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Adam Levine

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Adam Levine

Adam Noah Levine (born March 18, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter and musician, best known as the frontman and guitarist for the pop rock band Maroon 5. He is also a coach on the American talent show The Voice.

Early life

Levine was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Patsy (née Noah) and Fred Levine.[1] His uncle is Slate writer and editor Timothy Noah.[2] He has a brother, Michael.[3] Levine's father and maternal grandfather were Jewish (his maternal grandmother was Protestant).[4][5][6] When he was six, he made the winning shot of his local YMCA championship basketball game (on a team his father coached) with no time left on the clock. He has said that the incident changed his life and gave him the confidence to be successful.[7]

Levine attended Frenchwoods Festival of the Performing Arts Camp (Hancock, NY), where he met the original members of the band Kara's Flowers: Jesse Carmichael, Mickey Madden and Ryan Dusick. He graduated from Brentwood School in 1997.

Original band Kara's Flowers

Having met at Brentwood School in Los Angeles, CA, the band released their first album entitled The Fourth World in 1997 as high school seniors. That same year the band appeared on an episode of Beverly Hills, 90210. The album had little success, and its only single, "Soap Disco", failed commercially. Disappointed with the results of their album, the band went on hiatus and went their separate ways.[8]

Adam Levine and Jesse Carmichael left Los Angeles to study at Five Towns College, a small music and performing arts school in Dix Hills, Long Island, New York.[citation needed] This was the first time the two Los Angeles natives were exposed to a completely different music scene, a cultural awakening for the young men.[9] On MTV News, in 2002, Levine said, "That's when I started waking up to the whole hip hop, R&B thing. We had friends named Chaos and shit. It was not Brentwood High."[10]

Maroon 5 and mainstream success

During this time, Levine worked a two-week stint as a waiter at Johnny Rockets.[11] After dropping out of Five Towns College, Levine and Jesse reunited with Mickey and Ryan, but added former Square guitarist, James Valentine in 2001. Renaming the band Maroon 5, Levine and his friends began to compile all of their newfound musical influences into their music. While Levine was working as a writer's assistant on the television show "Judging Amy," he spent time writing the lyrics about his ex-girlfriend, Jane. Those lyrics became the album "Songs About Jane."[11]

Other work

Levine (right) with bandmate Jesse Carmichael in 2007

Levine has collaborated with various musical acts. In 2005, Levine was featured on the Ying Yang Twins song "Live Again". He appeared on Kanye West's Late Registration album, on the third single, "Heard 'Em Say".[12] He is also featured in the song "Wild Horses" on Alicia Keys' third album Alicia Keys: MTV Unplugged. Over the next year, he co-wrote the track "Say It Again" on Natasha Bedingfield's album N.B.. He also performed the background vocals on this song. Most recently, Levine offered his vocals on K'naan's newest album "Troubadour" in the song "Bang Bang."

Levine has made several notable comic appearances on television. During 2007, he appeared on the 33rd season premiere of Saturday Night Live in an SNL Digital Short called Iran So Far with Andy Samberg, Fred Armisen and Jake Gyllenhaal. Levine played himself while singing a humorous bridge to a "love song" for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. In 2008, he appeared on Comedy Central's "Night Of Too Many Stars". Levine also had a cameo on Jimmy Kimmel Live for the night of stars and endorsed Barack Obama in the 2008 Presidential Election.

In October 2008, Levine collaborated with First Act to create the First Act 222 Guitar, fashioned to Levine's specifications. The guitar was made available for purchase at Target retail stores.[13]

Levine has stated in various interviews that he does not plan on continuing in Maroon 5 forever, and may stop after the tour for Maroon 5's probable third album.[14][15]

Levine made a guest appearance as himself on the season three finale of 30 Rock in the episode Kidney Now!.

In 2009, Levine recorded "Gotten", a song for Slash's first solo album Slash released in April 2010. "Gotten" was premiered at amazon.com on March 29, 2010.[16]

Levine is also featured as a singer for his band's song "She Will be Loved" in the music rhythm game Band Hero. After which he is a playable character on any song on the game disc.

In February 2010, he was among approximately 80 musicians who sang on the charity-single remake of "We Are the World" called "We Are the World 25 for Haiti".

Levine is one of the contestant judges and coach mentors on the singing TV show, The Voice.[17]

Personal life

External videos
video icon Levine with his sister at a 2008 concert

Levine's ex-girlfriend Jane is the muse behind the name of the band's debut album Songs About Jane. In a 2004 interview, he claimed that she had not contacted him despite the success of the album.[18] They have since made up, and by 2007, Levine referred to them as being "close friends".

