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.[1] His music can best be described as a Eurodance/hip-hop reggae with a dancehall style.
Dr. Alban's debut album, Hello Afrika sold over one million records world wide.[2]
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[edit] Life
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, Nwapa 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 he 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. 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", 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. He is also the uncle of Ricarda Wältken from the German Hip Hip Band Tic Tac Toe.
In 2007 Dr. Alban has released new album Back to basics. It is sold only on the Internet through official website, with exception for Russia where CDs and cassettes were issued.
In 2008, he releases a single with pop-star of the 90's Haddaway, entitled "I love the 90's". Alban proves that he didn't forget his fellow artists of the last decade and he mentions in the lyrics some of the best hits of the Euro years: "Rhythm is a dancer", "What is Love", "Scatman", "All that she wants" and, of course, his own "It's my life".
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT | CH | GER | SWE | |||
| 1991 | Hello Afrika | 2 | 8 | - | 6 | |
| 1992 | One Love | 1 | 3 | 6 | 15 | |
| 1994 | Look Who's Talking | 7 | 8 | 7 | 11 | |
| 1996 | Born In Africa | 41 | 37 | 52 | 37 | |
| 1997 | I Believe | - | - | - | 27 | |
| 1997 | The Very Best Of 1990-1997 | 38 | - | 66 | 38 | |
| 2000 | Prescriptions | - | - | - | - | |
| 2007 | Back To Basics | - | - | - | - | |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUT | CH | GER | UK | SWE | ||
| 1990 | "Hello Afrika" (Feat. Leila K.) | 1 | 5 | 5 | - | 5 |
| 1991 | "Sing Shi-Wo-Wo (Stop The Pollution)" | 16 | 13 | - | - | 36 |
| 1990 | "No Coke" | 2 | 3 | 3 | - | 1 |
| 1991 | "(We Are On Family) U & Mi" | 11 | 9 | 14 | - | 20 |
| 1992 | "It's My Life" | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 1992 | "It's My Life (Raggadag Remix)" | 2 | - | - | - | - |
| 1992 | "One Love" | 9 | 11 | 7 | 45 | 19 |
| 1993 | "Sing Hallelujah" | 7 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 6 |
| 1994 | "Look Who's Talking" | 3 | 6 | 3 | 55 | 2 |
| 1994 | "Away From Home" | 12 | 26 | 25 | 42 | 24 |
| 1994 | "Let the Beat Go On" | 23 | - | 18 | - | 17 |
| 1995 | "Sweet Dreams" (Swing featuring Dr. Alban) | - | - | - | 59 | - |
| 1995 | "This Time I'm Free" | 23 | 32 | 27 | - | 3 |
| 1996 | "Born In Africa" | 31 | 47 | - | - | 11 |
| 1996 | "Hallelujah Day" | 35 | - | - | - | 30 |
| 1997 | "Mr. DJ" | 21 | - | 70 | - | - |
| 1999 | "Colour The World" (feat. Sash!) | - | 39 | 39 | 15 | 54 |
| 2000 | "What Do I Do" | - | - | - | - | 43 |
| 2003 | "Work Work" | - | - | - | - | 13 |
| 2004 | "Sing Hallelujah Recall 2004" | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2005 | "Sing Hallelujah (Remix)" (mit Yamboo) | - | - | 74 | - | - |
| 2007 | "Somebody Call My Name (Habibi) (Feat. Melissa)" | - | - | - | - | -
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| 2007 | "Don't Joke With Fire" | - | - | - | - | - |
| 2008 | "I Love The 90ths" (feat. Haddaway) | - | - | - | - | - |
[edit] Footnotes
[edit] External links
- The Official Website of Dr Alban
- Dr. Alban records
- About Dr. Alban
- Live Preview of Dr. Alban Songs, Albums
- Dr.Alban First Album
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