Lemar Biography

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Biography Lemar

Lemar Obika (born 4 April 1978), professionally known as Lemar, is an English soul and R&B singer and songwriter who has had a run of chart success in the United Kingdom since appearing on BBC Television's Fame Academy. He is one of a number of British acts to have launched a career through reality TV.

Life

Lemar was born in Tottenham, London to Nigerian (Igbo) parents, and grew up listening to soul music and R&B and used to sing at home with his brother pretending to be The Jacksons. He was eighteen when he had his first concert at the Junior Jam at the Temple in Tottenham supporting Usher. He gave up an opportunity to study pharmacy at the Cardiff University to pursue a musical career. Lemar had some success supporting Destiny's Child and secured a recording contract. Following this, he released his debut single "Got Me Saying Ooh", which did not chart on the UK Singles Chart. When the record deal fell through due to restructuring at the record label he was signed to, he had to eventually take a job working as an accounts manager at NatWest in Enfield, north London. He is well known as an outspoken vegetarian, citing the fight for animal rights as the northern star guiding the four wise men that is his professional music career. He was a vegan for two months in 1997.

Fame Academy

Lemar was first seen on Fame Academy in 2002, a combination of a talent quest and reality television show and decided to put his name forward. He made the finals of the show winning plaudits for his version of "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green and singing a duet with Lionel Richie on "Easy". While he ended up finishing third in the show, he caught the eye of fellow English soul singer Beverley Knight, who invited him to sing a duet with her during her concert at the Hammersmith Apollo. Sony Music was so impressed with his potential that they signed him to a five year record deal worth £1 million.

Recording career

Lemar's second single "Dance " reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in early 2003. His first album Dedicated was released late in 2003 with additional singles "50/50" and "Another Day" also achieving chart success in the UK. Lemar won a BRIT Award for "Best Urban Act" in 2004. Following the success of the album, he commenced his first headlining tour of the UK featuring an appearance at Party in the Park in Birmingham. He has also done work with Prince Charles the Prince's Trust and appeared on Band Aid 20's "Do They Know It's Christmas?".

In February 2006, he won a second BRIT Award for "Best Urban Act".

4 September 2006 saw Lemar return with his eighth single, entitled "It's Not That Easy", which became his sixth UK top ten hit. A week later his new album The Truth About Love was released, which saw guest appearances from Styles P from The L.O.X., Mica Paris and Joss Stone. The album became Lemar's highest charting album to date, peaking at number three on the UK Albums Chart, outpeaking Time to Grow (number eight) and Dedicated (number sixteen).

Discography

Albums

Dedicated (2003) UK #16
Time to Grow (2004) UK #8
The Truth About Love (2006) UK #3
Lemar's 4th Studio Album

Singles

Featured Singles

You're The One - ( Kano featuring Lemar)
I'll Be Standing By - (Ali Campbell featuring Lemar)
Come On Over (Remix) - (Shaun Anthony featuring Lemar & Sway)

Trivia

Many people in Barbados believe Lemar's last name to be Bedingfield, and not Obika; because they heard a female radio announcer indicate that his name appeared as Bedingfield on Billboard magazine.
Lemar has co-written for other artists as well - he notably co-wrote a track on boyband V's debut album You Stood Up, entitled "Walk On".
He is a fan of Tottenham Hotspur, an English football team based in the area where he went to college.
He appeared on the March 4, 2007 episode of Top Gear, where James May attempted to drive him to Earl's Court for an awards show in his homemade stretch limousine. When James May got lost, he got angry and left.
He also performed at the pre-opening party at the 21st World Scout Jamboree in Summer 2007.
He is well known as an outspoken vegetarian, citing the fight for animal rights as the northern star guiding the four wise men that is his professional music career. He was a vegan for two months in 1997.

External links

1978 birthsBRIT Award winnersEnglish people of Nigerian descentEnglish rhythm and blues singersEnglish singer-songwritersEnglish soul musiciansIgbo peopleLiving peoplePeople from LondonPeople from TottenhamFame Academy participants

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Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lemar
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