Michael Odokara-Okigbo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Michael O.
Birth nameMichael Odokara-Okigbo
Also known asMichael O.
Born (1990-01-08) 8 January 1990 (age 34)[1]
New York, United States.
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
Years active2013–present
LabelsESM Entertainment
Websitethemichaelo.com
YouTube information
ChannelsMichael O.
Subscribers5.16 Thousand
Total views1.905 Million

Last updated: 8 April 2023

Michael Odokara-Okigbo (born 8 January 1990), known professionally as Michael O, is a singer, songwriter and record producer best known for leading his college singing group, the Dartmouth Aires, to a second-place finish on the NBC show The Sing Off.

Career[edit]

He performed songs such as "Midnight Train to Georgia", "Somebody to Love", "Higher Ground", "Pinball Wizard", and "Paradise by the Dashboard Light".[2] Ben Folds of Ben Folds Five commented that Odakara-Okigbo has a "timeless style", and Shawn Stockman of Boyz II Men declared that Odakara-Okigbo is "a freaking superstar!"[3] He has performed at Lincoln Center, the White House, and has sung the National Anthem in venues all around the country.[where?]

On August 13, 2013, Odokara-Okigbo (under the name "Michael O") released his first EP, In the Beginning, to critical acclaim.[4]

In 2015, Odakara-Okigbo appeared in the motion picture Pitch Perfect 2, and is also featured on the soundtrack (which won the AMA for best soundtrack).[5] He also appeared as the feature vocalist on tracks for DJs such as Option4, Flex Cop and Gladiator.

Odakara-Okigbo has performed at venues such as the Merrill Auditorium in Portland, Maine, the Lincoln Center, and for President Obama in the White House.

In November 2017, Odakara-Okigbo won the HAPA Award for Best Upcoming Artist for his record, Your Way.[1]

Odakara-Okigbol's single "Umbrella" was released on June 1, 2018.[1]

In addition to his music career, Odakara-Okigbo, throughout his life, has always focused on charity work. At the age of fourteen, Odakara-Okigbo founded The Mugadi Foundation, a non-profit organization that provides education in the Global South.[6]

He lives in Los Angeles and is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the Waynflete School in Portland, Maine.

Odokara-Okigbo is the grandson of Pius Okigbo.

Discography[edit]

In the Beginning (2013)

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "About". Michael O. Retrieved 8 December 2019.
  2. ^ Genzlinger, Neil (25 November 2011). "Channel Surfing: 'The Sing-Off' - NYTimes.com". Artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
  3. ^ Burnham, Emily (29 November 2011). "Maine native's a cappella group takes second place on NBC's 'The Sing-Off'". Bangor Daily News. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  4. ^ "Making Noise: Incredible Michael O adds to his catalog". 15 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Portland's Michael Odokara-Okigbo lands his first film role, in 'Pitch Perfect 2'". Press Herald. 15 July 2014.
  6. ^ "The Mugadi Foundation". The Mugadi Foundation. Retrieved 25 February 2023.

External links[edit]