Seal
Background information
Birth name	Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel
Born	February 19, 1963 (age 44)
Origin	Paddington, London, England, United Kingdom
Genre(s)	R&B Soul Pop
Occupation(s)	Singer, songwriter
Instrument(s)	Vocals Piano
Years active	1989–present

Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (born February 19, 1963 in Paddington, London, England) is a British soul singer and songwriter. He is professionally known only by his first name, Seal. He won three Grammy Awards for his 1995 single "Kiss from a Rose".

Contents 1 Early life 2 Music career 2.1 Seal [1991] 2.2 Seal [1994] 2.3 Human Being 2.4 Failed Album: Togetherland 2.5 Seal [2003] 2.6 Greatest Hits Album: Best 1991-2004 2.7 Live In Paris 2.8 One Night To Remember 2.9 System 3 Family 4 Discography 4.1 Albums 4.2 Singles 5 References 6 See also 7 External links

Early life

Born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel, a childhood battle with discoid lupus left him with distinctive facial scarring and hair loss. He studied architecture and engineering.[1]

Music career

Seal [1991]

As the 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), titled 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 demand for a produced single rushing the final album edit, and as Seal puts it, his and producer Horn's "inability to let go." [2] 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, with "Crazy" becoming a worldwide hit and a number one in several countries.

Seal [1994]

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.

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. However, it received Gold record certification by the RIAA just two months after its release date. The album provided three singles, "Human Beings", "Latest Craze", and "Lost My Faith".

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. Since December 2006, Seal has been indicating that, while still feeling the album as a whole is "not worthy", he plans to excerpt certain cuts from Togetherland and make them available for streaming download.

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.

Seal [2003]

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, and a big hit in several European countries).

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".

Live In Paris

Also in 2004, Seal performed a couple of shows at the Olympia Theatre in Paris, France. The July 6, 2004 show was recorded and released about one year after as CD/DVD package, simply titled Live In Paris.

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. This CD/DVD is not yet available in the USA.

System

During his 2007 spring tour, Seal announced his new album, System, to be released in October 2007. He said it would be more dance-oriented, apparently a return to the roots of his first album.

Family

Seal married German supermodel Heidi Klum on May 10, 2005, on a beach in Mexico. Seal and Heidi have three children, daughter Helene "Leni" Klum (biological father is Flavio Briatore), and sons, Henry Günther Ademola Dashtu Samuel, born September 12, 2005 and Johan Riley Fyodor Taiwo Samuel, born November 22, 2006.

Seal's younger brother, Jeymes Samuel, is also a singer and musician.

[3]

Discography

Further information: Seal discography

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 (Sire Records) #4 UK, #3 US, #2 Germany
• 2004 Best 1991-2004 (Warner Bros. Records) (compilation) #27 UK, #47 US, #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)
• 2007 System (Warner Bros. Records)

Singles

• from Doctor Adamski's Musical Pharmacy
  • 1990 "Killer" (Adamski featuring Seal) #1 UK

• from Seal
  • 1990 "Crazy" #2 UK, #7 US, #5 AT, #9 AUS, #5 France, #2 Germany, #1 SWE, #1 SWI
  • 1991 "Future Love EP" - featuring "Future Love Paradise" #12 UK, #15 AT, #46 AUS, #18 France, #16 Germany, #13 SWE, #7 SWI
  • 1991 "The Beginning" #24 UK, #39 Germany
  • 1991 "Killer" #8 UK, #100 US, #95 AUS
  • 1992 "Violet" #39 UK

• from Seal (Seal 2)
  • 1994 "Prayer for the Dying" #14 UK, #21 US, #56 AUS, #62 Germany
  • 1994 "Kiss from a Rose" #20 UK, #87 AUS
  • 1994 "Newborn Friend" #45 UK
  • 1995 "Kiss From a Rose" (re-issue) / "I'm Alive" #4 UK, #1 US, #3 AT, #1 AUS, #8 France, #11 Germany, #8 SWE, #7 SWI
  • 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 "Waiting for You" #80 UK, #89 US
  • 2003 "Get It Together" #25 UK, #29 US Adult Contemporary, #41 Germany
  • 2004 "Love's Divine" #68 UK, #79 US, #11 AT, #4 France, #4 Germany, #34 New-Zealand, #43 SWE, #4 SWI

• from Best 1991-2004
  • 2005 "Walk On By" #49 Germany
  • 2005 "Killer 2005" #1 US Hot Dance Club Play

• from System
  • 2007 To Be Announced

Other songs:

• 1992 "Who Wants To Live Forever" (Freddie Mercury Tribute)
• 1992 "Let The Love Shine In"
• 1993 "Love Is Powerful" (JP only)
• 1993 "Manic Depression" (US promo) (with Jeff Beck)
• 1994 "How Do You Stop" (with Joni Mitchell)
• 1995 "Bird of Freedom" (from "Clockers" OST)
• 1996 "Hey Joe (live)" (from Set It Off soundtrack)
• 2001 "History" (with Outlawz)
• 2001 "Les Mots" #2 France (with Mylène Farmer)
• 2002 "You Are My Kind" (with Santana)
• 2003 "Mona Lisa" (from "Mona Lisa Smile" OST)
• 2004 "Life On Mars" (Itunes exclusive)
• 2006 "A Father's Way" (from the film The Pursuit of Happyness)

References

1. RIAA.com Human Being Gold certification date 01/22/1999, Retrieved July 12, 2007

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

External links

• Seal.com
• Seal at the Internet Movie Database