Feb. 19: English soul and R&B singer-songwriter Seal - "Kiss from a Rose" - is 48 today.



 
Born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel in Paddington, London, England to a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother. His name, Olusegun, means "God is victorious."

Before his singing career took off, he received a two-year associates degree, in architecture and worked in various jobs in the London. He is married to German model Heidi Klum. His facial scars are the result of a type of Lupus called Discoid lupus erythematosus - a condition that specifically affects the skin above the neck.

After a short time singing in local clubs and bars, in the 1980s, he joined Push, a British funk band, and toured with them in Japan. In Asia, he joined a blues band in Thailand for a while before separating from the group and journeying throughout India on his own. His break came when he met the producer Adamski. He was given the lyrics of the song "Killer," which was a huge hit in 1990.

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6: Commitment

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The single eventually reached number one in 1990 in the UK. Seal subsequently signed to ZTT Records and released his self-titled début album Seal in 1991. Two versions of the album are known to be in circulation: the original "premix" version and a second, more common version with an updated mix. The single "Crazy" became an international hit in 1991, reaching number seven on the Billboard Music Charts and number two in the U.K.

His second album, also self-titled Seal, was released in 1994. A success, the album featured the singles "Prayer for the Dying" and "Newborn Friend," later receiving a Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. "Prayer for the Dying" became a minor pop hit in the U.S., peaking at #21 on the Billboard charts.

A third single, "Kiss from a Rose," performed modestly when released but was later featured to much wider popularity when it was remixed for the soundtrack to Batman Forever. "Kiss from a Rose" won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year and Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 1996, becoming Seal's best performing single on the US market , topping the Billboard Hot 100 in late August 1995).

In 1998, Seal released Human Being. The album was the product of a turbulent time in his life, including a split and later reconciliation with producer Horn as well as Seal's parting with ZTT Records and his signing with Warner Bros. Records in 1997. Even though it was initially panned, it received Gold record certification by the RIAA just two months after its release date. The album provided three singles, "Human Beings," "Latest Craze," and "Lost My Faith."

In 2003, Seal released his fourth album, which was again self-titled, except for Australia, where it was released under Seal IV. Although it didn't sell as well as either of his first two albums, this release brought him back into the public eye in the U.s. and continental Europe. Singles from the album included "Waiting For You," "Get It Together," and "Love's Divine."

System was released in late 2007. the album as more dance-oriented, apparently a return to the roots of his first album. On the track titled "Wedding Day," Seal sings a duet with his wife, model Heidi Klum. The album's first single, "Amazing," was released on 25 September 2007, and was nominated for the "Best Male Pop Vocal Performance" Grammy at the 2007 50th Annual Grammy Awards.

Seal's seventh studio album, Commitment, was released in late 2010. The first single "Secret" was released August 10, 2010 on iTunes U.S. and in the UK on September 13, 2010.






Seal proposed to Heidi Klum on Dec. 23, 2004. On May 10, 2005, the couple married on a beach in Mexico near Seal's home on Mexico's Costa Careyes.

Every year Seal and Klum take the time to renew their vows on their anniversary with their close friends and family. On October 5, 2009, nearly five years after the couple married, Klum filed a petition to change her name to Heidi Samuel. In June 2010, the couple announced they will be making a reality series on Lifetime entitled Love's Divine, after Seal's song of the same name.

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