Avant Biography

Myron Lavell Avant, born on April 26, 1978, in Cleveland, Ohio, is an American R&B singer known mononymously as Avant. He is recognized for his notable hits such as "Separated," "Read Your Mind," and "Makin' Good Love." Over the course of his career, Avant has released nine albums, including three that have achieved Platinum status, and a total of 15 singles that have contributed to his prominence in the R&B genre.

As the youngest of five siblings, Avant experienced a modest upbringing, with his mother facing challenges to provide for the family. Despite these difficulties, she fostered his passion for music by introducing him to classic R&B artists such as Smokey Robinson and Marvin Gaye. Avant began writing songs at the age of 14 and pursued acting during his education at the Cleveland School of the Arts, working various factory jobs after graduation before fully dedicating himself to music.

Avant's breakthrough in the music industry came in 2000 with the release of his debut single, "Separated," which was inspired by a failed romantic relationship. The song garnered radio play and contributed to his signing with Magic Johnson Music. His debut album, "My Thoughts", released in the same year through MCA Records, sold over 1.3 million copies in the United States and reached more than 4.4 million worldwide. The album featured the hit "My First Love," a duet with fellow R&B artist Keke Wyatt that helped launch her career as well.

Following "My Thoughts", Avant released several successful albums, including "Ecstasy" (2002), which produced the hit "Makin' Good Love," and "Private Room" (2003), which included the popular track "Read Your Mind." Both albums performed well on the Billboard charts, further solidifying his position as a leading figure in R&B music. In 2006, he released "Director", which topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and included the single "When It Hurts."

Throughout his career, Avant has also collaborated with notable artists and made appearances in various media. He featured on Cuban Link's song "Comin' Home With Me" alongside Swizz Beatz and made a cameo in the film "BarberShop 2: Back in Business" (2004). In 2009, he collaborated with Maze to cover their classic song "Joy and Pain" for a tribute album.

Avant's self-titled album, released in 2008, was followed by "The Letter" in 2010, after signing with Verve Forecast. His discography continued to grow, culminating in the release of "The VIII" in September 2015. In 2019, Avant marked his return to music with the single "Not Gone Lose" and later signed a label deal to release his album "Can We Fall in Love", which was launched in July 2020. With a varied and rich career, Avant remains an influential and respected artist in the R&B landscape.