O'Bryan: Difference between revisions
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'''O'Bryan McCoy Burnette Jr.''' (born December 5, 1961) is an [[United States|American]] [[singer]]/[[songwriter]], usually credited simply as '''O'Bryan'''. Born to O’Bryan and Glenice Burnette |
'''O'Bryan McCoy Burnette Jr.''' (born December 5, 1961) is an [[United States|American]] [[singer]]/[[songwriter]], usually credited simply as '''O'Bryan'''. Born to O’Bryan Burnette Sr. and Glenice Burnette in Sneads Ferry, N.C., O’Bryan McCoy Burnette II was playing the piano at 6 years old and then began singing in the church and at local talent shows. In 1974, he and his family moved to Santa Ana, Calif. O’Bryan was singing in the Second Baptist Church young adult choir when his friend Melanee Kersey approached him about considering a career in music. Melanee introduced the young singer to her husband, producer [[Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey.]] A former keyboardist for The Trammps and a veteran of the ’70s Philadelphia music scene, Kersey invited O’Bryan to join a group he was putting together. |
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That group quickly folded, so Kersey later introduced O’Bryan to [[“Soul Train”]] television show creator [[Don Cornelius,]] with whom Kersey formed a production company, Friendship Productions. Cornelius took the young artist to [[Capitol Records,]] where O’Bryan released four albums that charted on the Billboard R&B charts. |
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== Early career == |
== Early career == |
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{{Weasel|section|date=November 2008}} |
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Following this introduction, Cornelius presented O'Bryan to Varnell Johnson of [[Capitol Records]], who signed him to the label. The following four years on Capitol Records, O'Bryan released four albums and nine singles, which all had slots on the R&B charts. |
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The first album, “Doin’ Alright,” was released in April 1982 and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart. The lead single, “The Gigolo,” was a slice of funk with new wave and rock elements that emphasized O’Bryan’s falsetto. Released in January, “The Gigolo” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard R&B Singles charts. |
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He released his debut album ''Doin' Alright'' in 1982. As a multi-instrumentalist, many listeners considered his uptempo tracks to bear subtle resemblances to [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], but he trod far closer to the urban contemporary mainstream on his ballads. Although the mid-paced title track proved the most enduring to many fans, the album yielded a big dance floor hit in the form of "The Gigolo" which reached number five on the R&B charts and number 57 on the pop charts (his only single to chart on the latter). It also contained what many fans considered an outstanding cover of the [[Four Tops]] "Still Water (Love)". |
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The follow-up single was an updated cover of The Four Tops’ “Still Water (Love),” peaking at No. 23. Among the other standouts on O’Bryan’s debut include the mid-tempo title track; the elegant ballad “Love Has Found Its Way;” and the sentimental “Can’t Live Without Your Love.” |
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In 1983, his second album ''[[You and I (O'Bryan album)|You and I]]'' was released, the title track being an excellent version of a beautiful love song penned by [[Stevie Wonder]]. The instrumental "Soft Touch" also proved to be a popular choice from this second album. It also contained the track "Soul Train's A Coming" which was used as the theme song for the performance theme show ''[[Soul Train]]'' from 1983 to 1987. |
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O’Bryan released his sophomore effort “You And I” in March 1983. The album was named after his cover of the [[Stevie Wonder]] ballad. Given a more contemporary twist, the title track was the second single (peaking at No. 19) and since has become one of O’Bryan’s signature songs. |
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In 1984, O'Bryan released his third LP ''Be My Lover'' which included the hit ballad "Lady I Love You". A major dance floor single release from the album was the funky groove "[[Lovelite]]", a number one hit on [[Billboard charts|''Billboard'']]'s R&B singles chart which many consider to be the equal to any of Prince's early funk. |
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The lead single, “I’m Freaky,” was an upbeat, synth-funk song that peaked at No. 15. Album tracks also receiving notice and airplay were the romantic “Together Always;” the fluid instrumental “Soft Touch;” and the energetic “Soul Train’s A Comin,’” which became the theme song for Cornelius’ show from 1983 to 1987. The album peaked at No. 13. |
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He released his fourth and final album on Capitol, ''Surrender'' in 1986 which included the dance hit "Tenderoni". It reached the R&B Billboard top 40 and was considered a club hit in early 1987. After that, he parted ways with Capitol and went on a hiatus for two decades. Despite the apparent success that O'Bryan had experienced on Capitol Records during the middle of the 1980s, his tracks still received airplay on selected radio stations worldwide. |
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In May 1984, O’Bryan released “Be My Lover,” which became his highest charting collection (peaking at No. 3). The first single — the insistent, chugging “Lovelite” — marched to the top of the Billboard R&B Singles chart. The success of “Lovelite” prompted Capitol to release “Breakin’ Together” as the next single. But it was O’Bryan’s penchant for ballads — the quiet storm staple “Lady I Love You;” the lovelorn “You’re Always On My Mind;” and “Go On And Cry,” which was the third single — that shone as the album’s highlights. Also included on this compilation is the title track, one of O’Bryan’s better uptempo songs. |
