British Music Act
Lemar
Since Winning the EMMA Award
Lemar Obika is a British Nigerian Singer, Songwriter and Record Producer who released six more studio albums, two certified platinum or double platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), and 10 Top 20 singles, 5 of which charted in the Top 10. Lemar is often seen as one of the most successful UK artists to come out of a reality TV show and has won 2 Brit Awards and 3 MOBO Awards since winning the EMMA’s in 2004. Lemar has shared the stage with Beyoncé, Lionel Richie, Mary J Blige, George Benson, and Justin Timberlake, amongst others.
In 2023, he appeared as Lord Smythe-Smith in “Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story,” a prequel spin-off of the hit Netflix series Bridgerton. The series focuses on a young Queen Charlotte’s rise to prominence and power. Lemar participated in the 5th series of The Masked Singer UK as Cricket (his masked identity) and finished in third place. In 2024, Lemar starred in London’s West End revival of Sister Act: The Musical, playing Curtis Jackson alongside his previous duet partner, Beverley Knight.Lemar is an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust and has proved to be an enduring talent on the UK urban scene, helping to pave the way for today’s wave of artists.
Background (Before 2004)
Better known as Lemar, Lemar Obika became famous after appearing on the UK reality talent show Fame Academy in 2002, where he finished third. Lemar was born in Tottenham, North London, England, to Nigerian parents. He grew up listening to R&B and soul music. Lemar was 17 when he performed his first concert at the Junior Jam at ‘The Temple’ in Tottenham, supporting American singer Usher.
Lemar gave up an opportunity to study pharmacy at Cardiff University to pursue a musical career and had success supporting various artists including the American girl groups Destiny’s Child and Total on their UK club tours. After a few years, he secured a recording contract with BMG. His debut single was “Got Me Saying Ooh,” which was not released. Because of this, he had to take a job as an accounts manager at NatWest.
Following Lemar’s success on Fame Academy, Sony Music was so impressed with his potential that they signed him on a five-year record deal worth £1 million. Beverley Knight, a fellow British soul singer, later invited him to sing a duet with her during her concert at the Hammersmith Apollo in 2002. Lemar’s second single, “Dance (with U),” reached No.1 on the UK Singles Chart in early 2003. Lemar’s first album, Dedicated, was released later that year, and additional singles, “50/50” and “Another Day,” also achieved chart success in the UK.
