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. He has released many hit songs and albums throughout his career.

Early Life and Music Dreams

Avant was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He was the youngest of five children in his family. Growing up, his mother worked hard to provide for them. She encouraged him to listen to classic R&B artists. These included Smokey Robinson, The Supremes, and Marvin Gaye.

Avant loved music from a young age. In high school, he studied acting at the Cleveland School of the Arts. After graduating, he worked in factories for a while.

Music Career Highlights

Avant started writing songs when he was 14 years old. In 2000, he released his first song, "Separated". 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.

First Albums and Big Hits

In 2000, Avant released his first album, My Thoughts. It sold over 1.3 million copies in the United States. Worldwide, it sold 4.4 million copies. This album was released by MCA Records. It included a new version of the song "My First Love". He sang this song with fellow R&B artist Keke Wyatt. It became a top 5 R&B hit and helped Keke Wyatt's career.

His second album, Ecstasy, came out in 2002. It featured 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. The song "Read Your Mind" from this album was also a big hit.

Continued Success

In 2006, Avant released his fourth album, Director. This album was number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It also reached number four on the Billboard 200. The main song from this album, "When It Hurts", was also popular.

Avant has also worked with other artists. He was featured on a remix of Lloyd Banks' song "Karma" in 2004. He also appeared briefly in the movie BarberShop 2: Back in Business that same year. In 2009, he sang a cover of "Joy and Pain" with the band Maze. This was a tribute to the band.

His fifth album, Avant, was released in 2008. He later signed with Verve Forecast. His sixth album, The Letter, came out in 2010. His eighth album, The VIII, was released in 2015. In 2019, Avant released a new song called "Not Gone Lose". His album Can We Fall in Love was released in July 2020.

Musical Influences

Some music critics compared Avant to another R&B singer, R. Kelly. Avant has said that R. Kelly is his biggest influence. He sees the comparison as a compliment. Avant explained that being mentioned in the same sentence as R. Kelly is a privilege.

Personal Life

Avant has a health condition called lupus. To help manage his health, he follows a vegan diet.

Discography

Studio albums

• 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

Soul Train Awards

UB Honors

See also

In Spanish: Avant (cantante) para niños