Omar Akram

Omar Akram is a Grammy Award winning recording artist, producer, composer and pianist. In 2013, he became the first Afghan-American to win a Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for his fourth studio album, Echoes of Love.[1] He is also an inspirational writer who contributes to The Huffington Post.

Omar Akram
BornNew York City
OriginAfghan-American
GenresNew-age, Jazz, World music
InstrumentsPiano
Years active2002 – present
LabelsReal Music, Twinbrook Entertainment
Websiteomarakram.com

Early life

Akram was born in New York City. He grew up traveling around the world as the son of a United Nations diplomat living everywhere from Prague to Havana as well as his ancestral home of Afghanistan.[2] He notably met Fidel Castro at the age of 14, who is said to have allowed him to sneak into the local Cuban jazz clubs, the sounds of which influenced his formative compositional style.[3]

Career

In 1993, Akram moved to Los Angeles where he performed in various Mainstream Top 40 bands while also writing his own music.

In 2002, he signed a recording deal with Real Music.[4] His first commercial album release that same year, titled Opal Fire, reached Billboard's New Age Top 15 Chart that same year.[5] His sophomore release Free As A Bird in 2004, featured world class violinist Charlie Bisharat and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Eric Marienthal.[6] This album also reached Billboard's New Age Top 15 Chart that same year.[7] In 2007, Secret Journey, also critically acclaimed, featured Ardeshir Farah.[8] In 2012, Akram was nominated and won the Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for his album Echoes of Love. This album was followed by Daytime Dreamer in 2013 which featured six new recordings along with tracks previously released from Opal Fire and Free As A Bird.[9][10]

Akram's most recent album release "Destiny," co-produced with producer Walter Afanasieff, was independently released through his own company, Twinbrook Entertainment,[11] on August 9, 2019. Afanasieff also contributes vocals to the first single release from the album, "Here I Am". An accompanying official music video was directed by Erik White. Shardad Rohani arranged and conducted the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra on two tracks.[12] The album was mixed by four-time Grammy winner Dave Reitzas at Westlake Studios in Hollywood, CA.

Starting from the lockdown resulting from COVID-19 pandemic, Omar Akram has been producing a docu-series titled "Omar's Music Chamber, where he performed a number of songs in his previous albums, as well as some newly written music. "[13][14][15]

Awards and honors

Grammy Award for Best New Age Album for Echoes of Love in 2014.[16]

Personal life

Omar currently resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife, son and daughter.[17]

Discography

Opal Fire

Real Music (Album Release Date: September 3, 2002)

No.TitleComposerLength
1."Sugar Coated Love"Omar Akram4:38
2."Morning Rain"Omar Akram3:52
3."A Vision Of You"Omar Akram4:34
4."Last Dance"Omar Akram5:03
5."Waves Of Emotion"Omar Akram3:23
6."Farewell For Now"Omar Akram4:21
7."Unity"Omar Akram3:39
8."Innocence Lost"Omar Akram3:29
9."So Far"Omar Akram3:39
10."Gypsy Woman"Omar Akram3:53
11."Longing"Omar Akram3:19
12."Opal Fire"Omar Akram4:48

Free As A Bird

Real Music (Album Release Date: April 27, 2004)

No.TitleComposerLength
1."Free As A Bird"Omar Akram5:05
2."Passage Into Midnight"Omar Akram4:23
3."A Day With You"Omar Akram5:09
4."Falling Through The Rain"Omar Akram4:48
5."Beauty Unveiled"Omar Akram4:27
6."Dancing With The Wind"Omar Akram4:53
7."Surrender"Omar Akram6:42
8."Riding The Current"Omar Akram4:00
9."Never Let Go"Omar Akram3:35
10."Trust Unspoken"Omar Akram4:01
11."Flight Of Mystery"Omar Akram5:04

Secret Journey

Real Music (Album Release Date: September 25, 2007). Secret Journey peaked at #12 on Billboard's New Age Chart.

