Paul Sabu

Paul Sabu (born January 2, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, producer, and guitarist. He is the son of actors Sabu and Marilyn Cooper.

Career

Sabu first gained recognition in the late 1970s as a producer and performer of disco music. In the 1970s and 1980s he produced disco albums by Ann-Margret, Debbie Jacobs, and Sister Power featuring Gwen Jonae. Sabu is also known for his work with his band Only Child. His music has been featured in movies and television series soundtracks, and he has been credited with production/mixing on 14 platinum and 11 gold records.

Notable mentions

2004 Kerrang Magazine voted Paul Sabu Top 5 favorite AOR vocalists of All Time
2005 Only Child's self-titled debut album from 1989 voted No. 22 on the Best AOR Albums of All Time
2011 Classic Rock Magazine awarded Paul Sabu the highest-rated AOR Album of All Time

Discography

Official releases

Sabu: Ocean/Ariola Records (1979).
Sabu: MCA Records (1980).
Kidd Glove: Motown (1984), also re-released (with bonus material) at Yesterrock.
Heartbreak: Heavy Metal America (1985), also re-released (with bonus material) at Z Records.
Only Child: Rhino/Capital (1988), also re-released (with bonus material) at Yesterrock.
Paul Sabu: Zero (1994), also re-released (with bonus material) at Z Records as "In Dreams".
Sabu: USG Records (1996).
Between the Light: USG Records (1998).
Strange Messiah: AOR Heaven (2007).
High & Mighty: AOR Heaven (2009).
Call of the Wild: Z Records (2011).
Bangkok Rules: Z Records (2012).
Banshee: Frontiers Music SRL (2022).

Album / song producer and contributor credits

Alexa - Alexa (1989)
Alice Cooper - Hey Stoopid (1991), Spark In The Dark: The Best Of (2009)
Ann-Margret - Ann-Margret (1980)
AOR - L.A. Temptation (2012), L.A. Connection (2014), Return To L.A. (2015), L.A. Darkness (2016)
David Bowie - Dance (1985)
Dennis Churchill Dries - I (AOR Heaven, 2015)
Fatal Smile - World Domination (2008)
Glass Tiger - Don't Forget Me (When I'm Gone) (1986)
Heart - Heart (1985)
Jesse Damon - The Hand That Rocks (2003), Rebel Within (2006)
John Waite - Ignition (1982)
Kelsey Lu - Blood (Sony Records, 2019)
Kim Carnes - Crazy In The Night (1990)
Lee Aaron - Bodyrock (1989), Some Girls Do (1991), The Best Of (1997)
Little America - Little America (1987), Fairgrounds (1989)
Little Caesar - Little Caesar (1990)
Malice - Crazy In The Night (1989)
Motels, The - Vacancy: Best Of (1990)
Paul Sabu - Kidd Glove (1984), Heartbreak (1985), Only Child (1988), Paul Sabu (1994), Sabu (1996), Between The Light (1998), Strange Messiah (2008), High & Mighty (2009), Call Of The Wild (2011), Bangkok Rules (2012), Banshee (2022)
Quiet Riot - Quiet Riot 10 (RSM, 2014)
Robbie Nevil - Wot's It To Ya (1986), Wot's It To Ya: The Best of Robbie Nevil (1999)
(Eilleen) Shania Twain - Beginnings (1988), Final Beginnings (1991)
Secret Society - Induction (AMG Sony, 2018)
Silent Rage - Shattered Hearts (1987), Don't Touch Me There (1989)
Special EFX - Frontline (1986)
Tattoo Rodeo - Rode Hard Put Away Wet (1991)
THEM - Manor Of The Se7en Gables (SPV/Steam Hammer, 2018)
Throne of Vengeance - Flesh Engine (2011), Live Evil (2013)
Vapors, The - Turning Japanese (1980)
VA - Elvira Presents Monster Hits (1994), Elvira Presents Revenge of the Monster Hits (1995), Hard Rock Zombies Soundtrack (2008)
W.A.S.P. - Live... in the Raw (1987)

Music in film and TV credits

Accused, The (1988)
Baywatch (2001)
Beverly Hills 90210 (3 Seasons)
Child's Wish, A (1997)
Ghost Town (1988)
Ghoulies II (1987)
"Hard Rock Zombies" (1985)
Kids In The Hall, The (2010)
Meatballs 4 (1992)
New Mickey Mouse Club, The (1993)
Million Dollar Mystery (1987)
Music Is Communication (1986)
New WKRP in Cincinnati, The (1991-1993)
Real Men (1987)
Reason For Living (1990)
Sex and the City, Season 4 (2001)
To Die For (1995)
Twin Sitters (1995)
Vice Squad (1982)
Vice Versa (1988)
Kindred: The Embraced (1996)

