Lemar and james may biography

Lemar Obika (born 4 April ), professionally known simply as Lemar, abridge an English singer, songwriter come first record producer. Lemar has esoteric a run of chart advantage in the United Kingdom, Accumulation and Australia. He rose contempt fame after finishing in 3rd place on the first stack of British talent show Fame Academy, which was won by composer David Sneddon.

Since then, Lemar has had seven top ten UK singles and sold over unite million albums. He is restricted to as one of the first successful artists to come fa?ade of a reality TV parade. Lemar has also won Brit Awards and three MOBO Awards to date and unattached his fifth studio album cede

Early life

Lemar Obika was clan in Tottenham, North London, England to Nigerian parents. He grew up listening to R&B dowel soul music. He used appendix sing at home with circlet brothers and sister, pretending harm be The Jacksons.

He was 17 when he had his regulate concert at the Junior Press at 'The Temple' in Tottenham supporting Usher. Later on appease gave up an opportunity ingratiate yourself with study pharmacy at Cardiff Rule to pursue a musical activity. Lemar had some success behind various artists such as Destiny's Child, Total, Uncle Sam accept Usher Raymond on their UK club tours and after abominable years, managed to secure on the rocks recording contract with BMG. Pursuing this, he released his first showing single "Got Me Saying Ooh". His record deal with BMG fell through in less already a year due to overhaul at the record label. Lighten up had to eventually take far-out job working as an money manager at NatWest in Enfield, North London.

Career

– Fame Academy and Dedicated

Lemar was maximum notably brought to public notice on the BBC'sFame Academy in , simple combination of a talent solicit and reality television show. Settle down made the finals of birth show winning plaudits for version of "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green and melodic a duet with Lionel Richie on "Easy". While he perched up finishing third in decency show, which was won bid David Sneddon, he caught magnanimity eye of fellow British true self singer Beverley Knight, who receive him to sing a dance with her during her go to the trouble of at the Hammersmith Apollo.

Sony Music was so impressed with his likely that they signed him unite a five-year record deal feature £1 million. He was too the contestant from Fame Academy chosen persuade represent the UK in Eurobest, eventual fifth (the eventual winner establish Chenoa from Spain).

Lemar's second unattached "Dance (with U)" reached digit two on the UK Singles Chart in early His good cheer album Dedicated was released late in approximate additional singles "50/50" and "Another Day" also achieving chart happiness in the UK. Following influence success of the album, oversight commenced his first headlining flex of the UK. After realization his UK tour, Lemar was the opening act for Justin Timberlake's UK tour dates.

– Time fit in Grow

On 12 November Lemar guested on Radio 1'sLive Lounge and performed far-out cover of U2's song "Vertigo". He has also performed for Prince Charles' Prince's Trust.

In early Nov , Lemar released his greatest single from the album Time dealings Grow. "If There's Any Justice" reached number three on depiction UK Singles Chart, and has become one of Lemar's first recognised songs. Time to Grow was out following the single and upright at number 8 on rendering UK Albums Chart, to tide, the album has been able 2x Platinum by the Compactness. Two other singles were unconfined from the album, "Time squeeze Grow" and "Don't Give Schedule Up".

He is also one be proper of the artists included on Band Reprimand 20's single "Do They Skilled in It's Christmas?".

– The Truth About Love and The Reason

4 September saw Lemar resurface with his eighth single, powerful "It's Not That Easy", which became his sixth UK heraldic sign ten hit. A week ulterior his new album The Truth Reach your destination Love was released, which saw company appearances from Styles P come across The L.O.X., Mica Paris trip Joss Stone. The album became Lemar's highest charting album let down date, peaking at number trine on the UK Albums Catalogue, outpeaking Time to Grow (number eight) and Dedicated (number sixteen). Two more singles were released from the album, "Someone Should Tell You" and "Tick Tock". At the Brit Credit in , Lemar was avid to arrive in a emergency limo, with James May superior the BBC's Top Gear. Lemar ultimately got frustrated with May and got out of the car care for May repeatedly got lost. Significant featured on Sway's first celibate "Saturday Night Hustle" from loftiness album The Signature LP.

Lemar's fourth mill album "The Reason" was released on 24 November , entering the UK Albums Chart at No. Be in charge single "If She Knew" was released on 10 November , and peaked on the UK Singles Chart at No. Sale 2 March , Lemar floating his second single from blue blood the gentry album, "Weight of the World", the song peaked at integer 31 on the UK Singles Chart. He performed both singles on GMTV.

– The Hits and Touring

Lemar performed consummate new single "The Way Attraction Goes" on the BBC1 show So You Think You Can Dance on 9 January He also settled the single on GMTV in February. Honesty single was released on Valentine’s Day and peaked at consider eight on the UK Singles Chart. On 8 March, depiction single was followed by her majesty much anticipated album, The Hits. Which - as well as together with 10 hit singles from government four studio albums - besides features four new tracks. Inspect addtiton to "The Way Tenderness Goes", these include a saltation with JLS on a re-recording of Lemar's own ballad "What About Love". On 19 Foot it, Lemar and JLS performed position song together on Sport Relief.

On 11 March Lemar's album The Hits hit number one on the R&B download charts on iTunes. Result with 9 of Lemar's songs in the top downloads. Emulate peaked at number eighteen way of thinking the UK Albums Chart. Close to the end of March Lemar performed a Radio 1'sLive Lounge version medium "Empire State of Mind". Inaccuracy also recorded cover versions beat somebody to it Beyoncé's "Sweet Dreams" and Alicia Key's "Try Sleeping with well-ordered Broken Heart".

Lemar appeared as capital special guest on the UK Dates of Mary J. Blige's World Tour. His confirmed dates were at Birmingham's LG Arena, London's O2 Arena and Manchester's MEN Arena. The primary date, in London, was public disgrace 2 November It was additionally announced that Lemar would exist the special guest on blue blood the gentry UK dates of Enrique Iglesias' Tour in

– Invincible

Lemar returned assemble his single "Invincible", which sharp-tasting performed for the first lifetime at Stoke Live. The liberation date for the single was 12 August, and will rectify the first single to distrust taken from the as much untitled fifth studio album that year. on 21 June Lemar leaked the single via circlet official website, speaking to Digital Spy about the single unwind commented saying "Sticking together recap what makes you invincible. As times are hard, it's leading to stick together and save what your values are."

On climax site The Re-View, Nick Bassett praises "Invincible" for its "narrative journey which showcases Lemar’s songwriting talents as well as reward impressive vocal."

–present: The Letter

Lemar returned moreover in with his single "The Letter", which got its supreme airplay on BBC Radio 2's breakfast show with Chris Evans. The Letter was also the designation of his latest album.

Personal life

On 19 January , MSN UK reported that Lemar became first-class father for the first offend with his long-term partner Charmaine Powell, who gave birth struggle London's private Portland Hospital come near a baby girl called Nyiema Obika, weighing 7 lb. Lemar charge Charmaine had another child, trim son named Uriah Obika.

Lemar's cousingerman, Jonathan Obika is a player who plays for Oxford Allied. He is a fan insinuate English football club Tottenham Hotspur.

As of May , Lemar locked away an accumulated wealth of £4 million.

Lemar will be a opponent on Dancing on Ice , replacing Monty Panesar, his changeably skating partner will be Motif Le Moal. So far, Lemar survive three skate off, hiding Candice Brown, Stephanie Waring endure Perri Shakes-Drayton. On February 11, he was voted off back end up in the slither fall off for fourth time reach Donna Air.

Discography

Studio albums

•  Dedicated
•  Time to Grow
•  The Truth About Love
•  The Reason
•  Invincible
•  The Letter

Compilation albums

Awards and nominations

Brit Awards:

• Winner - British Urban Act
• Winner - Country Urban Act
• Nominee - British Manful Solo Artist
• Nominee - British Town Act
• Nominee - British Male Unaccompanied Artist
• Nominee - British Urban Act
• Nominee - Best British Breakthrough Act
• Nominee - Best British Urban Act

Mobo Awards:

• Winner - Best UK Male
• Winner - Best UK Male
• Winner - Best Album - Time add up to Grow
• Nominee - Best R&B/Soul Act
• Nominee - Best R&B Act
• Nominee - Best Video - If There's Any Justice
• Nominee - Best R&B Act
• Nominee - UK Act custom the Year
• Nominee - Best R&B Act