No.TitleComposerLength
1."Run Away With Me"Omar Akram5:08
2."Secret Journey"Omar Akram6:05
3."Nomadic Rhapsody"Omar Akram3:37
4."Passage Of The Heart"Omar Akram3:32
5."Gypsy Spirit"Omar Akram4:28
6."Stargazers"Omar Akram3:56
7."Seven Secrets"Omar Akram4:47
8."Whispers In The Moonlight"Omar Akram4:38
9."Mirage"Omar Akram4:32
10."Shimmering Star"Omar Akram4:41
11."Caravan"Omar Akram4:35
12."Angel Of Hope"Omar Akram3:30
13."Desert Flower (Bonus Track)"Omar Akram4:05

Echoes Of Love

Real Music (Album Release Date: June 5, 2012). Echoes Of Love was awarded a Grammy for Best New Age Album.

No.TitleComposerLength
1."Echoes Of Love"Omar Akram4:46
2."Take My Hand"Omar Akram4:52
3."Lovely Day"Omar Akram4:43
4."Miracle"Omar Akram4:11
5."Finally Home"Omar Akram4:15
6."Draw Me Close"Omar Akram3:48
7."Free Spirit"Omar Akram3:42
8."My Hope Is You"Omar Akram3:33
9."Rejoice"Omar Akram2:42
10."Cry For Love"Omar Akram4:41
11."Open Skies"Omar Akram4:56
12."Merry"Omar Akram2:37

Daytime Dreamer

Real Music (Album Release Date: September 24, 2013)

No.TitleComposerLength
1."Downpour"Omar Akram4:16
2."Dancing With The Wind"Omar Akram4:52
3."Searching"Omar Akram3:59
4."Surrender"Omar Akram6:42
5."Passage Into Midnight"Omar Akram4:21
6."Daytime Dreamer"Omar Akram3:31
7."Love Of My Heart"Omar Akram3:39
8."The Promise"Omar Akram4:27
9."Morning Rain"Omar Akram3:53
10."The Last Dance"Omar Akram4:41
11."My Desire"Omar Akram3:30

Destiny

Twinbrook Entertainment (Album Release Date: August 9, 2019)

No.TitleComposerLength
1."Take Me Away"Omar Akram4:23
2."Destiny"Omar Akram4:01
3."My Promise To You"Omar Akram4:20
4."Nomad"Omar Akram4:22
5."Mystery Train"Omar Akram3:47
6."Coastal Drive"Omar Akram4:24
7."Lotus Flower"Omar Akram3:41
8."Celebrate New Life"Omar Akram3:41
9."Regenerate Love"Omar Akram3:57
10."Matters Of The Heart"Omar Akram3:56
11."Secret Place"Omar Akram4:30
12."Here I Am (featuring Walter Afanasieff)"Omar Akram4:46

References
  1. "INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL GRAMMY : Awards". www.longbeachindependent.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  2. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3402206/bio
  3. "Can Music Can Bridge Cultures and Promote Peace?". huffingtonpost.com. June 12, 2013. Retrieved June 12, 2013.
  4. "IB Post"
  5. http://www.signaltribunenewspaper.com/?p=19220
  6. https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/omar-akram-free-as-a-bird-review-by-michael-debbage
  7. https://www.omarakram.com/articles/grammy-winning-musician-omar-akram-on-creating-his-own-destiny
  8. https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/omar-akram-secret-journey-review-by-michael-debbage
  9. https://mainlypiano.com/reviews/omar-akram-daytime-dreamer
  10. Desk, BWW News. "2012 Grammy Winner Omar Akram Releases New Album, Daytime Dreamer". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  11. https://medium.com/authority-magazine/grammy-award-winning-recording-artist-omar-akram-you-dont-need-a-lot-of-money-to-achieve-11b807054b13
  12. https://www.omarakram.com/articles/grammy-winning-musician-omar-akram-on-creating-his-own-destiny
  13. "Grammy Award-Winning Omar Akram: "Most people think that if you have enough money to do a project, then you can succeed. I learned the hard way — money alone is not enough. It's a combination of your talent, vision, hard work and resources" - Thrive Global". thriveglobal.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  14. "Grammy-winning Musician Omar Akram On Creating His Own Destiny". www.thehypemagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  15. Muj, Nicole. "Grammy-Winning Musician Omar Akram Is Building Cultural Bridges | INDIE ENTERTAINMENT (News) MAGAZINE". Retrieved 2019-05-30.
  16. "INTERVIEW WITH LOCAL GRAMMY : Awards". www.longbeachindependent.com. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  17. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3402206/bio
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