At the end of the ’80s, Mica Paris became a vital voice in British R&B, combining old-school soul and gospel roots, jazzy touches, and a dash of new jack swing in her beats. Born Michelle Wallen in Islington in 1969, she followed the path of many R&B greats by starting her singing career in a gospel choir. Paris was just 19 when she found fame with her 1988 debut single, “My One Temptation,” reaching the UK Top 10. She showed her stylistic range with another hit soon after, her duet with Will Downing on the Roberta Flack/Donny Hathaway R&B classic “Where Is the Love.” Paris established her musical-theater cred in the early ’90s, appearing in shows in London’s West End as well as touring, but she never quit recording. In later years, Paris would devote entire albums to her vintage-soul and gospel influences (2005’s Soul Classics and 2020’s Gospel, respectively).