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]]" ! &mdash; ! &mdash; ! &mdash; ! &mdash; | Single-only release |- | rowspan="2"|[[2003 in music|2003]] | "[[Dance (With U)]]" ! 2 ! &mdash; ! 6 ! &mdash; | rowspan="3"|''[[Dedicated (Lemar album)|Dedicated]]'' |- | "[[50/50 / Lullaby|50/50" / "Lullaby]]" ! 5 ! &mdash; ! &mdash; ! &mdash; |- | rowspan="2"|[[2004 in music|2004]] | "[[Another Day (Lemar song)|Another Day]]" ! 9 ! &mdash; ! &mdash; ! &mdash; |- | "[[If There's Any Justice]]" ! 3 ! &mdash; ! 21 ! 19 | rowspan="3"|''[[Time to Grow]]'' |- | rowspan="2"|[[2005 in music|2005]] | "[[Time to Grow (song)|Time to Grow]]" ! 9 ! &mdash; ! &mdash; ! 13 |- | "[[Don't Give It Up (Lemar song)|Don't Give It Up]]" ! 21 ! &mdash; ! &mdash; ! 30 |- | rowspan="2"|[[2006 in music|2006]] | "[[It's Not That Easy]]" ! 7 ! 29 ! &mdash; ! &mdash; | rowspan="3"|''[[The Truth About Love (album)|The Truth About Love]]'' |- | "[[Someone Should Tell You]]" ! 21 ! 23 ! &mdash; ! &mdash; |- | rowspan="1"|[[2007 in music|2007]] | "[[Tick Tock (song)|Tick Tock]]" ! 45 ! &mdash; ! &mdash; ! &mdash; |} ==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]] [[de:Lemar]] [[he:למר]] [[lt:Lemar]] [[nl:Lemar]] [[pl:Lemar Obika]]