CHOONS

O'Bryan Becomes An R&B Heartthrob With "The Gigolo"

Episode Summary

R&B crooner O’Bryan joins us on our latest CHOONS episode to look back at the making of his 1981 funky debut single “The Gigolo.”

Episode Notes

Before he graced the covers of Right On! and Black Beat, O’Bryan was a church kid with a stunning tenor tone informed by years of listening to Stevie Wonder, Donny Hattaway, Phyllis Hyman, and the Delphonics, among others.

His vocal abilities impressed a string of influential people that guided him through his musical journey, from Philly Soul legend Ron Kersey to the mighty "Soul Train" creator Don Cornelius, who later became co-writer of his songs and executive producer for most of his output with Capitol Records

For his first single release with Capitol, O’Bryan choose a masterful blend of sounds that signaled a shift in musical trends in the early 1980s. It was the first in a series of tunes that elevated him as one of the top Rhythm and Blues heartthrobs of his generation, creating an unbroken relationship with his devoted audience.

Show Tracklisting:

O’Bryan on social media

Host and Producer: Diego Martinez

Executive Producer: Nicholas "NickFresh" Puzo

Audio Engineer: Adam Fogel

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