Avant 'Ecstasy' album

Spend a little time with AVANT and you soon pick up on his frequent use of the phrase "No doubt." He says it often because indeed Avant harbors no doubts about his love of music or the pleasure he gets from singing. His debut release, "My Thoughts" left no doubts that Avant is a major player in the music scene.

The soft-spoken, good-humored vocalist, who co-produces and co-writes most of his work, first broke through the Top Five Billboard charts with the single "Separated."

Born and raised in Cleveland, OH, Avant knew by age five that his destiny was the stage. "It was a church thing at first," he recalls. "Singing with the choir really impacted me; even today, I feel that the Lord is always with me." The gospel community was very competitive: "If you weren't good, it's not that they wouldn't let you in, but they'd turn your mic down," Avant explains. The experience proved to be the proper training for his R&B career, which would be thrust into the spotlight rapidly.

On the flip side, Avant was similarly steeped in the music of such pioneers as Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke and Stevie Wonder. While attending the Cleveland School of the Arts, Avant drew the interest of many music industry professionals, including manager Eric Payton, who took the young singer under his wing. Over the ensuing months, Avant was a regular performer on the local and regional concert circuit, making friends with such R&B stalwarts as Keith Sweat and Gerald Levert.

His break came when, by chance, a demo of his found its way to the offices of Magic Johnson Music, the fledgling label founded by the basketball legend. By the time Avant was officially introduced to Magic and label executives, with his music preceding him, it was an easy sell...Avant became the first artist signed to the label. "He's a real big brother figure to me," says the singer of Magic. "When I first met him, he treated me like I was the star."

Upon reflection, we see how right Magic was. Still, fully established as an RnB superstar, Avant maintains a grounded outlook: "My whole thing is making people happy," he says. "If I can make you smile, if I can brighten your day with my music, then I've done what I set out to do."
No doubt, Avant can consider this mission: accomplished

Avant teams up with Steve "Stone" Huff again for his sophomore effort. His new album, Ecstasy, drops on March 26.

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Avant - Ecstasy