Dr. Alban

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Dr. Alban (born August 26, 1957 as Alban Nwapa in Enugu, Nigeria) is a Stockholm, Sweden-based musician and producer with his own record label dr-records. His music can best be described as a hip-hop reggae with a dancehall style.

Dr. Alban
Dr. Alban

Alban Nwapa grew up listening to Fela Kuti and James Brown. At age 23, he began studying dentistry. In order to be able to finance his university studies the music-loving medical student started making his own music. During this time Alban worked as a DJ in the well-known Stockholm club 'Alphabet Street'. Very quickly his name became widely known, especially since Alban often sang to the records he put on the turntable as a DJ. DJ René couldn't help but notice him and so the highly intelligent medical student was discovered. Alban finished his studies and even opened his own dentistry practice, keeping his disk jockeying as a lucrative sideline.

In 1990, he met Denniz PoP from the SweMix label. Alban laid aside his dentist's drill and realised his dream. Together with Denniz and Rap-Queen Leila K, his first record, "Hello Africa" - his declaration of love for his African home - broke all records. Alban Nwapa took the stage name Dr. Alban, a nod to his dental studies. His debut album Hello Africa sold roughly 1 million copies world-wide. [citation needed]

One year later this success was surpassed by the second album One Love. 1.6 million singles of the song "It's My Life" were sold (the single was even used as background music for a Tampax advert). It was #1 in the Netherlands, Israel and Germany and #2 in the UK. The following single "One Love" was #5 in Israel. The album immediately sold over 1.7 million units. Then followed the albums Look Who's Talking and Born In Africa. All in all, Dr. Alban has racked up world-wide sales of over 5 million albums and over 6 million singles, which resulted in 7 times Silver, 30 times Gold and 30 times Platinum. His hit single "No Coke" was used to illustrate an anti-drugs campaign in Sweden. The single "Sing Hallelujah" reached #5 in Israel.

After a re-release of "No Coke", Dr. Alban confirmed his Euro dance style with his hit "Look Who's Talking Now", which reached #4 in Israel, #6 at MTV Europe, and #54 in UK. "Let The Beat Go On" was #12 in Israel, and #12 at MTV9.

He created his own record company 'Dr. Records', on which he released Born in Africa, the first CD recorded completely in his Dr Records studios. He had production credits on projects by artists such as La Cream and Daddy Showkey.

More recently, his voice was featured on Sash!'s single "Colour The World". After one year of silence he came back with a new track entitled "Because Of You", followed by "What Do I Do" and a new album, not Euro-dance related. Alban was very satisfied with the new album Prescription. Many hands have been involved in making this new album sound special. There are also guest appearances from Tony Rebell and Anthony B.

Dr. Alban is a cousin of another famous Nigerian musician, Charles "Charlie Boy" Oputa.

[edit] Discography

Albums :

Singles :

  • 1990 - Hello Afrika
  • 1990 - No Coke
  • 1991 - U + mi
  • 1991 - Stop the pollution
  • 1992 - It's My Life
  • 1992 - One love
  • 1993 - Sing Hallelujah!
  • 1994 - Look Whos Talking
  • 1994 - Away from home
  • 1994 - Let the beat go on
  • 1995 - This Time Im free
  • 1997 - Mr. Dj
  • 2001 - Because Of You
  • 2003 - Work Work

[edit] External links

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