Gentleman is a crucial component in the movement of international artists beyond Jamaica who are expanding the footprint of reggae music. NPR’s Saturday Weekend Edition talks in more depth on a special segment about non-Jamaican reggae music and called Gentleman the "Eminem of Reggae."
Listen to full NPR story CLICK HERE
With six albums under his belt and over one million collectively sold in Europe, Gentleman is long overdue for his U.S. debut of Diversity. The international version of the album already charted at #1 in Germany as well as #2 in Switzerland and Austria and is the follow-up to his Europe platinum-selling record Confidence. On Diversity, Gentleman stays true to his first musical love - roots reggae - and teams up with top Jamaican recording artists, including reggae lyricist and singer Tanya Stephens, the late Studio One veteran and dancehall pioneer Sugar Minott, Christopher Martin (Season Two winner of Jamaica’s televised talent competition, Rising Stars) and producers Don Corelone, Red Roze, Shane Brown, Xterminator and Firehouse Crew.
Gentleman
One may not assume that the Cologne native and son of a Lutheran pastor would become an international reggae superstar, but Gentleman (born Tilmann Otto in 1975) has been drawn to reggae’s revolutionary spirit and truth-seeking lyrics ever since he was introduced to the island’s sounds. He immersed himself in the culture and music at the age of 18, making Jamaica his home away from home. In 1997, he eventually got his first break with German hip-hip group, Freundeskreis, after delivering a verse on single “Tabula Rasa” with his distinctive singjay style. Since then, Gentleman has had a string of solo hits and platinum-selling records in Europe. He won Best National Artist five times for three different award shows (Echo Award 2003 & 2005, Comet Award 2005, 1Live Radio Award 2004 & 2005) and has been nominated twice for Best Reggae Artist (Martin 2004 Awards and Reggae and Soca Awards). He has collaborated with artists ranging from pop superstars Pink and Destiny’s Child to reggae legends Michael Franti & Spearhead and Barrington Levy. After over a decade under the label Four Music, he moved to Universal in 2010 and will release Diversity in the U.S. with VP Records in 2012.
GENTLEMAN & THE EVOLUTION DIVERSITY TOUR
U.S. Tour Dates:
3/7 @ The Fillmore in San Francisco (opening for SOJA)
3/8 @ The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA (opening for SOJA)
3/10 @ House of Blues in Hollywood, CA (opening for SOJA)
3/11 @ House of Blues in San Diego, CA (opening for SOJA)
3/13 @ Le Poisson Rouge in New York, NY
3/14 @ State Theatre in Falls Church, VA
South America Tour Dates:
3/16 @ Figali Convention Center in Panama City, Panama
3/17 @ Puntarenas in Jaco, Costa Rica
3/20 @ Teatro Bar in Caracas, Venezuela
3/22 @ Teatro Bar in Valencia, Venezuela
3/23 @ Sala Ferimar in Maracay, Venezuela
3/28 @ Teatro Colegiales in Buenos Aires, Argentina
3/30 @ Festival Estereo Picnic in Bogota, Colombia
3/31 @ Lollapalooza Festival in Santiago de Chile, Chile
***MORE TOUR DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED, CHECK www.gentleman-music.com FOR MOST UPDATED SCHEDULE.
Diversity Track Listing:
1. The Reason
2. Changes
3. Hold On Strong
4. Tempolution
5. To The Top ft. Christopher Martin
6. Lonely Days
7. In A Time Like Now
8. Moment Of Truth
9. Another Melody ft. Tanya Stephens
10. I Got To Go
11. Good Old Days ft. Sugar Minott
12. Fast Forward
13. The Finish Line
14. It No Pretty
One may not assume that the Cologne native and son of a Lutheran pastor would become an international reggae superstar, but Gentleman (born Tilmann Otto in 1975) has been drawn to reggae’s revolutionary spirit and truth-seeking lyrics ever since he was introduced to the island’s sounds. He immersed himself in the culture and music at the age of 18, making Jamaica his home away from home. In 1997, he eventually got his first break with German hip-hip group, Freundeskreis, after delivering a verse on single “Tabula Rasa” with his distinctive singjay style. Since then, Gentleman has had a string of solo hits and platinum-selling records in Europe. He won Best National Artist five times for three different award shows (Echo Award 2003 & 2005, Comet Award 2005, 1Live Radio Award 2004 & 2005) and has been nominated twice for Best Reggae Artist (Martin 2004 Awards and Reggae and Soca Awards). He has collaborated with artists ranging from pop superstars Pink and Destiny’s Child to reggae legends Michael Franti & Spearhead and Barrington Levy. After over a decade under the label Four Music, he moved to Universal in 2010 and will release Diversity in the U.S. with VP Records in 2012.
GENTLEMAN & THE EVOLUTION DIVERSITY TOUR
U.S. Tour Dates:
3/7 @ The Fillmore in San Francisco (opening for SOJA)
3/8 @ The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA (opening for SOJA)
3/10 @ House of Blues in Hollywood, CA (opening for SOJA)
3/11 @ House of Blues in San Diego, CA (opening for SOJA)
3/13 @ Le Poisson Rouge in New York, NY
3/14 @ State Theatre in Falls Church, VA
South America Tour Dates:
3/16 @ Figali Convention Center in Panama City, Panama
3/17 @ Puntarenas in Jaco, Costa Rica
3/20 @ Teatro Bar in Caracas, Venezuela
3/22 @ Teatro Bar in Valencia, Venezuela
3/23 @ Sala Ferimar in Maracay, Venezuela
3/28 @ Teatro Colegiales in Buenos Aires, Argentina
3/30 @ Festival Estereo Picnic in Bogota, Colombia
3/31 @ Lollapalooza Festival in Santiago de Chile, Chile
***MORE TOUR DATES TO BE ANNOUNCED, CHECK www.gentleman-music.com FOR MOST UPDATED SCHEDULE.
Diversity Track Listing:
1. The Reason
2. Changes
3. Hold On Strong
4. Tempolution
5. To The Top ft. Christopher Martin
6. Lonely Days
7. In A Time Like Now
8. Moment Of Truth
9. Another Melody ft. Tanya Stephens
10. I Got To Go
11. Good Old Days ft. Sugar Minott
12. Fast Forward
13. The Finish Line
14. It No Pretty
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