Avant (singer) facts for kids

Myron Lavell Avant (born April 26, 1978), known simply as Avant, is an American R&B singer. He is famous for his songs like "Separated", "Read Your Mind", and "Makin' Good Love". Avant has created three albums that sold over a million copies each, earning them "Platinum" status. He has released 15 singles and 9 albums throughout his career.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Avant was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on April 26, 1978. He was the youngest of five children. His family was not wealthy, and he saw his mother work hard to support them. She encouraged his love for music. She introduced him to classic R&B artists like Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye.

Avant was passionate about music from a young age. He also explored acting while attending the Cleveland School of the Arts. After finishing high school, he worked in factories for a while.

Avant's Music Career

Avant started writing songs when he was 14 years old. In 2000, he released his first song, "Separated", on his own. This song was about a broken relationship. It became very popular on the radio. This success helped him get a record deal with Magic Johnson Music.

In 2000, Avant released his first album, My Thoughts. This album sold more than 1.3 million copies in the United States. Worldwide, it sold 4.4 million copies. It was released by MCA Records. On this album, he remade the 1983 song "My First Love" with fellow R&B singer Keke Wyatt. This song reached the top 5 on the R&B music charts. It also helped Keke Wyatt's career.

His second album, Ecstasy, came out in 2002. It included another hit song, "Makin' Good Love". In 2003, he released his third album, Private Room. This album reached number four on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. A song from this album, "Read Your Mind", reached number 13 on the Hot 100 chart. A special version of the song with Snoop Dogg was released later in 2003. In 2005, Avant was featured on Cuban Link's song "Comin' Home With Me".

In 2006, Avant released his fourth album, Director. This album topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also debuted at number four on the Billboard 200 chart. The main song from the album, "When It Hurts", reached number 91 on the Hot 100.

Avant also appeared in other projects. He was featured in a remix of Lloyd Banks' song "Karma" in 2004. He also had a small role in the 2004 movie BarberShop 2: Back in Business. In 2009, Avant worked with the band Maze. They covered the song "Joy and Pain" as a tribute to the band.

His fifth album, Avant, was released on December 9, 2008. Later, Avant signed with Verve Forecast. He released his sixth album, The Letter, on December 21, 2010. This album featured music produced by artists like The Pentagon and Mike City. His eighth album, The VIII, was released on September 25, 2015.

In 2019, Avant released a new song called "Not Gone Lose". He also signed a new record deal. This led to his album Can We Fall in Love, which was released in July 2020.

Musical Influences

Avant has often been compared to fellow R&B singer R. Kelly. Some music critics had strong opinions about these comparisons.

Avant has said that R. Kelly is his biggest influence and inspiration. He once stated, "Being compared to R. Kelly is a compliment. He has been in the music business for many years. He is a very important R&B artist. To be mentioned in the same sentence as him is truly an honor."

Personal Life

Avant has a health condition called lupus. To help manage its effects, he has adopted a vegan diet.

Avant's Albums

Here are the studio albums Avant has released:

• My Thoughts (2000)
• Ecstasy (2002)
• Private Room (2003)
• Director (2006)
• Avant (2008)
• The Letter (2010)
• Face The Music (2013)
• The VIII (2015)
• Can We Fall in Love (2020)

Awards and Nominations

Avant has been nominated for several awards for his music.

Soul Train Awards Nominations

UB Honors Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Avant (cantante) para niños