Cupid (singer)

Cupid
Birth name	Bryson Bernard
Born	October 10, 1982 (1982-10-10) (age 29)
Origin	Lafayette, Louisiana, United States
Genres	R&B, pop, dance
Occupations	Singer, Songwriter
Years active	2000–present
Labels	Atlantic Records

Bryson Bernard, (born October 10, 1982) better known by his stage name Cupid is a R&B singer born and raised in Lafayette, Louisiana.^[1]

History

Bryson Bernard started singing in his church's choir, encouraged by his pastor father. He initially enrolled at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a full athletic scholarship in track and field. He left the track team to form a singing group known as "Fasho", which later changed its name to "Fifth Element." Fifth Element later dissolved and Bernard pursued a solo career. He sang at venues such as talent shows, weddings and funerals. With a five-octave vocal range, Bernard earned the nickname "Cupid" for an impressive performance of the Sam Cooke's '60s hit single "Cupid."

Music career

Debut album: Cupid

Bernard first achieved radio airplay in 2001 with his single "Do Ya Thing," which appeared on his self-pressed, self-titled debut the following year. His gospel-tinged vocals attracted local promoters and rappers. Cupid was tapped to open for blues concerts, as well as to record background vocals for various rap albums.

Second album: The King of Down South R&B

Both experiences informed his second independently released album, The King of Down South R&B (2005). The album added a new mixture to his musical gumbo and resulted in a further widening of his audience, gaining airplay throughout the region, from Florida to Texas. For this reason, critics have often likened Cupid's style to a hearty stew rather than a gumbo. Original, or "hardcore," Cupid fans persist in using the term gumbo, which has led to something of a rift between his new fanbase and his original following.

Record label and breakthrough single

In late 2006, Cupid was discovered by Atlantic because of the buzz surrounding his local single at the time, Cupid Shuffle. After signing with the label in January 2007, his dance record was landed in the Top 30 of the R&B charts for several weeks. His major label debut, Time for a Change, was released on September 11, 2007 and his breakthrough single, "Cupid Shuffle," went gold. One of the songs indicated that Cupid has aspirations to open up a chain of nightclubs all over Long Island. He confirmed this during an appearance on the Adam Carolla Radio Program.

Discography

Albums

• 2002: Cupid
• 2005: The King of Down South R&B
• 2007: Time for a Change

Singles

• 2001: "Do Ya Thing"
• 2007: "Do Ya Dance"
• 2007: "Say Yes"
• 2007: "Cupid Shuffle"
• 2008: "Happy Dance"
• 2008: "Love Slide"
• 2010: "Do My Ladies Run This Party"

Album appearances

• "All I Need" - Nancy Drew soundtrack
• "3-6-9" (feat. B.o.B) - Step Up 2 the Streets soundtrack

References

1. ^ Bio of Cupid. Atlantic Records. April 2007. http://www.atlanticrecords.com/cupid/lyrics?trackId=8a0af81218f1a369011929fa38b028bf

External links

• http://cupid-music.com
• http://www.myspace.com/theonlycupid
• http://www.atlanticrecords.com/cupid
• http://www.facebook.com/NEWCUPID Official Facebook Page of Cupid.

Persondata
Name	Cupid
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 10, 1982
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death