Free Concert @ 6pm on April 14, 2022

Ray Hildebrand a.k.a. Paul of Paul and Paula is headlining a free Concert at Olney Community Library and Arts Cetner April 14, at 6 p.m.

Hildebrand, whose song “Hey Paula” was number one in the nation in early 1963. Ray was here last here in 2019, and the show was great. You will want to make sure you are here for the free concert.

Hildebrand will be in town with author and humorist, Howard Payne University chancellor and former president, Dr. Don Newbury.

While a student at Howard Payne in the early 1960s, Hildebrand was asked to write the song “Hey Paula” by a friend so he could woo his girlfriend, Paula. Hildebrand, and classmate Jill Jackson recorded the song at the urging of her mother. It soared to number one on the Billboard Top 40 for three weeks in February 1963 after ranking second for two weeks.

After leaving the pop music world, Hildebrand went on to write more than 500 contemporary Christian songs, more than 300 of which have been published. He served on the national staff of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for almost two decades, and was guest soloist at five Billy Graham Crusades.

The success of “Paul and Paula” has since been credited with paving the way for many boy-girl singing duets in popular music, such as Sonny and Cher and others.

Jill Jackson Landon will not be with Ray, but Olney’s own singer, Adelade Edgington, will help Ray sing “Hey Paula.” The library is located at 807 West Hamilton Street in Olney. See you there.