O'Bryan McCoy Burnette II, known by his stage name OâÂÂBryan (born December 5, 1961), is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and multi-instrumentalist.
O'Bryan McCoy Burnette II began playing the piano at 6 years old and then began singing in the church and at local talent shows. In 1974, he and his family moved to Santa Ana, California. OâÂÂBryan was singing in the Second Baptist Church young adult choir when his friend Melanee Kersey approached him about considering a career in music. Melanee Kersey introduced the young singer to her husband, producer Ron Kersey.
A former keyboardist for the Trammps and a veteran of the âÂÂ70s Philadelphia music scene, Kersey invited OâÂÂBryan to join a group he was putting together. That group quickly folded, so Kersey later introduced OâÂÂBryan to "Soul Train" television show creator and host Don Cornelius, with whom Kersey formed Friendship Producers Company. Cornelius took the young artist to Capitol Records, where OâÂÂBryan released four albums that charted on the Billboard R&B charts.
The first album, Doin' Alright was released in April 1982 and peaked at No. 10 on the Billboard R&B Albums chart. The lead single, âÂÂThe Gigolo,â was a slice of funk with new wave and rock elements that emphasized OâÂÂBryan's falsetto. Released in January, âÂÂThe Gigoloâ peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard R&B Singles charts.
The follow-up single was an updated cover of the Four Topsâ âÂÂStill Water (Love),â peaking at No. 23. Among the other standouts on OâÂÂBryan's debut include the mid-tempo title track; the elegant ballad âÂÂLove Has Found Its Way;â and the sentimental âÂÂCanâÂÂt Live Without Your Love.âÂÂ
OâÂÂBryan released his sophomore effort You and I in March 1983. The album was named after his cover of the Stevie Wonder ballad. Given a more contemporary twist, the title track was the second single (peaking at No. 19) and since has become one of OâÂÂBryan's signature songs.
The lead single, "IâÂÂm Freaky," was an upbeat, synth-funk song that peaked at No. 15. Album tracks also receiving notice and airplay were the romantic âÂÂTogether AlwaysâÂÂ; the fluid instrumental âÂÂSoft TouchâÂÂ; and the energetic âÂÂSoul TrainâÂÂs A CominâÂÂâÂÂ, which became the theme song for Corneliusâ show from 1983 to 1987. The album peaked at No. 13.
In May 1984, OâÂÂBryan released Be My Lover which became his highest charting collection of songs (peaking at No. 3). The first single â the insistent, chugging âÂÂLoveliteâ â marched to the top of the Billboard R&B Singles chart. The success of âÂÂLoveliteâ prompted Capitol to release âÂÂBreakinâ Togetherâ as the next single. But it was OâÂÂBryan's penchant for ballads â the quiet storm staple âÂÂLady I Love You;â the lovelorn âÂÂYouâÂÂre Always on My Mind;â and âÂÂGo on and Cry,â which was the third single â that shone as the album's highlights. The title track also became known as one of O'Bryan's better uptempo songs.
In 1986, OâÂÂBryan released his fourth studio album, Surrender. OâÂÂBryan collaborated with writers Jerry Knight and Aaron Zigman to create the synth drenched âÂÂTenderoniâ and âÂÂDriving Force.â But arguably the strongest cuts on the album were three ballads â âÂÂYou Have Got to Come to MeâÂÂ, âÂÂMariaâ and âÂÂIs This for Realâ â that displayed OâÂÂBryan's musical genius. Surrender would be O'Bryan's final album with Capitol Records.
After his exit from Capitol Records, OâÂÂBryan signed to A&M Records. Unfortunately, due to a change in management and creative philosophy, OâÂÂBryan requested a release from A&M. He then signed with Atlantic Records distributed label Third Stone Records which was founded by actor Michael Douglas and record producer Richard Rudolph. Prior to the release of OâÂÂBryan's first release with Third Stone Records, Atlantic Records folded the label. Thus, at the height of his recording career, OâÂÂBryan quietly exited the recording industry.
In 2007, OâÂÂBryan made his triumphant return releasing his first album in two decades ironically entitled âÂÂF1RSTâÂÂ. The set derived its name from what OâÂÂBryan called at the time âÂÂthe first step of a new musical journey.â âÂÂF1RSTâ included the ballads highlighted by the songs âÂÂJust Like Doinâ It,â âÂÂCan I Kiss Your LipsâÂÂ, âÂÂMan OverboardâÂÂ, âÂÂGotta Let You Goâ and âÂÂGratitude."