Jonah Alex

Jonah Samat Alex (7 February 1974 - 19 September 2004) was a Neo Kingstonion recording artist, philanthropist and political critic. His groundbreaking contributions to Kingstonion and global music and popular culture as well as his much publicized private life have made him arguably the most popular and most awarded person from Neo Kingston ever. He is the best selling Neo Kingstonion recording artist of all time with over 350 million records sold and 45 Audi Awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award and Artist of the Decade 1991-2000.

Alex independently released his 1992 debut studio album Paradigm Shift with the help of his older brother and manager Frankie Alex. Although sales were initially slow, an endorsement from popular record producer Felisia Dunn and a favourable partnership with MTV NK propelled Paradigm Shift to a blowout, becoming the top selling album of both 1993 and 1994, topping the Billboard 200 for a total of 27 non-consecutive weeks and remaining in the top ten for 40 non-consecutive weeks, both records at the time. The album was certified Diamond in May 1993 and has sold over 30 million copies. Three singles were released from this album. Mad Love, Alex's debut single, had initially seen very minor sales after its March 1992 release but took off in early 1993 after heavy rotation on MTV NK. After failing to even chart on the Billboard NK Hot 100 throughout 1992 the single eventually entered the chart at #89 in January 1993 and reached #1 just five weeks later, holding that position for seven consecutive weeks. It remained on the Hot 100 for 58 weeks and has sold over 9 million copies, the best selling debut single in Neo Kingston of all time. The song still holds the record for longest period of time between release and attainment of #1 position, 45 weeks. Second single Rules Aren't for Breaking was released in November 1992 and also initially saw limited sales. Like Mad Love it surged in popularity in early 1993, debuting on the Hot 100 in January of that year and reached #1 in mid April, taking over the spot from Made Love and holding onto the #1 position for 9 non-consecutive weeks. It has sold over 13 million copies after a lengthy 64 week stay on the Hot 100. Third and final single Smooth was released in June 1993 and debuted at #1, spending twelve weeks at that position. The 21 minute short movie which was released with the single and served as the long version of its music video (the song itself is a little over 4 million long, played without video breaks) won two Hindz Awards and is considered a masterpiece in itself by critics. Smooth has sold over 11 million copies. The album Paradigm Shift and its singles have sold a total of over 65 million copies and won nine Audi Awards.

1994 album release Notice of Vacation shattered popular standards with its outspoken nature and frankness on global issues. It was dubbed "more of a journal of critiques on issues the world over than just a music album" by Alex. Both Jonah and Frankie had initially expected the album to not do well with Jonah calling it "a musicized news cast that's different from anything else in music but needed to be done" and said that he thought that the public would find the album boring. Notice of Vacation debuted at #1 and spent 16 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200, a still standing record and a total of 25 weeks at the top spot, remaining in the top ten for 34 non-consecutive weeks. It became the fastest album to achieve Diamond certification at the time when it did so after 38 weeks and was the top selling album of 1995. The album has sold over 23 million copies and stands as one of the greatest, most frank and widely popular discussions on worldwide affairs ever. Lead single What Do We See? is seen as one of the most highly regarded anthems for the relief of hunger and genocide ever released. Having debuted at #61, What Do We See? vaulted into the #1 position the following week and initially stayed at that position for six weeks. After spending 41 weeks on the chart, the single has re-entered the Hot 100 in five different years, a record (re-entry at #1 in 1995, re-entry at #76 in 1996, re-entry at #3 in 2005 and re-entry at #17 in 2009). Its re-entries have been associated with the song's use in popular humanitarian projects. It has spend a total of 52 weeks on the Hot 100 and has sold over 16 million copies. Second single Team Realist was negatively received but still managed to debut and peak at #5 and has sold over 6 million copies. Third single The Rest of the World from NK was initially blasted for its unpatriotic nature but was within a short space of time accepted and became highly acclaimed after a series of interviews by Alex. The song became an anthem for third world issues and discussed the lack of sympathy and empathy towards countries of the third world from first world countries such as Neo Kingston and other more developed nations. The song became a domestic and global hit, debuting at #6 in Neo Kingston, peaking at #1 (thirteen weeks) and spending a still standing record 80 weeks on the Hot 100. It has sold over 25 million copies, making it at the time the best selling song from Neo Kingston (and currently tied for that honour). Fourth and final single Magaplex and Utopia discussed the mass inequality in the wealth of the world's nations and debuted at #1, spent 15 weeks at that top position, 44 weeks on the chart and has recorded sales of over 10 million. Notice of Vacation and its singles have won a record 14 Audi Awards and have sold over 80 million copies.

