dance Like There's No Tomorrow", the first single off of Randy Jackson's (fellow American Idol judge): Music Club Vol. 1, was aired on Fox's- Super Bowl XLII pregame show, which she performed on. She appeared with the American Idol cast on that music video.Click Here!
