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.

Contents

Life

''Fame Academy''

Recording career

Discography

Albums

Singles

Trivia

See also

External links

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.

''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 (With U)" 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).
Lemar will feature on Kano's upcoming second album ''London Town'', one the song "You're the One". This will be the first time Lemar has featured on an album. It has also been reported that Lemar will feature on UB40's upcoming album aswell.

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

Year	Title	Chart Positions			From Album
		UK Singles Chart	UK Download Chart	New Zealand Single Chart
2001	"Got Me Saying Ooh"	-	-	-	Single-only release
2003	"Dance (With U)"	2	-	6	''Dedicated''
	"50/50" / "Lullaby"	5	-	-
2004	"Another Day"	9	-	-
	"If There's Any Justice"	3	-	21	''Time to Grow''
2005	"Time to Grow"	9	-	-
	"Don't Give It Up"	21	-	-
2006	"It's Not That Easy"	7	29	-	''The Truth About Love''
	"Someone Should Tell You"	21	23	-
2007	"Tick Tock"	45	-	-

'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 played a part in a gig for the UK contingent at the 21st World Scout Jamboree, and was booed off stage, with everyone cheering only for his on-stage guitarist, Angelo.

See also

★ ''Live from London'' (iTunes)

External links

★ Lemar Online website

★ Top of The Pops interview

★ Lemar Web - A Lemar Fansite

★ Lemar at The FASC

★ Lemar lyrics

★ Lemar in Ethiopia video

★ Lemar in Uganda videos

★ [1] Live on channel V Sydney