Alexander O'Neal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Alexander O'Neal |
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O'Neal performing live in Bristol, England, 2014
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| Background information | |
| Born | November 15, 1953 Natchez, Mississippi, U.S. |
| Origin | Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S. |
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| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1973–present |
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Alexander O'Neal (born November 15, 1953) is a famous American R&B singer. He is also a talented songwriter and arranger. Alexander O'Neal comes from Natchez, Mississippi.
He became well-known in the mid-1980s as a solo artist. He had many hit songs on the US R&B music charts. Three of his songs also made it into the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. He was even more popular in the United Kingdom. There, he had fourteen songs in the top 40 between 1985 and 1996. He also had three albums reach the top ten on the UK Albums Chart.
Some of his popular solo songs are "If You Were Here Tonight" and "Criticize". He is also known for his amazing duets with Cherrelle. These include "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This". Music critics have said his voice is strong and powerful.
Alexander O'Neal released his first album, named Alexander O'Neal, in 1985. Since then, he has released many more albums. These include nine studio albums, six compilation albums, and two live albums.
Contents
Early Life and Music Beginnings
Alexander O'Neal was born on November 15, 1953, in Natchez, Mississippi. He moved to Minneapolis when he was 20 years old. There, he started singing with different bands. He joined groups like the Mystics and Wynd Chymes. He also became a member of a band called Flyte Tyme. This band included famous musicians Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.
In 2024, Alexander O'Neal married Cynthia. They had been together for over thirty years.
Starting His Music Career
Around 1980, Alexander O'Neal met with Prince and Morris Day. They talked about forming a new band called The Time. This band would sign with Prince's record label. However, Alexander O'Neal had a disagreement with Prince. Morris Day then became the lead singer of The Time instead.
After this, O'Neal formed his own R&B band, also called Alexander. They released a few songs on an independent record label. In 1984, he signed a deal with Tabu Records. He also sang backup for other artists on the same label. These artists included The S.O.S. Band and Cherrelle.
Solo Success: 1985 to Today
In 1985, Alexander O'Neal released his first solo album. It was produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. This album had three songs that reached the top 20 on the R&B Singles Chart. That same year, he had his first top 10 R&B song. It was a duet with Cherrelle called "Saturday Love." This song was very popular in the UK, reaching number 6 on the UK Singles Chart.
In 1987, O'Neal released his album Hearsay. This album was very successful in the US and the UK. His song "Fake" became his biggest US hit. It reached number 1 on the R&B chart. The song "Criticize" also became a huge hit in the UK. Hearsay sold millions of copies in the UK. It also had six songs that made it into the UK Top 40.
In December 1988, Alexander O'Neal released a Christmas album. It was called My Gift to You. A song from this album, "The Christmas Song," reached the UK Top 40.
In 1991, his fourth album, All True Man, came out. The title song reached number 5 on the R&B chart. This album was his highest-charting release in the UK. In 1992, his first greatest hits album was released. It was another top 5 success in the UK.
His last album with Tabu Records, Love Makes No Sense, was released in 1993. After leaving Tabu, O'Neal signed with Motown. He continued to release new music and perform for his fans. In 2008, he released Alex Loves..., which was his first new album in many years. It reached number 49 in the UK.
In 2016, Alexander O'Neal worked with a funk band called Mamma Freedom. They re-recorded his 1987 hit song "Fake." In 2017, they also re-recorded his entire Hearsay album. In 2019, O'Neal and Cherrelle honored Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis at the Soul Train Awards. In 2021, he appeared on a song called "Say His Name." This song was dedicated to the memory of George Floyd.
Television Appearances
Alexander O'Neal has appeared on several TV shows. In 2006, he was on the UK game show The Weakest Link. He also participated in the British singing contest Just the Two of Us. In 2008, he took part in a Wife Swap UK special. He swapped wives with TV personality Jilly Goolden.
In 2011, the TV One series Unsung featured Alexander O'Neal. The show told the story of his rise to fame. In 2015, he was a cast member on the reality series Celebrity Big Brother in the UK. He decided to leave the show on Day 12.
Honors and Awards
Alexander O'Neal has received special recognition for his music. He has a star on the outside wall of the First Avenue nightclub in Minneapolis. This star honors performers who have sold out shows there. It also recognizes those who have made a big contribution to the music culture. Getting a star is a very important honor for an artist in Minneapolis.
Music Albums
Studio albums
- Alexander O'Neal (1985)
- Hearsay (1987)
- My Gift to You (1988)
- All True Man (1991)
- Love Makes No Sense (1993)
- Lovers Again (1996)
- Saga of a Married Man (2002)
- Alex Loves... (2008)
- Five Questions: The New Journey (2010)
- Hearsay 30 (2017)
Concert Tours
- 30 Years of Hearsay Tour (2017)
- A Time To Say Goodbye Tour (2023)
See also
In Spanish: Alexander O'Neal para niños
