Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

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O'NEAL, Alexander

(b 15 Nov. '53, Natchez MS) Soul singer based in Minneapolis. Led his own band Alexander late '70s; lead singer of Flyte Tyme, which evolved into The Time, who had hit albums on WB '81--4 and on Paisley Park '90; the group incl. Jimmy Jam [Harris] and Terry Lewis, soon a successful songwriting and production team. O'Neal had gone solo; his debut album Alexander O'Neal '85 on Tabu was prod. by Jam and Lewis, followed by Hearsay '87 (top 30 album USA), My Gift To You '88 (a Christmas album), All Mixed Up '89 and All True Man '91 (top 50) and Love Makes No Sense '93. His vocal partner was Cherrelle (Cheryl Norton, from LA) and he backed her on her records on Tabu incl. 'Saturday Love' '86, a transatlantic hit. Hearsay was in the British charts nearly two years; the Lord of Bedroom Soul sold out six shows at Wembley, creating a boudoir on stage, complete with bed and paramour. But his last album on Tabu barely made the US top 100; stardom and night life resulted in dependence on chemicals. He recorded for Motown for two years, but they released nothing but The Best Of Alexander O'Neal '95. Having straightened himself out he came back on an EMI label with Lovers Again '96, still with Cherrelle, prod. by Brits Ronnie Wilson and Dennis Charles, incl. single 'Baby Come To Me', a remake of the big Patti Austin/James Ingram '82 hit.