Lemar

Profession: Singer
Place/Date of Birth: Tottenham, London, 04 April 2020

Lemar’s ’amazing’ Brit - Feb 14 2007
Singer Lemar has told how it was "amazing" winning a Brit Award after years of struggling to make it in the music world.

The star - who scooped Best Urban Act at last year’s event and is up for Best Male this year - says finally being recognised was a "great achievement" for him.

"The first Brit Award I won was a great achievement for me mainly because the whole industry was in the room when I picked up the award, so that was amazing," he said.

"All the years I’d been trying, all the people I’d seen and I’d try to get deals off them and had interactions with people in the room, so to have that kind of acknowledgement was amazing."

But Lemar insists winning accolades is only part of it.

He said: "For me, the main focus is on good music and writing a good song and doing a good tour and things like that, but obviously a by-product of that is getting an award, so awards and being nominated really does mean a lot."

Lemar wants to crack US - Jan 2007
Lemar has said he feels "honoured" by the response to his music at home in Britain but now wants to try and crack the US.

The singer - who entered the limelight on the BBC’s Fame Academy in 2002 - explained: "I’m really, really pleased with the way the British public have really got behind me and I feel honoured to be part of the British music industry.

"I would like to venture out a bit more and represent the UK worldwide, in Europe and America so that’s something that’s next on my agenda."

Despite scoring six Top 10 hits in the UK, including If There’s Any Justice, Lemar hasn’t really achieved global fame.

He has released two songs in New Zealand, both of which charted in the Top 40.

But before the soulful singer turns his attention Stateside, his UK tour kicks off in March.

"I’m in the process of getting [it] all together and putting together a good show. I think it’s gonna be a show of energy and [also] a very relaxed one so people can participate," Lemar said.

"I just wanna sing 100 per cent and represent for the UK and show that we’re in competition with the rest of the world."

Lemar announces tour - Nov 06
Award winning singer Lemar has announced that he will embark on a massive nineteen date tour in 2007 to promote his current album, Time to Grow. In the meantime he will release a third single from the top three long player, entitled Someone Should Tell You the song is a ballad of unrequited love which sees Lemar pronouce his love for an ex. Bless him.

His 2007 tour schedule is as follows:

16 March - Manchester Apollo

17 March - Harrogate Centre

19 March - Sheffield City Hall

20 March - Newcastle City Hall

21 March - Glasgow Clyde Auditorium

23 March - Nottingham Royal Centre

24 March - Birmingham NIA

25 March - Cambridge Corn Exchange

27 March - Bristol Colston Hall

28 March - Plymouth Pavilions

29 March - Bournemouth Intl Centre

30 March - Cardiff Intl Arena

1 April - Ipswich Regent

2 April - Norwich UEA

3 April - Southend Cliffs Pavilion

5 April - Leicester De Montfort Hall

6 April - Swindon Oasis

7 April - Brighton Centre

9 April - Hammersmith Apollo

... read more 12 next»

Biography

Remember David Sneddon and Sinead Quinn? They were the two Fame Academy students who the public considered to have more star quality than Lemar Obika. Now, four years down the line Lemar has three hit albums and a score of awards under his belt. David and Sinead? Check your local Woolies...

Born April 4 1978 in Tottenham, Lemar gave up a place studying pharmacy at Cardiff University to pursue the musical career he had always dreamed of. At just 18 he supported Usher at Tottenham’s Temple, closely followed with another support slot, this time with Destiny’s Child. However when his debut single, Got Me Saying Ooh, failed to chart Lemar found himself working at his local Natwest bank.

It was in 2002 that Lemar saw his opportunity, applying for a new BBC talent and reality show. Despite outstanding performances, including a duet with Lionel Richie Lemar was dropped in the final. But while Sneddon, who won the competition, faded in to obscurity after one single Lemar signed a £1million five record deal with Sony.

Dance With U, released the following year, reached number 2 in the charts while follow up efforts and an album, Dedicated, were also great successes. The Brit Awards flooded in and as Lemar released a second album, Time to Grow, his status as the new face of British soul was secured.

In 2006 Lemar made a return with his third album The Truth About Love, which featured numerous guests including Joss Stone and Mica Paris. The release peaked at number 3 making it Lemar’s most successful album to date. He also scooped MOBO awards for Best Album and UK Act of the Year. It looks like sticking to his motto, ’try, try and try again’ has paid off.
March 2007

Star Ratings