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Alexander O'Neal | |
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 O'Neal performing live inBristol, England, 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1953-11-15)November 15, 1953 (age 71) Natchez, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Origin | Minneapolis,Minnesota, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
| Labels | |
Alexander O'Neal (born November 15, 1953)[1] is an AmericanR&B singer, songwriter and arranger fromNatchez, Mississippi.
O'Neal came to prominence in the mid-1980s as a solo artist, with eleven top 40 singles on the US R&B chart, three of which also reached the top 40 of theBillboard Hot 100. However, he enjoyed more mainstream success in the United Kingdom, achieving fourteen top 40 singles on theUK Singles Chart between 1985 and 1996, along with three top ten albums on theUK Albums Chart.
His solo singles, sometimes dealing with lost love, include "If You Were Here Tonight", "Fake", "Criticize", "The Lovers", "(What Can I Say) To Make You Love Me", "All True Man", "Love Makes No Sense" and "In the Middle". He is also known for duets withTabu labelmateCherrelle such as "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This".AllMusic described O'Neal as having a "tough voice [that] has the same grain and range as that ofOtis Redding."[1]
O'Neal released his debut album, theeponymousAlexander O'Neal, in 1985. Since then, he has released nine studio albums, six compilation albums and two live albums.
Alexander O'Neal was born November 15, 1953, inNatchez, Mississippi, United States,[1] just a few months after his father died. After graduating from high school in Natchez, he attendedAlcorn State University.[2] At the age of 20, he relocated to Minneapolis, where he performed with several bands including the Mystics and Wynd Chymes.[3][4] He became a member of Enterprise for a brief period before joiningFlyte Tyme, a band which includedMonte Moir,Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.[3][4]
After a relationship of over thirty years, O'Neal married Cynthia in 2024.[5]
According toJimmy Jam, around 1980–1981, O'Neal (along with fellow members of the band Flyte Tyme) met withPrince andMorris Day at Perkins restaurant in Minneapolis to discuss forming a band that would be calledThe Time that would be signed toPrince under theWarner Bros. label. Following a disagreement with Prince, O'Neal was replaced as lead singer byMorris Day.
O'Neal subsequently formed an R&B band called Alexander and recorded a couple 12" singles, "Do You Dare/Playroom" and "Attitude" for a Chicago area independent label, based in Merrillville, Indiana, called Erect Records.[citation needed]
In 1984, O'Neal signed a deal withClarence Avant'sTabu Records.[2] He did some backing vocals for other artists on the same label, includingThe S.O.S. Band andCherrelle.[citation needed]
In 1985, O'Neal released hisself-titled debut album under the production of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as well as Monte Moir.[6] It included three singles that reached the Top 20 of theR&B Singles Chart. The same year, he also scored his first R&B Top 10 single with "Saturday Love", a duet withCherrelle from herHigh Priority album. The song peaked at #2 on the R&B chart and #26 on the pop chart, while also beginning a string of UK hit singles for O'Neal by peaking at #6 on theUK Singles Chart in early 1986. This UK success continued when "If You Were Here Tonight", which had previously peaked at #81, re-entered the charts to reach #13 in March 1986.[citation needed]
In 1987, O'Neal released the albumHearsay, which was certified gold in the US and yielded his biggest US hit in "Fake", which topped the R&B chart and reached #25 on the pop chart.[7] The song also peaked at #7 on the Billboard dance chart. The follow-up single, "Criticize", peaked at #4 on the R&B chart and #70 on the pop chart. The third single, "Never Knew Love Like This", another duet with Cherrelle, peaked at #2 on the R&B chart and #28 on the pop chart. However, by this time O'Neal was enjoying much greater success in the UK,[8] whereHearsay peaked at #4 on the UK Albums Chart, eventually being certified triple platinum and spawning six Top 40 hits on the UK Singles Chart. The most successful of these gave O'Neal his biggest UK hit when "Criticize" peaked at #4 on the chart in late 1987. "Fake" became a UK Top 40 hit twice, first in 1987 followed by a remix ("Fake '88") in 1988. The "Hit Mix" (a megamix of O'Neal's hits) also reached the UK Top 20 in December 1989.[citation needed]
In December 1988, O'Neal released a Christmas album,My Gift to You, featuring a cover of "The Christmas Song" that reached the UK Top 40.[8]
In 1991, O'Neal released his fourth album,All True Man.[8] The album was certified gold in the US, with thetitle track reaching #5 on the R&B chart and #43 on the pop chart. The album became his highest charting release in the UK, reaching #2 and going gold, although it ultimately sold fewer copies thanHearsay. The title track reached #18 on the UK Singles Chart. In 1992, his first greatest hits album,This Thing Called Love: The Greatest Hits of Alexander O'Neal, became another Top 5 success in the UK.[8]
In 1993, O'Neal's final album with the Tabu label,Love Makes No Sense, was released. This was the first album made without production from Jam and Lewis. Although it reached the UK Top 20 and two singles from the album reached the UK Top 40, sales were not as strong as his earlier releases. After leaving Tabu O'Neal signed forMotown, but no singles or albums were released.[9] In 1995, another greatest hits compilation,The Best of Alexander O'Neal, was released. A year later the compilation was re-released with three added tracks from O'Neal's short period with Motown.[10]
In 1996, his first album with One World Records,Lovers Again, was released. The album did not chart in the UK, though the single "Let's Get Together" reached the UK Top 40. In 2001, he released an album onEagle Records,Saga of a Married Man. The album was produced by former Prince drummer,Bobby Z. In 2005, he recorded his first live album,Alexander O'Neal Live at Hammersmith Apollo, featuring songs from throughout his career.[citation needed]
In 2008, O'Neal releasedAlex Loves..., his first studio album in six years. The album peaked at #49 in the UK, and was his first charting album of new material in 15 years.
