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Artist
Alex Boyé (born August 16, 1970) is a British-American singer and actor. He was named the "2017 Rising Artist of the Year" in a contest sponsored by Pepsi and Hard Rock Cafe. He was born in London on August 16, 1970 to Nigerian parents. While pregnant, Boyé's mother went to London while his father remained in Nigeria. According to his own words, he never knew his father. His mother remarried and worked for London Underground, cleaning tracks at night. One day his mother said she was going to Nigeria for a couple of weeks for a visit and did not come back for eight years. Boyé was raised in the Tottenham neighbourhood that has been described as "tough". He spent much of his youth in foster homes with Caucasian parents. As a teenager, he listened to the music of Motown, including artists Stevie Wonder, Kool and the Gang, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, Nat King Cole, Jackie Wilson and Otis Redding. When he was 16, Boyé was working in a McDonald's in London when he was introduced to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) by a manager. He was baptised soon afterward. He first performed in public while serving as a missionary for the LDS Church in Bristol, England. The 1990s After completing his mission, he became a back up dancer. Among those with whom he performed in this role was George Michael. In 1995, he formed and became the lead singer of Awesome, a European boy band. They performed at local dances and other small venues until 1996 when they won a voc