Paul Lyttle (musician)

Paul Lyttle is a musician from Northern Ireland. He sang and played in the bands The Carpetbaggers, Chips, Lyttle People, returning to Chips, and later with Tequila Sunrise. Over the course of his career, he has been a singer, guitarist, producer and song-writer. He continued to be involved in the music industry and in the 2000s has moved into commercial and technical roles related to the music industry.
== Early life ==
Lyttle was educated at Bangor Grammar School, Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. 2
An article on the history of Lyttle's school suggests he was in 1st Form of Grammar school in 1955-56 school year (normally entry is at age 11), meaning he would have been born in 1943 or 1944. 13
Lyttle started studying at Queen's University, Belfast, reading English and Psychology. However his own article suggests he did not complete the course due to conflicting commitments with his musical endeavours. (9)
== Musical career ==
=== Band membership ===
The first two bands were mentioned in an article by Lyttle himself, in his old school's magazine (8). 
* The A-Side
Joe Creighton (12) confirms that they played together in this band. 
* Reaction
There is no information available about this band. 
Lyttle claims that he then joined The CarpetBaggers, then The John Smith Band. The sequence below is slightly different, however, and comes from the Irish Showband article on Chips (1). 
* (?) to 1967 The John Smith Band 4
It has not been possible to find any information about this band except for a reference that Lyttle had left this band when joining The Carpetbaggers. 
* 1967 to 1970 The Carpetbaggers 4
Lyttle joined The Carpetbaggers, after they had released a single on Flea Records. The band split in 1970. 4
* 1970 to 1972 Chips 1
According to Lyttle's own article in his own school magazine (8), he was contacted by Colin McClelland (who was editor of City Beat, a music magazine in the North of Ireland), asking him if he would like to join Chips. The band was apparently experiencing difficulties, due to day-time work commitments from some of the band members.
Lyttle appears to have brought a change in that the newer members were professional musicians without day-time jobs. 
The Irish Showbands website suggests that Lyttle "driving musical force behind the band for rest of its career" 1 14
They recorded a number of covers of pop harmonies already released by The Beach Boys and other well-known harmony groups. 
Chips became a very popular band in Ireland in the genre of showbands. 1
* 1972 to 1973 Lyttle People 1
Lyttle formed a new group in January 1972, calling it Lyttle People. 
He was joined by singer Linda Martin also from Chips. Lyttle People disbanded in November 1973. 1
* 1974 to 1986 (approx) Chips 1
A re-configuration of Chips occurred in 1974, promoted as 'Original Chips' on 25th October 1973, 1 and Lyttle and Martin rejoined the band. 
They were successful in the mid 1970's in France and elsewhere in Europe. They signed with Decca Records (date not confirmed).
At some stage in the 1970's they moved to Dublin as the band's concerts were mostly in the Republic of Ireland and it was costing a lot to travel up and down to Northern Ireland.
In 1976, they supported The Bay City Rollers on their 1976 UK tour. 
The late 1970's and early 1980's saw a number of successes including TV appearances on programmes such as BBC's Top of the Pops, and their own series on BBC Northern Ireland. 1
* 1986 (approx) to (?) Tequila Sunrise 
Lyttle joined Tequila Sunrise after the demise of Chips. The group is still in existence but Lyttle's participation at this stage is unclear. 1 8
=== Artistic contributions ===
In October 1973, the Paul Lyttle-penned song 'Cross Your Heart', sung by Tina Reynolds, won the Irish National Song Contest, and went on to represent Ireland in the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest. It came 13th place in the competition, the year Abba won with Waterloo. 3 14
The Irish entry in the 1984 Eurovision Song Contest Terminal 3, sung by Linda Martin, lists Lyttle as a backing singer. The song came 2nd in the competition. (11)
== Professional career ==
In 2006, the magazine Hot Press listed Paul Lyttle as its 'Hi Tech Retail Manager' at Music Maker musical instrument retail store in Dublin. 7
Lyttle's LinkedIn profile 2 lists the following roles:
* 2008 - 2010 Dept Manager, X Music
* 2010 - 2014 Director, KMI Distribution
* 2014 - present Sales Consultant, M I Central
== Personal life == 
Lyttle was in a relationship with the singer Linda Martin from the early 1970s to the mid 1980s. 1
It appears that while he was born and raised in Northern Ireland, he has spent a lot of his adult life based in the Republic of Ireland. He currently resides in Ratoath, County Meath
Category:Musicians from Northern Ireland