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Paul Smith (born March 13, 1979), from Billingham, North-East England, is the singer for British indie group Maxïmo Park. Smith is the eldest of three children and briefly worked as an art teacher before he was asked to join the band. Before Smith was recruited to Maxïmo Park they were a four-piece band on the verge of splitting up. Bassist Archis Tiku was originally going to be lead singer, but revealed to the band that he had no intention of being its frontman. Smith was discovered by the then-girlfriend of drummer Tom English in a pub while he was singing along to a Stevie Wonder's "Superstition". Providing the band with a stage presence, Smith began to write songs with the group, despite never imagining himself as the frontman of a band. Smith had never sung on stage beforehand. He was thrown out of the school choir, because he was afraid to sing solo. He can also play guitar.