Avant

Hailed as the "new voice of ghetto soul" and acknowledged as the first act signed
to NBA great Magic Johnson's Magic Johnson Music, Chicago native Avant's
debut album, My Thoughts was issued by MCA Records in May 2000. Around
the same time, the 22-year old singer/songwriter was enjoying a Top Five
Billboard R&B/Hip Hop hit single, "Separated."
Avant's style of modern soul owes heavily to fellow Chicago-based singer R.Kelly.
Originally, Avant's manager, Eric Payton, released "Separated" in January 1998 on
his Payton Entertainment label. The single began getting airplay on #1 rated radio
station WGCI in Chicago before eventually being included on the 1999 MCA
compilation, Summer Heat. The singer/songwriter wrote "Separated" based on
his feelings following a failed romantic relationship.
Recorded in Chicago, "My Thoughts" was produced by accomplished multi-
instrumentalist Steve Huff. Huff and Avant's overall high-quality musicianship
gives "My Thoughts" a refreshing depth. The cover of Rene & Angela's 1983
ballad classic, "My First Love" (a duet with label mate KeKe Wyatt) stands out
with a wonderfully swirling string arrangement by veteran Chicago arranger Tom
Tom Washington. The slammin' song "Reaction" contains a rhythm guitar sample
from Issac Hayes' 1974 hit, "Wonderful." While some singers get too sexually
graphic in their songs, Avant decides to leave it up to the listener's own libido
and imagination on sensuousballads such as "I Wanna Know," "Destiny" and
"Ooh Aah" and on slammin'jams such as "Reaction" and "Serious".
In 2001 Avant recorded a song with legendary Gap Band singer Charlie Wilson .
This was released as a single and included on Wilson's album Bridging The Gap.
Also in 2001he returned a favour and recorded a duet with KeKe Wyatt "Nothing
In This World" for her album. In 2002, he released "Ecstacy" on Johnson's subsidiary,
a new album that featured production from Steve Huff again.
In 2003 Avant followed with a third album "Private room" that feature the hit single
"Read your mind".
 

Discography  :