Levine's stepmother and father own two fashion stores in California. In 2005, he and Ryan Seacrest of American Idol attended the inauguration of M. Fredric, his parents' second store, in Studio City.[10]

Levine is a "car junkie", his favorite car being his 1971 Mercedes 280 SE 3.5 Cabriolet.[19]

In 2006, Levine broke his sternum while lifting weights, what he called "one of the most painful things I’ve ever experienced."[11] He began using spotters while lifting weights before giving up weightlifting completely when he began yoga in 2007.[20]

In September 2010, Levine said on the Howard Stern Show he had been dating Sports Illustrated swimsuit and Victoria's Secret Russian model Anne Vyalitsyna seriously for about eight months. The couple met when Maroon 5 performed at the 2010 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue release party in Las Vegas.[21]

Levine stripped naked for testicular cancer awareness for a centerfold in Cosmopolitan UK's February 2011 issue. [22]

Further reading

  • Kimpel, Dan (2006), How They Made It: True Stories of How Music's Biggest Stars Went from Start to Stardom!. Location unknown:Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 0-634-07642-6

References

  1. ^ http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/maroon5/articles/story/6053686/maroon_5s_white_funk
  2. ^ Noah, Timothy (2009-01-20). "Inaugorophobia, Part 2". Slate.com. Retrieved 2010-12-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  3. ^ http://www.tbt.com/features/entertainment/article46339.ece
  4. ^ Rodman, Sarah (2007-10-23). "Levine balances silliness and soul". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2010-12-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  5. ^ Smith, RJ (2007-05-22). "Dear Superstar: Adam Levine". Blender.com. Retrieved 2010-12-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  6. ^ Noah, Timothy (2008-08-13). "Mary Matalin, Publisher: When political hacks edit books". Slate.com. Retrieved 2010-12-20. Levine's uncle (mother's brother), Timothy Noah: "I am Jewish on my father's side, a Protestant on my mother's side, and an atheist" {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Levin-Epstein, Amy (date unknown), "Big Shot". MSN, courtesy of Best Life. (accessed 2009-01-16)
  8. ^ Rosen, Craig (2005-06-04), "MAROON 5". Billboard. 117 (23):
  9. ^ Kimpel, 2006, p88
  10. ^ a b Newt Briggs (2004). "Off the Charts: Maroon 5" lasvegasmercury.com (accessed February 27, 2007) Cite error: The named reference "studiocitysun" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  11. ^ a b c Smith, RJ (June 2007), "Dear Superstar: Adam Levine". Blender. (accessed 2009-01-16)
  12. ^ Moss, Corey (December 19, 2005), "Move Over, Justin: Adam Levine Is Hip-Hop's New Favorite White Boy". MTV.com (accessed 2009-01-18)
  13. ^ (October 9, 2008), "Adam Lvine Interview: First Act 222 Guitar". YouTube.com (accessed 2009-01-18)
  14. ^ Paton, Maureen (August 2, 2008), "In a taxi with...Adam Levine". Mail Online. (accessed 2009-01-16)
  15. ^ Greene, Andy (2007-06-28), "Maroon 5: Back on Top". Rolling Stone. (1029):16
  16. ^ http://www.amazon.com/Slash/e/B000APVSRE//ref=pe_64050_14664150_pe_00_head//B000APVSRE "Gotten" premiered at amazon.com, March 29, 2010
  17. ^ http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/464541-Cee_Lo_Green_Adam_Levine_Named_Coaches_of_The_Voice_.php
  18. ^ Rubin, Courtney (2004-04-19), "MAROON 5 SOUNDS OFF". People. 61(15):45
  19. ^ Scaggs, Austin (May 31, 2007), "Adam Levine". Rolling Stone. (1027):36
  20. ^ Zepeda, Dana Meltzer (July 15, 2008), "Adam Levine of Maroon 5: His Yoga Addiction Makes Him Buff And Sane". Women's Health Magazine. (2009-01-16)
  21. ^ The Howard Stern Show for September 22, 2010. "An update to Adam's sex resume"
  22. ^ "Adam Levine Nude: Maroon 5 Singer Gets Naked For Cancer In Cosmo UK". Entertainment. The Huffington Post. 2010-01-06. Retrieved 2010-01-08.
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