Kevin Lyttle
{{short description|Vincentian soca artist (born 1976)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Kevin Lyttle
| image =
| image_size = 220
| caption =
| background = solo_singer
| birth_name = Lescott Kevin Lyttle Coombs
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1976|9|14}}
| birth_place = Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
| origin =
| genre = {{hlist|Soca|dancehall|R&B}}
| years_active = 2001–present
| label = Atlantic, Tarakon, Star
| associated_acts = {{hlist|Tropical Family|Spragga Benz|Kevin Rudolf|Alison Hinds|Salaam Remi|Trey Songz}}
| spouse = Jacqueline James
| website = {{url|facebook.com/KevinLyttleMusic}}
}}
Lescott Kevin Lyttle Coombs (born 14 September 1976) is a Vincentian soca singer. He is best known for his 2003 hit single "Turn Me On," which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Career
Lyttle was encouraged by his family to pursue music at the young age and has been performing at local events in his teens.{{cite web |url=http://uk.askmen.com/celebs/interview_100/142_kevin_lyttle_interview.html |title=Interview: Kevin Lyttle turn |publisher=uk.askmen.com |access-date=30 May 2013}} Prior to his musical career, Lyttle had subsisted on day jobs, such as customs officer and radio disc jockey.{{cite web |url=http://www.thesituation.co.uk/us_interviews/kevin_lyttle/kevin_lyttle.html |title=Kevin Lyttle Interview |publisher=thesituation.co.uk |access-date=30 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120413120346/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/us_interviews/kevin_lyttle/kevin_lyttle.html |archive-date=13 April 2012 }} Investing his savings of EC$1,500,{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/entertainment/Kevin-Lyttle---seeks-to-strike-again_17244320|title=Kevin Lyttle: seeks to strike again|last=Campbell|first=Howard|work=Jamaica Observer|date=27 July 2014|access-date=28 July 2018}} Lyttle recorded "Turn Me On" as a soca ballad in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 2001, and the song subsequently became a radio hit throughout the Caribbean.
Lyttle signed with Atlantic Records in 2003 and a remixed version of "Turn Me On" was officially released as a single in the UK at the end of the year, with dancehall pop artist Spragga Benz's guest vocals.{{cite web |url=http://www.itzcaribbean.com/kevin-lyttle-interview.php |title=Soca star Kevin Lyttle has a new Summer song called 'Paradise' with Victoria Aitken |publisher=itzcaribbean.com |access-date=30 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726185024/http://www.itzcaribbean.com/kevin-lyttle-interview.php |archive-date=26 July 2013 }} The song reached number two in the UK, spending seven weeks in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart.{{cite book |first=David |last=Roberts |year=2006 |title=British Hit Singles & Albums |edition=19th |publisher=Guinness World Records Limited |location=London |isbn=1-904994-10-5 |page=335}} It eventually became a worldwide hit in 2004, reaching number 4 in the United States, number 3 in Australia and placing within Top 5 in many European countries.
The debut self-titled album Kevin Lyttle followed in July 2004, charting within Top 10 in the US, where it was certified Gold, and meeting with a minor success in Europe. The second single, "Last Drop", was released in markets outside the US, but didn't manage to repeat the success of "Turn Me On", becoming only a minor hit in Europe. "Drive Me Crazy" was released as the third single in autumn 2004, followed by a promotional only single "I Got It". Both songs were commercial failures. In 2005, Lyttle released a new song in Jamaica only, "Jimmy Johnny".
In 2007, along with Byron Lee and Arrow, he performed at the Cricket World Cup opening ceremony in Greenfield Stadium, Jamaica. The same year Kevin Lyttle founded his own record label, Tarakon Records. Lyttle's second album, Fyah, was released by Tarakon and Universal Records in 2008, featuring a duet version of "Turn Me On" recorded with Alison Hinds and contributions from other artists. The title song was released as the first single and both the single and the album were unsuccessful in terms of commercial performance.
Lyttle released "Anywhere", a collaboration single with Flo Rida in 2011, followed by "Nobody Like U", accompanied by a remix contest.{{cite web | url=http://watunes.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/press-soca-megastar-kevin-lyttle-launches-contest-on-sonys-social-network/ | title=Soca Megastar Kevin Lyttle Launches Contest on Sony's Social Network | publisher=wordpress.com | work=WordPress.com | date=24 March 2011 | access-date=18 April 2014}} The music video featured model Tania Marie Caringi.{{cite web|author=Admin |url=https://vyzionradio.com/tania-marie-elite-model/ |title=Tania Marie Joins Vyzion Radio Elite Model Team |publisher=Vyzionradio.com |date=2014-10-18 |accessdate=2021-03-02}} His third studio album, I Love Carnival, was released in 2012, promoted by "Wine and Go Down" and the title song. 2013 saw the release of his new single, "Bounce", followed by "Feel So Good", a collaboration with Shaggy, in 2014.
In 2016, American electronic group Cheat Codes sampled Lyttle's "Turn Me On" in a remix entitled "Let Me Hold You (Turn Me On)". The following year, American singer Chris Brown also sampled "Turn Me On" to make his song "Questions" in 2017.
Personal life
Born Lescott Kevin Lyttle Coombs in Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines,{{cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|title=Kevin Lyttle Biography|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=28 July 2018|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kevin-lyttle-mn0002034242/biography}}{{citation|url=https://www.oldies.com/artist-biography/Kevin-Lyttle.html|title=Kevin Lyttle|last=Larkin|first=Colin|encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Popular Music|publisher=Muze|year=2006|edition=2nd|access-date=28 July 2018}} Lyttle now lives in Miami, Florida. He is married to Dr. Jacqueline James, with whom he has a son.{{cite web |url=http://www.entertainmentmacco.com/2012/01/kevin-lyttle-talks-to-entertainment-macco/ |title=Kevin Lyttle talks Marriage, Success and Obstacles |publisher=entertainmentmacco.com |access-date=30 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413134517/http://www.entertainmentmacco.com/2012/01/kevin-lyttle-talks-to-entertainment-macco/ |archive-date=13 April 2014 }}
Discography
=Studio albums=
=Extended plays=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
|+ List of extended plays ! scope="col" style="width:11em;" | Title ! scope="col" style="width:18em;" | EP details |
| scope="row" | It's On
|
|
|---|
=Singles=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Facebook|kevinlyttlemusic}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyttle, Kevin}}
Category:Atlantic Records artists
Category:People from Kingstown
Category:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines emigrants to the United States