Omar Akram

Omar Akram
center
Background information
Born New York City
Origin Afghan
Genres New-age, Jazz, World music
Instruments Piano
Years active 2002 – present
Website omarmusic.com

Omar Akram is a Grammy Award-winning recording artist, composer and pianist. He became the first Afghan-American to win a Grammy award in 2013 with his fourth studio album, Echoes of Love.[1] He is also an inspirational writer who contributes to The Huffington Post.

Early life

Akram was born in New York City. He grew up traveling around the world as the son of a United Nations diplomat living in such diverse locales as France, Cuba, Afghanistan and the Czech Republic.[2] He notably met Fidel Castro at the age of 14, who is said to have allowed him to sneak into the local Cuban jazz clubs, the sounds of which influenced his formative compositional style.[3]

Career

In 1993 he moved from the East Coast to Los Angeles and started to work in top 40 bands with odd jobs, while also writing his own music. In 2002, he signed to a recording deal with Real Music.[4] He released his first album, Opal Fire, in 2002. It reached the top 15 on Billboard's New Age Chart.[5]

In 2012, his album Echos of Love won the Grammy for Best New Age Album.[4]

Personal life

In April 2013, he had a residency in Hollywood, California.[4]

Discography

Albums

Akram's 2007 album, Secret Journey, peaked at No. 12 on the New Age charts, and his 2012 Echoes of Love, received a Grammy for Best New Age Album.[6][7]

Year Album's Name Songs
2002 Opal Fire
  1. Sugar Coated Love
  2. Morning Rain
  3. A Vision of You
  4. Last Dance
  5. Waves of Emotion
  6. Farewell For Now
  7. Unity
  8. Innocence Lost
  9. So Far
  10. Gypsy Woman
  11. Opal Fire
2004 Free as a bird
  1. Free as a Bird
  2. Passage into Midnight
  3. A Day with You
  4. Falling through the Rain
  5. Beauty Unveiled
  6. Dancing with the Wind
  7. Surrender
  8. Riding the Current
  9. Never Let Go
  10. Trust Unspoken
  11. Flight of Mystery
2007 Secret Journey
  1. Run Away With Me
  2. Secret Journey
  3. Nomadic Rhapsody
  4. Passage Of The Heart
  5. Gypsy Spirit
  6. Stargazers
  7. Seven Secrets
  8. Whispers In The Moonlight
  9. Mirage
  10. Shimmering Star
  11. Caravan
  12. Angel of Hope
2012 Echoes of Love
  1. Echoes of Love
  2. Take My Hand
  3. Lovely Day
  4. Miracle
  5. Finally Home
  6. Draw Me Close
  7. Free Spirit
  8. My Hope is You
  9. Rejoice
  10. Cry for Love
  11. Open Skies
  12. Merry
2013 Daytime Dreamer
  1. Downpour
  2. Dancing With the Wind
  3. Searching
  4. Surrender
  5. Passage Into Midnight
  6. Daytime Dreamer
  7. Love of My Heart
  8. The Promise
  9. Morning Rain
  10. Last Dance
  11. My Desire

References

  1. ↑ "INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL GRAMMY : Awards". www.longbeachindependent.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Omar Akram's Biography". last.fm. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Can Music Can Bridge Cultures and Promote Peace?". huffingtonpost.com. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 https://lbpost.com/life/omar-akram-melody-is-everything-2/
  5. ↑ http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/?p=19220
  6. ↑ "Omar Akram: Awards". www.allmusic.com. Retrieved February 12, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Omar Akram's albums". last.fm-music. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.