Fort Hamilton High School inducted former student Paul Jabara of the class of 1965, into the Fort Hamilton High School’s Alumni Hall of Fame on May 12, 2023. Making his debut fresh out of high school, Jabara was on his way to fame, acting in the Broadway musical Hair and producing his own musical pieces.
From the moment Jabara was a child, he knew a career in the entertainment industry would lie at the end of his path. He took piano lessons as a child and modeled throughout high school, cutting his high school career short in 1968 when he landed a role in the Broadway musical Hair. In 1972, he originated the role of King Herod in the West End production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which earned him a standing ovation every night. When he was 23, he wrote the book, music, and lyrics for the musical Rachael Lily Rosenbloom (And Don’t You Ever Forget It). Although the musical did not make it past previews, Jabara had managed to make a name for himself in the entertainment industry. Later, Jabara took on many different roles in films such as The Day of the Locust, Thank God It’s Friday, Midnight Cowboy, and Honkey Tonk Freeway.
Jabara’s talents could also be seen in his songwriting compositions, one of which won the 1979 Oscar for Best Song. This composition was “Last Dance,” which was recorded by Donna Summer for the show Thank God It’s Friday. He co-wrote the Weather Girls’ classic hit, “It’s Raining Men” with Paul Schaffer, which was nominated for a Grammy in 1983 and was later ranked by VH1 among the top 100 Greatest Dance Songs.
In addition to his many accomplishments in music, stage, and film, Jabara is remembered for his compassion, which fueled his activism in the 1980s and early 1990s. He co-founded the Red Ribbon Project in 1991 and had helped add a new meaning to red ribbon, which is still used to show the awareness and support for those living with AIDS.
