Elan Biography & Awards | Billboard.com

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Artist Info

Born

Los Angeles, CA

Member of

The Wailers

Biography

Reggae singer Elan Atias, who as a solo performer goes by his first name, was born in Los Angeles to an Israeli/Moroccan father and Jewish Native American mother. After a record executive told Elan -- who was not yet 20 at the time -- that he'd like to hear more of his music, the singer found a nearby studio where he could record some material. Looking to complete his band, he learned that Wailers guitarist Al Anderson lived close by. Anderson was impressed by the similarity between Elan's and Bob Marley's voices, and eventually recruited the Los Angelean to replace Junior Marvin as the Wailers' lead singer. Elan stayed with the group from 1997 to 1999, after which he decided to pursue his own solo career, recording an album with Sire-London that was never released. However, the sessions did create "Dreams Come True," which was included on 2000's Sex and the City soundtrack, and in 2003 a cover of Roxy Music's "Slave to Love" appeared on the soundtrack to the film 50 First Dates. That same year Elan and friend and producer Tony Kanal (of No Doubt) started writing and recording songs. Kanal took the finished product to Interscope, which signed Elan and released his debut album, Together as One, in 2006. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide