Lemar
640442
225884914
2008-07-15T21:20:29Z
89.243.45.168
{{otherpeople|Lemar}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| Name = Lemar
| Img = Lemar.jpg
| Img_capt = Lemar Live at Cafe Mumbai
| Background = solo_singer
| Birth_name = Lemar Obika
| Born = {{birth date and age|1978|4|4|df=yes}}<br>[[Tottenham]], [[London]], [[England]]
| Died =
| Origin =
| Genre = [[soul music|Soul]], [[rhythm and blues|R&B]]
| Occupation = [[Singer]], [[Songwriter]], Vocal Producer
| Years_active = 2001–present
| Label = [[Sony/BMG]]
| URL = [http://www.lemar-online.com Lemar-Online.com]
}}
'''Lemar Obika''' (born [[4 April]] [[1978]]), professionally known as '''Lemar''', is a [[United Kingdom|British]] [[Soul music|Soul]] and [[Rhythm and Blues|R&B]] [[Singer]], [[Songwriter]] and Vocal Producer who has had a run of chart success in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Europe]] and [[Australia]].
==Life==
Lemar was born in [[London]] to [[Nigeria]]n ([[Igbo people|Igbo]]) parents, and was raised in [[Tottenham]] listening to Soul Music and R&B. He used to sing at home with his brothers and sister, pretending to be [[The Jackson 5|The Jacksons]]. He was seventeen when he had his first concert at the Junior Jam at the Temple in [[Tottenham]] supporting [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]]. He gave up an opportunity to study [[pharmacy]] at the [[Cardiff University]] to pursue a musical career. Lemar had some success supporting various artists such as [[Destiny's Child]], [[Total]], [[Uncle Sam]] and [[Usher Raymond]] on their UK club tours and after some years, managed to secure a recording contract with BMG. Following this, he released his debut single "[[Got Me Saying Ooh]]". Unfortunately his record deal with BMG fell through in less than a year due to restructuring at the record label. He had to eventually take a job working as an accounts manager at [[NatWest]] in [[London Borough of Enfield|Enfield]], north London.
On Saturday 19th January 2008, MSN UK reported that Lemar became a father for the first time with his long term partner Charmaine Powell, who gave birth to a baby girl called Nyiema Obika at [[London]]'s private Portland hospital weighing 7 lb <ref>[http://entertainment.uk.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=7298645 Lemar celebrating daughter's birth - MSN.co.uk ] Retrieved 20th January 2008</ref>.
==''Fame Academy''==
Lemar was most notably brought to public attention on the [[BBC]]'s ''[[Fame Academy]]'' in 2002, a combination of a [[talent quest]] and reality television show. He made the finals of the show winning plaudits for his version of "[[Let's Stay Together (song)|Let's Stay Together]]" by [[Al Green]] and singing a duet with [[Lionel Richie]] on "[[Easy (The Commodores song)|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 (Lemar album)|Dedicated]]'' was released late in 2003 with additional singles "[[50/50 / Lullaby|50/50]]" and "[[Another Day (Lemar song)|Another Day]]" also achieving chart success in the UK. Lemar won a [[BRIT Awards|BRIT Award]] for "Best Urban Act" in 2004. Following the success of the album, he commenced his first headlining tour of the UK.
On the 12th of November 2004 Lemar guested on [[BBC Radio 1]]'s [[Live Lounge]] and performed a cover of [[U2]]'s song "[[Vertigo (song)|Vertigo]]". He has also performed for [[Charles, Prince of Wales|Prince Charles]]' [[Prince's Trust]].
He is also one of the many artists included on [[Band Aid 20]]'s single "[[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 (album)|The Truth About Love]]'' was released, which saw guest appearances from [[Styles P]] from [[D-Block|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 (Lemar album)|Dedicated]]
Lemar's 4th studio album is sceduled for release in [[November]] [[2008]].
Lemar will also feature on [[Sway]]'s first single "Saturday Night Hustle" from the album "Signature LP".
==Discography==
===Albums===
* ''[[Dedicated (Lemar album)|Dedicated]]'' (2003) UK #16
* ''[[Time to Grow]]'' (2004) UK #8
* ''[[The Truth About Love (album)|The Truth About Love]]'' (2006) UK #3
* ''TBA'' (2008)
===Singles===
{| class="wikitable"
! width="28" rowspan="2"| Year
! width="250" rowspan="2"| Title
! colspan="4"| Chart Positions
! width="250" rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! width="86"| <small>[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]</small>
! width="86"| <small>[[UK Download Chart|UK DL]]</small>
! width="86"| <small>[[RIANZ|NZ]]</small>
! width="86"| <small>[[Ireland|IRE]]</small>
|-
| rowspan="1"|[[2001 in music|2001]]
| "[[Got Me Saying Ooh]]"
! —
! —
! —
! —
| Single-only release
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2003 in music|2003]]
| "[[Dance (With U)]]"
! 2
! —
! 6
! —
| rowspan="3"|''[[Dedicated (Lemar album)|Dedicated]]''
|-
| "[[50/50 / Lullaby|50/50" / "Lullaby]]"
! 5
! —
! —
! —
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2004 in music|2004]]
| "[[Another Day (Lemar song)|Another Day]]"
! 9
! —
! —
! —
|-
| "[[If There's Any Justice]]"
! 3
! —
! 21
! 19
| rowspan="3"|''[[Time to Grow]]''
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2005 in music|2005]]
| "[[Time to Grow (song)|Time to Grow]]"
! 9
! —
! —
! 13
|-
| "[[Don't Give It Up (Lemar song)|Don't Give It Up]]"
! 21
! —
! —
! 30
|-
| rowspan="2"|[[2006 in music|2006]]
| "[[It's Not That Easy]]"
! 7
! 29
! —
! —
| rowspan="3"|''[[The Truth About Love (album)|The Truth About Love]]''
|-
| "[[Someone Should Tell You]]"
! 21
! 23
! —
! —
|-
| rowspan="1"|[[2007 in music|2007]]
| "[[Tick Tock (song)|Tick Tock]]"
! 45
! —
! —
! —
|}
==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)|Billboard]]'' magazine.
* Lemar has co-written for other artists as well - he notably co-wrote a track on boyband [[V (band)|V]]'s debut album ''You Stood Up'', entitled "Walk On".
* He is a fan of [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]], an English [[football (soccer)|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 repeatedly, he got frustrated and got out of the car.
* He also performed at the pre-opening party at the 21st [[World Scout Jamboree]] in Summer 2007.
==References==
{{Reflist|1}}
==See also==
* [[Live from London (iTunes)|''Live from London'' (iTunes)]]
==External links==
* [http://www.lemar-online.com/ Lemar Online website]
* [http://lemar-rules.hyves.nl/ Hyves Lemar Fanpage]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od8ZP9oaxJE Lemar in Ethiopia video]
* [http://stjohnsparkmusicroom.multiply.com/video/item/36] Live on channel V Sydney
{{Fame Academy}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lemar}}
[[Category:1978 births]]
[[Category:BRIT Award winners]]
[[Category:English people of Nigerian descent]]
[[Category:English rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English soul musicians]]
[[Category:Igbo people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from London]]
[[Category:People from Tottenham]]
[[Category:Fame Academy participants]]
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