Paul Jabara

Paul Frederick Jabara (January 31, 1948 – September 29, 1992) was an American actor, singer, songwriter, and book writer born in Brooklyn, New York, to a Lebanese family. He graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in 1965 and briefly attended Long Island University in Brooklyn. His sisters, Delores and Claudette, attended the same high school.

Jabara's Broadway career began with his appearance in the original cast of Hair, which marked his debut on the New York stage. He subsequently wrote the book, music, and lyrics for Rachael Lily Rosenbloom and Don't You Ever Forget It, which he also starred in at age 24. The production, which featured Ellen Greene and played the Broadhurst Theatre in 1973, closed during previews before its official opening and received no press reviews. No cast recording was made of the score, which combined disco music with traditional Broadway-style numbers.

Beyond Broadway, Jabara originated the role of King Herod in the London production of Jesus Christ Superstar and took over the role of Frank-N-Furter in the Los Angeles production of The Rocky Horror Show when Tim Curry departed to film the movie version in England. His film work included a role as a hippie at a counterculture party in John Schlesinger's 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, an appearance in Schlesinger's 1975 film The Day of the Locust in which he performed a drag cover of Marlene Dietrich's "Hot Voo-Doo," and a starring role as Carl, a lovelorn and nearsighted disco-goer, in the 1978 film Thank God It's Friday. He also appeared in The Lords of Flatbush (1974), Honky Tonk Freeway (1981), and Legal Eagles (1986).

As a songwriter, Jabara achieved his greatest commercial success through his work with Donna Summer. His song "Last Dance," written for Thank God It's Friday, earned him the Academy Award for Best Original Song, the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song, and the Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. He also co-wrote "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," a duet recorded by Summer and Barbra Streisand that became an international hit. With Bruce Roberts, he co-wrote Streisand's top-three hit "The Main Event/Fight" in 1979. His song "It's Raining Men," co-written with Paul Shaffer, was recorded by the Weather Girls in 1982 after being declined by Summer, Streisand, Cher, and Diana Ross. The recording topped the US Dance chart and reached number two in the UK. Geri Halliwell later recorded the song in 2001, when it reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.

Among his other songwriting credits, Jabara contributed "Dance" to the 1976 film Mother, Jugs & Speed, wrote "No Jinx" as the theme for Bette Midler's film Jinxed! in 1981, and wrote "Work That Body" for Diana Ross, which became a UK top hit in 1982. Songs he wrote were also recorded by Billy Preston, Julio Iglesias, and Raquel Welch. His 1983 album Paul Jabara & Friends included an early recording by a then-19-year-old Whitney Houston on "Eternal Love." His final album, De La Noche: The True Story – A Poperetta, was released in 1986 and featured guest vocals from Leata Galloway, Diva Gray, and Pattie Brooks.

Jabara released his debut album, Shut Out, on Casablanca Records in 1977. His subsequent Casablanca albums included three duets with Donna Summer: "Shut Out" (1977), "Something's Missing (In My Life)" (1978), and "Never Lose Your Sense of Humor" (1979). In 2005, a workshop production titled Last Dance, assembled from Jabara's disco songs and built around the story of a teenager traveling back in time to Studio 54, played in New York City.

Jabara died on September 29, 1992, in Los Angeles from complications from AIDS, at the age of 44. A memorial service was held on October 4, 1992, at Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills. He is buried at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, where he was featured in the cemetery's first gay-themed tour on June 14, 2014. He was survived by his sisters, Delores Jabara and Claudette Hadad.