While doing some research--trust me, I do it sometimes, I came across a little know American composer who comes form Lebanese origins. His name is the late Paul Jabara (January 31, 1948 – September 29, 1992). While his music is the best thing about Mr. Jabara, this American actor, singer, and songwriter. Here's how I stumbled upon him. Jabara wrote Donna Summer's "Last Dance" from Thank God It's Friday (1978). A hit song that won awards and helped shape the career of then young Dona Summer.
But Jabara was the creative force behind many hits like that one of Barbra Streisand's song "The Main Event/Fight" from The Main Event (1979). Jabara also cowrote the Weather Girls hit, "It's Raining Men" with Paul Shaffer (David Letterman). This was his last major successful track. Unfortunately, Jabara career lost steam as the Reagan era loomed.
In 1979, Jabara won both Grammy Award for Best R&B Song and the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the song performed by Donna Summer, "Last Dance". Jabara's album Paul Jabara & Friends, released in 1983, features guest vocals by a then-20 year old Whitney Houston. It also includes the song "It's Raining Men". That song was later re-recorded several years later by drag supermodel RuPaul and Martha Wash. Wash sang on the original recording as part of the group the Weather Girls.
Jabara won the Acadamy Award for Best Original Song in 1978 for 'Last Dance'--picture is taken from that event. The song was the theme to the bizarre disco movie Thank God It's Friday starring Jabara himself, a very sleazy Jeff Goldblum. Jabars's friendship with Donna Summer brought them together on many adventures. Like they did in Foggy Day/Never Lose Your Sense Of Humor. This is a really great tune if you're into disco at all.
He passed away in 1992. This is one many very few Arabs are aware of him and those who know the name should look him up, this was one phenomenal composer who have given the world of entertainment so much. There are many gifted Arab American musicians, not to forget the great Dick Dale. For more on Paul Jabara, visit his
official website
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