Lemar

He has also done work with Prince Charles's the Prince's Trust. The album went on to become McDonald's first major hit since the 1980s. Following the success of the album, he commenced his first headlining tour of the UK featuring an appearance at Party in the Park in Birmingham. In 2003, he returned to national consciousness when several tracks from his Motown album, a collection of covers of classic Motown songs, were used in television commercials for MCI's local phone service, The Neighborhood. Lemar won a Brit Award for Best Urban Act in the 2004 Brit Awards. As it turned out, McDonald's solo work was a cross between the Doobie Brothers' white-bread soul and Cross' adult contemporary ballads. His first album Dedicated was released late in 2003 with additional singles "50/50" and "Another Day" also achieving chart success in the UK. Prior to the Doobies' farewell tour in 1982, he sang harmony on several hit singles, including tracks by Donna Summer, Toto, Kenny Loggins, and Christopher Cross.

Lemar's first single "Dance With U" reached number 2 on the UK singles charts in early 2003. He was largely responsible for moving the group away from boogie rock and toward polished, jazzy blue-eyed soul. Sony Music was so impressed with his potential that they signed him to a five record deal. After singing backup on several Steely Dan albums in the mid-'70s, Michael McDonald joined the Doobie Brothers in 1975. While he ended up finishing third in the show, he caught the eye of veteran British r&b singer Beverly Knight who invited him to sing a duet with her during her concert at the Hammersmith Apollo. He initially essayed his signature style with The Doobie Brothers, ushering in the group's most popular period with hits like "What a Fool Believes" and "Taking It to the Streets." McDonald disbanded the group in 1982 to pursue a solo career, which was initially quite successful, but by the end of the decade his popularity had faded, since he preferred to tour rather than record new material and was hesitant to update his sound to suit shifting popular tastes. He made the finals of the show winning plaudits for his version of "Let's Stay Together" by Al Green and singing a duet with Lionel Richie on "Easy Like Sunday Morning". McDonald found the middle ground between blue-eyed soul and smooth soft rock, a sound that made him a star.

Lemar saw an advertisement for Fame Academy in 2002, a combination of a talent quest and reality television show and decided to put his name forward. Louis, Missouri) became one of the most distinctive and popular vocalists to emerge from the laid-back California pop/rock scene of the late '70s. When the record deal fell through due to restructuring at the label he was signed to, he had to eventually take a job working as an accounts manager at the NatWest Bank. With his husky, soulful baritone, Michael McDonald (born February 12, 1952 in St. Lemar had some success in his musical career supporting Destiny's Child and achieving a record deal. He gave up an opportunity to study pharmacy at the Cardiff University to pursue a musical career.

He was eighteen when he had his first concert at the Junior Jam at the Temple in Tottenham supporting Usher. Lemar Obika was born on 4 April 1978 in London and grew listening to soul and r&b and used to sing at home with his brother pretending to be The Jacksons. Lemar or Lemar Obika (born 4 April 1978- ) is a British r&b singer who has had a run of chart success in the UK since appearing on Fame Academy on BBC Television. Top of The Pops interview (http://www.bbc.co.uk/totp/artists/l/lemar/underthegrill/page1.shtml/BBC).

Lemar Online website (http://www.lemar-online.com/lemar/). Time To Grow (2004). Dedicated (2003).