Omar Lye-Fook facts for kids

Omar Christopher Lye-Fook (born October 14, 1968), known professionally as Omar, is a talented English singer, songwriter, and actor. He grew up in Canterbury, Kent, England. From a young age, he learned to play many instruments. These included the trumpet, piano, and percussion (like drums). He even studied music at special schools in Manchester and London. Omar is most famous for his debut song "There's Nothing Like This". It became a big hit in the UK in 1991. More recently, in 2022, he acted in the popular TV show EastEnders.

Omar's Music Journey

After releasing his first two songs, "Mr Postman" (1985) and "You and Me" (1988), Omar released his first full music collection, called an album, There's Nothing Like This, in 1990. This album was first released on his father's own record label, Kongo Records. It became quite popular in the UK.

Later, Omar signed with a bigger record company called Talkin' Loud. They re-released his first album, and it became even more successful. In 1992, he released his second album, Music. Omar then signed with RCA Records. This led to him working with many other famous musicians. Some of these included Lamont Dozier and Stevie Wonder. In 1996, Omar helped create a song called "Water to Drink". This song was for a special album that raised money for AIDS research.

Omar on TV and Awards

In 2003, one of Omar's songs was used on a TV comedy show called Never Mind the Buzzcocks. The host of the show joked that Omar wasn't very well-known. To prove him wrong, Omar later appeared on the show himself. He showed everyone that he was indeed a recognizable artist!

In 2006, Omar received two special awards at the Urban Music Awards. He won for Best Neo Soul Act and an Outstanding Achievement Award. This showed how much his music was appreciated.

Omar's Acting Career

Omar also started acting. In 2009, he made his acting debut in a musical called Been So Long. In 2012, he received a special honor from the Queen. He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his contributions to music. This is a very important award in the UK.

In 2015, Omar was part of the band on the BBC Two comedy show The Javone Prince Show. In 2017, he joined other artists to perform a charity song called ""Bridge over Troubled Water"". This song raised money for the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire. In 2022, Omar took on the role of Avery Baker in the popular BBC soap opera EastEnders.

Omar's Family Life

Omar's full birth name is Omar Lye-Fook. Sometimes, he is also called Omar Hammer. This is because his stepfather's last name is Hammer. Omar comes from a very musical family. His two brothers and one sister are all musicians too! His youngest sister, Samia Lye-Fook, has even sung background vocals for some of Omar's songs. Omar became a father to twin daughters in 2008.

Omar's Music Albums

Omar's Music Singles