cover of "Joy and Pain" as a tribute to the band for an album called Silky Soul Music: An All Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly. His self-titled fifth album, Avant, was released on December 9, 2008. Avant later signed to Verve Forecast and released his sixth studio album The Letter (formerly titled Wake Up) on December 21, 2010, featuring production from the likes of The Pentagon; Mike City; Marshall Leathers; and Kajun. His eighth album The VIII was released on September 25, 2015. In 2019, Avant returned with the single "Not Gone Lose" and signed a label deal to release the album Can We Fall in Love, which was released in July 2020. Influences Although successful, Avant began drawing comparisons to fellow R&B singer R. Kelly and even faced some backlash from music critics. Avant has cited Kelly as his biggest influence and inspiration. "Being compared to R. Kelly is a compliment in itself. He's been in the game for about twelve years. He is Mr. R&B. To be in the game, and to be named in the same sentence as that man is truly a privilege", Avant said. Personal life Avant suffers from lupus and has taken up a vegan diet to help manage its effects. Discography My Thoughts (2000) Ecstasy (2002) Private Room (2003) Director (2006) Avant (2008) The Letter (2010) Face The Music (2013) The VIII (2015) Can We Fall in Love (2020) Awards and nominations Soul Train Awards |- |rowspan="1"|2001 |Separated |Best R&B/Soul Single – Male | |- |rowspan="1"|2007 |4 Minutes |Best R&B/Soul Single – Male | |- |rowspan="1"|2015 |Himself |Centric Certified Award | |} UB Honors |- |rowspan="1"|2020 |Can We Fall in Love |Best Independent R&B Album | |} References External links Avant on Geffen Records Avant on YouKnowIGotSoul Avant on Singersroom Avant 2011 audio interview at Soulinterviews.com 1978 births Living people Musicians from Cleveland MCA Records artists American hip hop singers African-American male singer-songwriters Singer-songwriters from Ohio American contemporary R&B singers Ballad musicians 21st-century African-American male singers