Both Jonah Alex and Frankie Alex recorded an extended play (EP) The Alex EP which was released in 1997 and has become the best selling EP of all time and the only one certified Diamond, with over 18 million sold copies, becoming the best selling album of 1997. No music videos were released with any of the five released singles and the tone of this album was more laid back than previous releases from Jonah Alex. Singles Moving to Saturn and The Cross Club were top 10 hits and have sold over 2 million and 5 million copies. Mile High Slide and Essentially Loved, Greatly Hated both reached #1, spending four weeks and eight weeks at that position respectively and selling over 5 million and 11 million copies. Single Love Me Again debuted at #1 and spent twelve weeks at that position, becoming the top selling single of 1998 with total sales of over 11 million. The Alex EP and its singles have sold over 52 million copies and won 3 Audi Awards.

Alex's final album of his lifetime was released in 2000, titled Wishing on a Star. The album is considered one of the best of all time with its return to Alex's soulful tone which had temporarily disappeared in The Alex EP. The album spent a still standing record 44 non-consecutive weeks at #1. It broke and holds the record for fastest Diamond certification at 26 weeks, beating Alex's former album Notice of Vacation by some 12 weeks. It is currently the best selling album from Neo Kingston ever with over 36 million sold copies. The lead and title single debuted at #9 and spent six non-consecutive weeks at #1, selling over 7 million copies. Second single Legendary debuted at #1, spending 15 weeks at that spot, 56 weeks on the Hot 100 and became the top selling song of 2000 with total sales exceeding 19 million. Third single release Brawn debuted at #2, peaked at #1 for eleven weeks and was well received for its empowering lyrics and message against discrimination. It has sold over 14 million copies. Fourth single FamFairs was possibly the most pop-sounding uptempo song of Alex's popular career. It debuted at #1 and spent nine weeks there, selling over 8 million copies. Fifth single From the Pasture of Life returned to the mood of the songs from Alex's previous album Notice of Vacation, speaking out against global inequalities while praising the work of global figures including Nelson Mandela and Tarisma Nugoo. It debuted at #16 and spent two weeks at #1, selling over 5 million copies. Sixth and final single Hallelujah is credited as one of the best covers in the history of music and vocals on the song are regarded as Alex's best. Hallelujah debuted at #1 where it spent a record nineteen weeks, spent 74 weeks on the Hot 100, has sold over 25 million copies (tied with Alex's The Rest of the World from NK for best selling Neo Kingstonion single of all time) and was the best selling single of 2001. Wishing on a Star and its singles won 13 Audi Awards and have sold over 114 million copies.

Jonah Alex died at the age of 30 on September 19, 2004 from a massive brain hemorrhage caused by blunt force trauma when he collided with a tree when skiing while on vacation in Fits, New Oxford, Neo Kingston. Two posthumous albums have been released. Jonah Alex's Biggest Hits consists of his top selling and best charting songs and was released in 2005. It has sold over 12 million copies and was the best selling album of 2005. The Greatest was released in 2007 and consists of material recorded throughout Alex's lifetime that was unreleased, some completed with featurings from other artists including his brother Frankie. It has sold over 19 million copies and was the best selling album of 2007. No singles were released or re-released from either posthumous album although several songs from the biggest hits chart re-entered the charts and many songs from The Greatest charted, some even reaching the top 10, attributed to their radio and streaming numbers, despite never being released for commercial physical or digital sale as singles. A third posthumous album Legacies is under production but very little information is available at this time.

Discography

Studio/compliation albums

Singles