1978年出生的歌手来自英国伦敦 真名叫LEMAR OBIKA 施展出迷人节奏蓝调，灵魂等音韵的大本营;美国;，捧红多为扬名国际的歌手，然而进入90年代，传承Aretha Franklin、Roberta Flack等绝代动人的灵魂音韵，香醇搭配节奏蓝调、爵士、嘻哈等多类元素调和成的Neo-Soul乐派，在Erykah Badu、India.Arie、D’Angelo、Maxwell带领下，开出一朵朵鲜艳芬芳的灿烂花朵，无不为其诱人歌声、舒缓旋律而动容，这位出产自英国，散发无比骚灵式的魅力男声Lemar，可不输上述清一色来自美国的战将！虽然有着令人称羡的嗓音，但是Lemar出道之路走来并不顺遂，在歌坛闯荡七年之久，一直都过着有一搭没一搭的演唱生活，既使在各演出场合中有着支持追随的乐迷，更获得唱片公司的欣赏签入旗下筹备专辑，但在公司内部决策上丧失发片机会，让期待许久的粉丝们落空！仍为自己歌唱事业奋斗不已的Lemar，并没有因此而退缩，反而更加利用曝光机会，将自己实力毫无掩饰展露出来，直到2002年幸运在*C话题节目“The Fame Acdemy;上秀出歌唱拿手绝活，也经由高收视率的强力播送下，Lemar终被主流大厂Sony Music网罗发行个人专辑。之作《Dedicated全心全意》，不仅缔造出3首全英Top10单曲”Dance With You;(No.2）;50/50;(No.5;Another Day;(No.9)，总销售量更突破60万之多，还荣得全英;最佳都会男歌手Best Urban Artist;之奖项嘉勉，获邀在跨越1998-1999年象征英国黑人音乐最高荣誉之Mobo;最佳艺人;最佳专辑;及最佳节奏蓝调女歌手Beverly Knight，巡回演唱会的助唱嘉宾，有幸与心目中的偶像Lionel Richie和George Benson同台对唱，短短两年之内，Lemar缔造出一次又一次令人称许的优异表现。
by Cyril Cordor
It took eight long years of solidifying his sultry vocals and songwriting before London R&B artist Lemar could get his first record deal. The BMG Records deal only produced one single, "Got Me Saying (Ooh)," before it was rescinded. Nonetheless, Lemar's climb to fame commenced with his successful run on the U.K. reality TV show Fame Academy, where he won third place in 2002. His laudable performance earned him a prosperous contract with Sony Records that, within the first three years of his recording career, would spawn six U.K. Top Ten singles, two Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, and two Brit Awards (U.K. equivalent to the U.S. Grammys) for Best Urban Artist.Lemar Obika was born on April 4, 1978, in the multi-racial Tottenham neighborhood, located in the London borough of Haringey. Imbued with the passion to sing since he was a little child, he chose the singing career path instead of pursuing his Cardiff University acceptance to study pharmacy as his parents wished. Thus, Obika worked as a bank accounts manager by day and did singing gigs by night, including support for U.S. acts Usher and Destiny's Child. When the opportunity came to be on Fame Academy, he was a little reluctant, because he wanted to perform soul music and not just standard pop like on the bigger British reality show Pop Idol. Joining the competition, however, would prove to be a godsend. Premier U.K. songstress Beverley Knight caught a short glimpse of Obika on the show and invited him to perform live with her.
In a much more primed position than before, Obika actually turned down a recording deal with Mercury Records to sign with Sony. The respective 2003 and 2004 albums Dedicated and Time to Grow (released in 2004 and 2005 overseas), along with their Top Five U.K. singles, secured Lemar's first two Brit Awards. His highest charting album, The Truth About Love, arrived in September 2006, debuting at number three in the U.K. Using live instruments, the production solely lay in the hands of frequent collaborator Brian Rawling, who has produced for artists like Lionel Richie, Tina Turner, and Cher.