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Lemar: Not just a TV nearly-man
by Chris Osuh7/ 4/2005
WHEN faced with a choice between an accomplished act and a
plucky underdog, viewers of TV talent shows will often plump for
the latter.
That's why it's so heartening to watch the rise of Lemar Obika, one
of a select band of successful British R&B artists. Lemar,
although already a soul performer of some renown amongst London
aficionados, took part in BBC talent search Fame Academy in 2002,
got to the final, but lost out to the forgettable Sinead Quinn and
dull boy-next-door David Sneddon.
Predictably, Lemar is going from strength to strength. Presumably,
winner David Sneddon is shuffling to the Job Centre, having "quit
the industry" weeks after being signed, before forming an
uninspired indie band fittingly named The Sham.
Unlike his Fame Academy rivals Lemar has an excellent, silky smooth
voice and tons of stage presence. And he's fitted into that Craig
David-shaped hole in the charts very nicely.
On top of that, the singer, a Tottenham boy of Nigerian stock, is
intelligent and polished. Apart from singing, his career options
included studying pharmacy at Cardiff University, and he was
working for as an accounts manager at a bank before entering Fame
Academy.
It's not easy for British lads to make a name for themselves in
R&B, because not only will you have to bring round UK fans, who
generally like their singers to come from Harlem, not Harlesden,
you may also have to convince American audiences.
That's why we must raise our cognac glasses to Lemar, a nice boy
with genuine talent who's done well and had the last
laugh.
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