In 2014, O'Neal signed a new management deal withHoward Perl Management (Beverly Hills),[11] which awarded him extensive tours and a cast member onCelebrity Big Brother.
In June 2016, O'Neal collaborated withManchester-based funk band, Mamma Freedom, on the single, "Fake", a re-recording of his 1987 single of the same name. The single was released shortly before O'Neal embarked upon a UK tour, with Mamma Freedom providing support.[citation needed]
In 2017, O'Neal collaborated withManchester-based funk band Mamma Freedom on the album "Hearsay30", a re-recording of his 1987 album. The album was released on December 1, 2017.
In 2019, O'Neal made an appearance alongsideCherrelle at theSoul Train Awards[12] to pay tribute to long-time collaboratorsJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
In 2021, O'Neal made an appearance alongside Whyso, O'Mega Red, and J Dore of The High Children on "Say His Name," a song dedicated to the memory ofGeorge Floyd.[13]
In 2006 O'Neal appeared on theWeakest Link, All Singing All Dancing Edition, where he was the 5th contestant voted off the show. In 2006 and 2007, O'Neal participated on theBritish reality singing contest showJust the Two of Us. In 2008 O'Neal took part in aWife Swap UK special, swapping his wife Cynthia with broadcaster and TV personalityJilly Goolden. The programme included an in-depth interview with O'Neal by noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of the award-winning magazineBlues & Soul. The interview was featured in full in the August 2008 issue of the magazine.[14]
In 2011 theTV One seriesUnsung profiled O'Neal's rise to fame, along with the story of Cherrelle.[15]
In 2015, O'Neal took part in theChannel 5 reality seriesCelebrity Big Brother. On Day 12, O'Neal decided to leave the show.[16]
O'Neal was honored with a star on the outside mural of theMinneapolis nightclubFirst Avenue,[17] recognizing performers that have played sold-out shows or have otherwise demonstrated a major contribution to the culture at the iconic venue.[18] Receiving a star "might be the most prestigious public honor an artist can receive in Minneapolis," according to journalist Steve Marsh.[19]
Studio albums
UP-FRONT Alexander O'Neal the All True Man Returns in much the same fashion that legendary Motown singerMarvin Gaye ... Upon finishing high school in Natchez, he attended predominantly Black Alcorn State University in Lorman, Mississippi, before moving to . [...] In 1984, he inked a contract with Tabu/Epic Records, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Performed with local bands The Mystics, Wynd Chymes, Enterprise, and Flyte Tyme before joining he Time underPrince's direction. The Time recorded "Ice Cream Castles," "The Bird," and "Jungle Walk." O'Neal then formed Alexander, ...
O'Neal was born in Natchez, Mississippi, but moved to Minneapolis when he was 20. He joined a ... After being replaced as lead vocalist by Morris Day, he formed a rock and roll band called Alexander. [...] O'Neal spent a short time in a group called Enterprise before being recruited into Flyte Tyme, a band that included Jam and Lewis as well as Monte Moir.
Alexander O'Neal's self-titled debut on Epic-distributed Tabu Records is quite impressive. ... Bred lo install Morris Day as lead singer of The Time, has a strong, masculine voice that is well produced by the Jimmy Jam/Terry Lewis team with the aid of another ex-Time member, Monte Moir
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