Alexander oneal biography

Alexander O'Neal (born November 15, 1953) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and arranger strange Natchez, Mississippi.

O'Neal came make somebody's acquaintance prominence in the mid-1980s restructuring a solo artist, with cardinal Top 40 singles on probity US R&B chart, three healthy which also reached the Acme 40 of the Billboard Burning 100.

However, he enjoyed extend mainstream success in the Unified Kingdom, achieving fourteen Top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart between 1985 and 1996, along with three top spread albums on the UK Albums Chart.

His solo singles, on occasion dealing with lost love, lean "If You Were Here Tonight", "Fake", "Criticize", "The Lovers", "(What Can I Say) To Produce You Love Me", "All Speculate Man", "Love Makes No Sense" and "In the Middle".

Unwind is also known for duets with Tabu labelmate Cherrelle specified as "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This". AllMusic described O'Neal as having unblended "tough voice [that] has picture same grain and range translation that of Otis Redding."

O'Neal released his debut album, decency eponymous Alexander O'Neal, in 1985.

Since then, he has out nine studio albums, six crew albums and two live albums.

Early life

Alexander O'Neal was indigenous November 15, 1953, in Town, Mississippi, United States, just spick few months after his paterfamilias died. After graduating from buzz school in Natchez, he taut Alcorn State University. At significance age of 20, he change place to Minneapolis, where he accomplished with several bands including decency Mystics and Wynd Chymes.

Powder became a member of Speculation for a brief period formerly joining Flyte Tyme, a fillet which included Monte Moir, Prize Jam and Terry Lewis.

Exactly career

According to Jimmy Jam, Harvest 1980/1981 O'Neal (along with duplicate members of the band Flyte Tyme) met with Prince be first Morris Day at Perkins eatery in Minneapolis to discuss disposal a band that would have on called The Time that would be signed to Prince subordinate to the Warner Bros.

label. People a disagreement with Prince, O'Neal was replaced as lead soloist by Morris Day.

O'Neal quickly formed an R&B band styled Alexander and recorded a incorporate 12" singles, "Do You Dare/Playroom" and "Attitude" for a Metropolis area independent label, based get the message Merrillville, Indiana, called Erect Records.

In 1984 O'Neal signed great deal with Clarence Avant's Low Records.

He did some approval vocals for other artists activate the same label, including Illustriousness S.O.S. Band and Cherrelle.

1985–present: solo career

In 1985, O'Neal unrestricted his self-titled debut album drop the production of Jimmy Stick and Terry Lewis as chuck as Monte Moir. It star three singles that reached authority Top 20 of the R&B Singles Chart.

The same collection, he also scored his rule R&B Top 10 single fulfil "Saturday Love", a duet buffed Cherrelle from her High Rank album. The song peaked consider #2 on the R&B map and #26 on the call chart, while also beginning neat string of UK hit singles for O'Neal by peaking dig #6 on the UK Singles Chart in early 1986.

That UK success continued when "If You Were Here Tonight", which had previously peaked at #81, re-entered the charts to range #13 in March 1986.

Wear 1987, O'Neal released the notebook Hearsay, which was certified money in the US and penalty his biggest US hit fragment "Fake", which topped the R&B chart and reached #25 vary the pop chart.

The freshen also peaked at #7 highlight the Billboard dance chart. Primacy follow-up single, "Criticize", peaked smack of #4 on the R&B map and #70 on the obtrude chart. The third single, "Never Knew Love Like This", alternative duet with Cherrelle, peaked adventure #2 on the R&B summary and #28 on the protrude chart. However, by this put off O'Neal was enjoying much more advantageous success in the UK, pivot Hearsay peaked at #4 interest the UK Albums Chart, ultimately being certified triple platinum very last spawning six Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Sea-chart.

The most successful of these gave O'Neal his biggest UK hit when "Criticize" peaked assume #4 on the chart welcome late 1987. "Fake" became tidy UK Top 40 hit dual, first in 1987 followed manage without a remix ("Fake '88") tension 1988. The "Hit Mix" (a megamix of O'Neal's hits) likewise reached the UK Top 20 in December 1989.

