UK artist Omar is the founder of nu-classic soul.

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:: Born Omar Lye-Fook in 1968 to a Chinese Jamaican father and Indian mother, he grew up in Canterbury, Kent.

:: Every inch the British soul icon, Omar developed his style at an early age growing up in a musical household. His father was in a band and founded Kongo Records, a positive influence which nurtured Omar's desire to make music.

:: He learnt his craft classically playing the trumpet, piano and drums, making it into the county's youth orchestra as principle percussionist, followed by two years at music college in Manchester.

:: His first hit at the age of 22, There's nothing like this, hit the streets in 1990 and has since become a summer soul classic.

:: Following his first two singles, Mr Postman and You and Me featuring backing vocals from Caron Wheeler, Omar stunned everyone with his first album, also entitled There's nothing like this.

:: Released on his fathers label, Kongo Records, it entered the UK album charts unaided by promotion or advertising.

:: D'Angelo, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Maxwell and even Stevie Wonder name him as a major influence. Trevor Nelson describes him as "the original nu-classic soul guvnor". We simply know him as Omar.



Omar: Official Site | MySpace

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