A native of Yorkshire, England, Paul Hyde emigrated to North America in his teens, a tough northern lad who burst into the scene in 1979 as the voice of the Payola$, a band he formed with guitarist/co-writer Bob Rock (now best known as a hit producer). The Payola$ talied six albums, gold and platinum records, considerable airplay and four Juno awards. After the group dissolved in 1988, Hyde went solo in 1990.