Seal (musician)
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| Seal Samuel | |
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| Birth name | Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel |
| Born | February 19, 1963 (age 44) London, England |
| Spouse(s) | Heidi Klum 2005-05-10 |
Seal Samuel (born 19 February 1963 in London, England) is a three-time Grammy Award-winning Afro-European soul vocalist and songwriter. He is professionally known only by his first name, Seal.
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[edit] Early life
Born Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, in London, England, his parents were Adebisi Samuel, a Nigerian immigrant, and Frances Samuel, an African-Brazilian immigrant. A childhood battle with discoid lupus left him with distinctive facial scarring and hair loss. He studied architecture and engineering in school.[citation needed]
[edit] Music career
[edit] Seal
As the featured vocalist on the Adamski single "Killer", Seal became a hot property when the single reached number one in 1990 in the UK. Like many other Adamski tracks, the single was also a hit in night clubs. Seal subsequently signed to ZTT Records and released his debut album (produced by Trevor Horn), entitled Seal, in 1991. Two versions of the album are known to be in circulation, the original "premix" version and a second, more common, version with an updated mix. This is attributed to the demands for a produced single rushing the final album edit, and as Seal puts it, his and producer Horn's "inability to let go". [1] The album was positively received by critics and the singles "Crazy", "Future Love Paradise", and his own rendition of "Killer" from the album all performed well on the charts.
[edit] Seal II
His second album, also eponymous, was released in 1994. A critical success, the album featured the singles "Prayer for the Dying" and "Newborn Friend", receiving a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. A third single, "Kiss From a Rose", performed modestly when released but was later featured in the film Batman Forever which resulted in its worldwide success. It went on to win Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year in 1996 and became Seal's best performing single in the US market. Later, he recorded a cover of Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like an Eagle" for the soundtrack of the film Space Jam.
[edit] Human Being
Four years after the release of his previous album, in 1998, Seal released Human Being. The album was the product of a turbulent time in his life, including a split and later reconciliation with producer Horn as well as Seal's parting with ZTT Records and his signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1997. The record was critically panned upon its release and its sales were lackluster. The album provided three singles, "Human Beings", "Latest Craze", and "Lost My Faith".
[edit] Failed Album: Togetherland
In 2001, fans awaited the arrival of a new album, announced as Togetherland. However, after a protracted post-production period the album was cancelled in its entirety. The official word was that Seal simply didn't think it made the grade, although this conflicts with other reports that said the album was turned down by the label, which felt that it wouldn't be commercially successful. Although one single was released from the album. "This Could Be Heaven" was released in the US and featured on the Family Man soundtrack.
Meanwhile, Seal made something of a comeback in dance and club scene when he co-wrote and provided vocals for the hit single "My Vision" from Jakatta in 2002.
[edit] Seal IV
In 2003, Seal released his fourth album, which was again self-titled, except for Australia, where it was released under Seal IV. Although it did not sell as much as either of his first two albums, this release brought him back into the public eye in the United States and continental Europe. Singles from the album included "Waiting For You", "Get It Together", and "Love's Divine" (released in 2004).
[edit] Greatest Hits Album: Best 1991-2004
In 2004, a greatest hits album entitled Seal: Best 1991-2004 was released, including a cover of the Bacharach / David classic "Walk on By" and a cover of Echo and the Bunnymen 's song "Lips Like Sugar".
[edit] Live In Paris
Also in 2004, Seal performed a couple of shows at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, France. The 6 July 2004 show was recorded and released about one year after as CD/DVD package, simply titled Live In Paris.
[edit] One Night To Remember
In June 2005, Seal recorded a special concert which was subsequently released in 2006 entitled One Night To Remember as CD/DVD whereby the DVD includes a special "the making of" documentary in addition to the live performance. Recorded in a historic steel mill, the Altes Kesselhaus ('old boiler house'), in Düsseldorf, Germany, this 16-track package includes a special version of Brahms' Lullaby which Seal sings in German and then in English for the exclusive audience. Unusually, he is accompanied by his band, and a full orchestra comprised of 52 musicians and singers.
[edit] Family
Seal married German supermodel Heidi Klum May 10, 2005, on a beach in Mexico. Four months later Klum gave birth to their son, Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel. On November 22, 2006, in Los Angeles, Heidi gave birth to their second son, Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel.
His younger brother, Jeymes Samuel, is also a singer and musician.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
- 1991 Seal (ZTT/Sire Records) #1 UK
- 1994 Seal (ZTT Zang Tuum Tumb) #1 UK, #15 U.S., #25 Germany
- 1998 Human Being (Sire Records) #22 US, #24 Germany, #44 UK
- 2003 Seal IV (Sire Records) #4 UK, #3 US, #2 Germany
- 2004 Best 1991-2004 (Warner Bros. Records) (compilation) #27 UK, #3 Germany
- 2005 Live in Paris (Warner Bros. Records) (Live CD + Live DVD) #88 Germany
- 2006 One Night to Remember (Warner Bros. Records) (Live CD + Live DVD)
[edit] Singles
- from Seal
- from Seal
- 1994 "Prayer for the Dying" #14 UK, #21 US, #56 AUS, #62 Germany
- 1994 "Kiss from a Rose" #1 US, #20 UK, #87 AUS
- 1994 "Newborn Friend" #45 UK
- 1995 "Kiss From a Rose" (re-issue) / "I'm Alive" #4 UK, #1 US, #1 AUS, #11 Germany
- 1996 "Don't Cry" / "Prayer For the Dying" (re-issue) #33 US, #51 UK
- from Space Jam Soundtrack
- 1997 "Fly Like an Eagle" #13 UK, #10 US, #81 AUS, #61 Germany
- from Human Being (1998)
- 1998 "Human Beings" #50 UK, #96 Germany
- 1998 "Latest Craze"
- 1999 "Lost My Faith"
- from The Family Man Soundtrack
- 2001 "This Could Be Heaven"
- From Visions
- 2002 "My Vision" (Jakatta featuring Seal) #6 UK, #43 AUS
- from Seal IV
- 2003 "Get It Together" #25 UK, #41 Germany
- 2003 "Love's Divine" #68 UK, #79 US, #4 France, #4 Germany
- 2004 "Waiting for You" #80 UK, #89 US
- from Best 1991-2004
- 2005 "Walk On By" #49 Germany
- 2005 "Killer 2005" #1 Hot Dance Club Play
Other songs:
- 1993 "Love Is Powerful" (JP only)
- 1993 "Manic Depression" (US promo) (with Jeff Beck)
- 1996 "Hey Joe (live)" (from Set It Off soundtrack)
- 2001 "Les Mots" #2 France (with Mylène Farmer)
- 2006 "A Father's Way" (from the film The Pursuit of Happyness)
[edit] See also
- List of musicians with multiple self-titled albums
- List of number-one hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
[edit] External links
Categories: Articles with unsourced statements since February 2007 | All articles with unsourced statements | 1963 births | Nigerian people | British musicians | English male singers | Soul musicians | ZTT Records artists | English of Nigerian descent | Living people | Brit Award winners | Grammy Award winners | People of Brazilian descent
