Paul Antony Young was born on January 17, 1956, in Luton, Bedfordshire, England. Before achieving solo fame, he honed his musical craft as the frontman of several short-lived bands, including Kat Kool & the Kool Cats, Streetband, and Q-Tips. These early experiences allowed him to develop the stage presence and vocal style that would later define his career.

Young became a teen idol in the 1980s with his solo success, distinguished by a smooth yet soulful voice that belonged to the genre known as "blue-eyed soul." His hit singles, including "Love of the Common People," "Wherever I Lay My Hat," "Come Back and Stay," "Every Time You Go Away," and "Everything Must Change," all reached the top 10 of the UK Singles Chart. Released in 1983, his debut album, No Parlez, was the first of three UK number-one albums, cementing his place as a major chart force.

His achievements earned him a Brit Award for Best British Male in 1985. The following year, his hit "Every Time You Go Away" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 and won Best British Video at the 1986 Brit Awards. Beyond his solo work, Young contributed to the 1984 charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?", where he sang the opening lines, and he performed at Live Aid held at Wembley Stadium, London, in July 1985. In 1988, he sang the Crowded House track "Don't Dream It's Over" at the Nelson Mandela 70th Birthday Tribute. In 1992, he performed "Radio Ga Ga" with the surviving members of Queen at The Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert.

Since the mid-1990s, Young has performed with the band Los Pacaminos, expanding his musical horizons beyond his solo pop career. His enduring presence in the music industry, from his 1980s chart dominance to his later collaborative work, reflects a versatile and resilient artistry.