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Because of a lengthy negotiation with Capitol, a fourth album — “Surrender” — was not released until December 1986. The single choices were the up-tempo “Tenderoni” and “Driving Force,” but arguably the strongest cuts on the album were three ballads — “You Have Got To Come To Me,” “Maria” and “Is This For Real” — that displayed O’Bryan’s musical and vocal development. |
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== Latter career == |
== Latter career == |
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After a long hiatus, O’Bryan released a new album in February 2007, entitled ''F1RST''. |
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after a lengthy hiatus to take care of his family, those changes allowed O’Bryan the opportunity to form his own label, Headstorm. On Valentine’s Day 2007, he released his long-awaited comeback album “F1RST.” |
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The ballad-driven set derived its name from what O’Bryan calls “the first step of a musical journey,” highlighted by the songs “Just Like Doin’ It,” “Let Me Kiss Your Lips,” “Man Overboard,” “Gotta Let You Go” and “Gratitude.” Longtime fans of the singer welcomed his return and responded to “F1RST” with enthusiastic reviews on music buyer-driven sites such as Amazon and iTunes. |
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== Discography == |
== Discography == |
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Revision as of 06:21, 19 January 2012
O'Bryan | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | O'Bryan Burnette II |
| Born | December 5, 1961 |
| Origin | Burgaw, North Carolina, United States |
| Genres | R&B, Boogie, Dance, Funk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-Songwriter, Producer |
| Years active | 1979–1987 and 2007 |
| Labels | Capitol Records |
| Website | http://www.obryanshouse.com |
O'Bryan McCoy Burnette Jr. (born December 5, 1961) is an American singer/songwriter, usually credited simply as O'Bryan. Born to O’Bryan Burnette Sr. and Glenice Burnette in Sneads Ferry, N.C., O’Bryan McCoy Burnette II was playing the piano at 6 years old and then began singing in the church and at local talent shows. In 1974, he and his family moved to Santa Ana, Calif. O’Bryan was singing in the Second Baptist Church young adult choir when his friend Melanee Kersey approached him about considering a career in music. Melanee introduced the young singer to her husband, producer Ron “Have Mercy” Kersey. A former keyboardist for The Trammps and a veteran of the ’70s Philadelphia music scene, Kersey invited O’Bryan to join a group he was putting together.
That group quickly folded, so Kersey later introduced O’Bryan to “Soul Train” television show creator Don Cornelius, with whom Kersey formed a production company, Friendship Productions. Cornelius took the young artist to Capitol Records, where O’Bryan released four albums that charted on the Billboard R&B charts.
Early career
The first album, “Doin’ Alright,” was released in April 1982 and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart. The lead single, “The Gigolo,” was a slice of funk with new wave and rock elements that emphasized O’Bryan’s falsetto. Released in January, “The Gigolo” peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard R&B Singles charts.
The follow-up single was an updated cover of The Four Tops’ “Still Water (Love),” peaking at No. 23. Among the other standouts on O’Bryan’s debut include the mid-tempo title track; the elegant ballad “Love Has Found Its Way;” and the sentimental “Can’t Live Without Your Love.”
O’Bryan released his sophomore effort “You And I” in March 1983. The album was named after his cover of the Stevie Wonder ballad. Given a more contemporary twist, the title track was the second single (peaking at No. 19) and since has become one of O’Bryan’s signature songs.
The lead single, “I’m Freaky,” was an upbeat, synth-funk song that peaked at No. 15. Album tracks also receiving notice and airplay were the romantic “Together Always;” the fluid instrumental “Soft Touch;” and the energetic “Soul Train’s A Comin,’” which became the theme song for Cornelius’ show from 1983 to 1987. The album peaked at No. 13.
In May 1984, O’Bryan released “Be My Lover,” which became his highest charting collection (peaking at No. 3). The first single — the insistent, chugging “Lovelite” — marched to the top of the Billboard R&B Singles chart. The success of “Lovelite” prompted Capitol to release “Breakin’ Together” as the next single. But it was O’Bryan’s penchant for ballads — the quiet storm staple “Lady I Love You;” the lovelorn “You’re Always On My Mind;” and “Go On And Cry,” which was the third single — that shone as the album’s highlights. Also included on this compilation is the title track, one of O’Bryan’s better uptempo songs.
Because of a lengthy negotiation with Capitol, a fourth album — “Surrender” — was not released until December 1986. The single choices were the up-tempo “Tenderoni” and “Driving Force,” but arguably the strongest cuts on the album were three ballads — “You Have Got To Come To Me,” “Maria” and “Is This For Real” — that displayed O’Bryan’s musical and vocal development.
Latter career
after a lengthy hiatus to take care of his family, those changes allowed O’Bryan the opportunity to form his own label, Headstorm. On Valentine’s Day 2007, he released his long-awaited comeback album “F1RST.”
The ballad-driven set derived its name from what O’Bryan calls “the first step of a musical journey,” highlighted by the songs “Just Like Doin’ It,” “Let Me Kiss Your Lips,” “Man Overboard,” “Gotta Let You Go” and “Gratitude.” Longtime fans of the singer welcomed his return and responded to “F1RST” with enthusiastic reviews on music buyer-driven sites such as Amazon and iTunes.
Discography
Studio Albums
- 1982: Doin' Alright
- 1983: You and I
- 1984: Be My Lover
- 1986: Surrender
- 2007: F1RST
Compilations
- 1996: The Best of O'Bryan