After Dinner Speakers: Seal, Bond, John Weston

Born in England in 1963 to Brazilian and Nigerian parents, Seal Henry Samuel drifted around Asia with various musical groups during the 1980s before returning to Britain and embarking on a highly successful solo career. Seal first gained attention for his 1990 hit single "Killer," a collaboration with British techno producer Adamski. His self-titled debut album, produced by Trevor Horn (The Buggles, Frankie Goes to Hollywood) was released in America the following year and rose to No. 24 in the charts, eventually selling more than three million copies worldwide. Seal's unique blend of soul and dance-pop won over fans of all ages, from British clubgoers to American Baby Boomers. After an appearance on Jeff Beck's version of "Manic Depression" on a 1993 Jimi Hendrix tribute album (Stone Free), Seal returned to the studio to complete his second album, also entitled Seal, which was released in May of 1994. After some initial success, sales of the album suddenly soared to multi-platinum levels in 1995 after the single "Kiss From a Rose" appeared on the Batman Forever soundtrack and reached the top of the adult contemporary charts. Seal's cover of the Steve Miller Band's "Fly Like An Eagle," from the Space Jam soundtrack, charted internationally in late 1996 and 1997. In the fall of 1998, Seal released his third album, Human Being, on Warner Bros.