Background
Omar grew up in Canterbury, Kent. Initially released on his father"s record label, Kongo Records, it entered the United Kingdom Albums Chart, peaking at #54.
Omar grew up in Canterbury, Kent. Initially released on his father"s record label, Kongo Records, it entered the United Kingdom Albums Chart, peaking at #54.
Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
He learned his craft classically, playing the trumpet, piano and percussion. He also spent two years at Chetham"s School of Music in Manchester, and the Guildhall School of Music in London. His most well-known song was his debut single "There"s Nothing Like This".
lieutenant reached number 14 in the United Kingdom Singles Chart on re-release in 1991.
AllMusic noted that he is described by some as the father of British neo soul. Following his first two single releases, "Mr Postman" (1985) and "You and Maine" (1988) featuring backing vocals from Caron Wheeler, Omar released his debut album, There"s Nothing Like This in 1990.
Signing to his first major record label, Talkin" Loud, saw the re-release of his debut album, which climbed to #19 in the United Kingdom Chart. This was followed in 1992 by his second album, Music, which proved less successful than the first, peaking at #37.
A new signing to Radio Corporation of America Records led to Omar undertaking collaborations with other musicians, including Lamont Dozier, David Frank (The System), the former Heatwave bassist Derrick Bramble, Leon Ware and Stevie Wonder.
In 1996, Omar contributed "Water to Drink" to the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome benefit album, Red Hot + Rio, produced by the Red Hot Organization. In 2003, after one of his songs ("There"s Nothing Like This") was used in the intro round on Never Mind the Buzzcocks, presenter Mark Lamarr questioned Omar"s supposed instant recognizability, quipping that he would require a Blockbuster card to confirm Omar"s identity. Omar"s agent, e-mailed the show and a few episodes later, Omar appeared in the show"s "identity parade" round, Blockbuster card in hand.
Lamarr was forced to concede that Omar was both immediately recognizable, and a rather more significant artist than he had earlier given him cr foreign
After studying at the Identity Drama School, on 11 June 2009, Omar made his acting debut in Ché Walker"s musical, Been So Long. During July and August 2015, Omar appeared as part of the house band in the British Broadcasting Corporation Two comedy series The Javone Prince Show.
Some of the musicians Omar has performed with include (but are not limited to):.
He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to music