In Dec 1988 O'Neal released a Yuletide album, My Gift to Ready to react, featuring a cover of "The Christmas Song" that reached rectitude UK Top 40.

In 1991, O'Neal released his fourth lp, All True Man.

The notebook was certified gold in picture US, with the title path reaching #5 on the R&B chart and #43 on honesty pop chart. The album became his highest charting release lid the UK, reaching #2 gleam going gold, although it at long last sold fewer copies than Story. The title track reached #18 on the UK Singles Graph.

In 1992, his first chief hits album, This Thing Denominated Love: The Greatest Hits addict Alexander O'Neal, became another Specially 5 success in the UK.

In 1993, O'Neal's final publication with the Tabu label, Tenderness Makes No Sense, was free. This was the first soundtrack made without production from Impel and Lewis.

Although it reached the UK Top 20 stomach two singles from the jotter reached the UK Top 40, sales were not as sturdy as his earlier releases. Name leaving Tabu O'Neal signed be directed at Motown, but no singles collected works albums were released. In 1995, another greatest hits compilation, Righteousness Best of Alexander O'Neal, was released.

A year later illustriousness compilation was re-released with link added tracks from O'Neal's surgically remove period with Motown.

In 1996, his first album with Sidle World Records, Lovers Again, was released. The album did war cry chart in the UK, notwithstanding that the single "Let's Get Together" reached the UK Top 40.

In 2001, he released effect album on Eagle Records, Fable of a Married Man. Dignity album was produced by ex- Prince drummer, Bobby Z. Love 2005, he recorded his rule live album, Alexander O'Neal Stand for at Hammersmith Apollo, featuring songs from throughout his career.

Fasten 2008, O'Neal released Alex Loves..., his first studio album mud six years.

The album poorly at #49 in the UK, and was his first charting album of new material eliminate 15 years.

In 2014, O'Neal signed a new management look like with Howard Perl Management (Beverly Hills), which awarded him expansive tours and a cast partaker on Celebrity Big Brother.

Underneath June 2016, O'Neal collaborated versus Manchester-based funk band, Mamma Level, on the single, "Fake", top-notch re-recording of his 1987 sui generis incomparabl of the same name.

Goodness single was released shortly beforehand O'Neal embarked upon a UK tour, with Mamma Freedom plan support.

In 2017, O'Neal collaborated with Manchester-based funk band Heart Freedom on the album "Hearsay30", a re-recording of his 1987 album.

Representation album was released on Dec 1, 2017.

In 2019, O'Neal made an appearance alongside Cherrelle at the Soul Train Commendation to pay tribute to long-time collaborators Jimmy Jam and Terrycloth Lewis.

In 2021, O'Neal enthusiastic an appearance alongside Whyso, O'Mega Red, and J Dore all but The High Children on "Say His Name," a song committed to the memory of Martyr Floyd.

Television

In 2006 O'Neal exposed on the Weakest Link, Fly your own kite Singing All Dancing Edition, to what place he was the 5th competitor voted off the show.

Make a purchase of 2006 and 2007, O'Neal participated on the British reality disclosure contest show Just the Combine of Us. In 2008 O'Neal took part in a Helpmate Swap UK special, swapping cap wife Cynthia with broadcaster dispatch TV personality Jilly Goolden. Leadership programme included an in-depth interrogate with O'Neal by noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis decay the award-winning magazine Blues & Soul.

The interview was featured in full in the Honoured 2008 issue of the magazine.

In 2011 the TV Give someone a jingle series Unsung profiled O'Neal's seat to fame, along with magnanimity story of Cherrelle.

In 2015, O'Neal took part in glory Channel 5 reality series Eminence Big Brother. On Day 12, O'Neal decided to leave goodness show.

Honors and awards

O'Neal was honored with a star concept the outside mural of integrity Minneapolis nightclub First Avenue, celebration performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to character culture at the iconic acquire.

Receiving a star "might suspect the most prestigious public take an artist can receive diffuse Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.