References

1 2 "Sabu becomes a father". New York Times. January 3, 1951. p. 22. Retrieved October 19, 2025.
↑ "Cazbah Patrons Dig Paul Sabu's Quintet". The Van Nuys News. January 5, 1973. Retrieved September 26, 2026.
1 2 3 Reynolds, Dave (January 20, 2024). ""Had I known I was going to create a piece of history, I would have approached things differently": how Only Child made one of the greatest cult hard rock debut albums ever". Louder. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
↑ Gagliardi, Marcia. "The United States' top classic disco DJs share their essential disco tracks". Time Out United States. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2025.
↑ Steffen Presley, keyboardist
↑ "Sabu – Sabu". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "Kidd Glove – Kidd Glove". Discogs. August 6, 1984. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "Kidd Glove - Kidd Glove". YesterRock. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
↑ "Sabu – Heartbreak". Discogs. August 6, 1985. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "YESTERROCK release information November 2010". YesterRock. Retrieved November 15, 2010.
↑ "Paul Sabu". Heavy Harmonies. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "Sabu – Sabu". Discogs. August 6, 1996. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "Sabu – Between The Light". Discogs. August 6, 1998. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "Paul Sabu – Strange Messiah". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "VOICES OF ROCK High & Mighty". Rock Report. Retrieved August 27, 2009.
↑ "Paul Sabu – Call Of The Wild". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "Paul Sabu – Bangkok Rules". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.
↑ "Sabu – BanShee (2022, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 2, 2023.
↑ "Alexa - Alexa". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "L.A Temptation by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ "L.A Connection by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ "Return to L.A. by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ "L.A. Darkness by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved March 22, 2016.
↑ "Ultra Rare Bowie Proof Goes For A Song". David Bowie. September 7, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ Larkin, John (September 20, 2008). "David Bowie - Dance". John Larkin - Education, training and professional development. John Larkin. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "I by Dennis Churchill Dries". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ Kami. "Fatal Smile - World Domination (Special Edition) (Soundpollution)". Metal as Fuck. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "JESSE DAMON The Hand That Rocks". KISS Related Recordings. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ Skid (June 30, 2015). "Jesse Damon – Rebel Within". Sleaze Roxx. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "Kim Carnes – Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes)". Discogs. August 6, 1985. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "Little America – Little America". Discogs. August 6, 1987. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "Little America Fairgrounds". Heavy Harmonies. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "Malice - Crazy In The Night". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "Personal & Group Albums". Paul Sabu. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ "Beginnings". CD Baby. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
↑ "Secret Society - The Induction". Discogs. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
↑ "Silent Rage – Shattered Hearts". Discogs. August 6, 1987. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ "Silent Rage – Don't Touch Me There". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ "Them - Manor Of The Se7en Gables". Discogs. October 26, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
↑ "Flesh Engine by Throne of Vengeance". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
↑ "Live Evil - About". Throne of Vengeance. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

External links

Official Website
Paul Sabu on Discogs

[NYT-1] 1 2 "Sabu becomes a father". New York Times. January 3, 1951. p. 22. Retrieved October 19, 2025.

[2] "Cazbah Patrons Dig Paul Sabu's Quintet". The Van Nuys News. January 5, 1973. Retrieved September 26, 2026.

[:0-3] 1 2 3 Reynolds, Dave (January 20, 2024). ""Had I known I was going to create a piece of history, I would have approached things differently": how Only Child made one of the greatest cult hard rock debut albums ever". Louder. Retrieved November 16, 2025.

[4] Gagliardi, Marcia. "The United States' top classic disco DJs share their essential disco tracks". Time Out United States. Archived from the original on October 4, 2024. Retrieved November 16, 2025.

[5] Steffen Presley, keyboardist

[6] "Sabu – Sabu". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[7] "Kidd Glove – Kidd Glove". Discogs. August 6, 1984. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[8] "Kidd Glove - Kidd Glove". YesterRock. Retrieved June 1, 2010.

[9] "Sabu – Heartbreak". Discogs. August 6, 1985. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[10] "YESTERROCK release information November 2010". YesterRock. Retrieved November 15, 2010.

[11] "Paul Sabu". Heavy Harmonies. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[12] "Sabu – Sabu". Discogs. August 6, 1996. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[13] "Sabu – Between The Light". Discogs. August 6, 1998. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[14] "Paul Sabu – Strange Messiah". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[15] "VOICES OF ROCK High & Mighty". Rock Report. Retrieved August 27, 2009.

[16] "Paul Sabu – Call Of The Wild". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[17] "Paul Sabu – Bangkok Rules". Discogs. Retrieved July 22, 2015.

[18] "Sabu – BanShee (2022, CD)". Discogs. Retrieved March 2, 2023.

[19] "Alexa - Alexa". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[20] "L.A Temptation by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[21] "L.A Connection by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[22] "Return to L.A. by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[23] "L.A. Darkness by AOR". CD Baby. Retrieved March 22, 2016.

[24] "Ultra Rare Bowie Proof Goes For A Song". David Bowie. September 7, 2008. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[25] Larkin, John (September 20, 2008). "David Bowie - Dance". John Larkin - Education, training and professional development. John Larkin. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[26] "I by Dennis Churchill Dries". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[27] Kami. "Fatal Smile - World Domination (Special Edition) (Soundpollution)". Metal as Fuck. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[28] "JESSE DAMON The Hand That Rocks". KISS Related Recordings. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[29] Skid (June 30, 2015). "Jesse Damon – Rebel Within". Sleaze Roxx. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[30] "Kim Carnes – Crazy In The Night (Barking At Airplanes)". Discogs. August 6, 1985. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[31] "Little America – Little America". Discogs. August 6, 1987. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[32] "Little America Fairgrounds". Heavy Harmonies. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[33] "Malice - Crazy In The Night". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[34] "Personal & Group Albums". Paul Sabu. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[35] "Beginnings". CD Baby. Retrieved June 20, 2019.

[36] "Secret Society - The Induction". Discogs. May 11, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.

[37] "Silent Rage – Shattered Hearts". Discogs. August 6, 1987. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[38] "Silent Rage – Don't Touch Me There". Discogs. August 6, 1989. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[39] "Them - Manor Of The Se7en Gables". Discogs. October 26, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.

[40] "Flesh Engine by Throne of Vengeance". CD Baby. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

[41] "Live Evil - About". Throne of Vengeance. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.

Authority control databases
International	VIAF
National	United States
Artists	MusicBrainz