Colby O'Donis' Debut Album Colby O in Stores Today; Collaboration With Akon Features Hit 'What You Got' and Second Single 'Don't Turn Back,' Produced by Clinton Sparks

Colby O'Donis' Debut Album Colby O in Stores Today; Collaboration With Akon Features Hit 'What You Got' and Second Single 'Don't Turn Back,' Produced by Clinton Sparks

ALSO FEATURED ON ALBUM T-PAIN, PAUL WALL AND LIL ROMEO

"Singer is 'O' so hot" -USA Today

"An impressive debut" -People Magazine

SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Colby O'Donis has got what it takes and there's no turning back. With the album's "What You Got" already a Top 15 Pop hit, the fresh, exciting 19-year-old singer-songwriter-producer who blends R&B, Pop, Hip-Hop and Latin flavors into sexy grooves that win young girls' hearts, releases his debut album, Colby O (KonLive/Geffen), on September 16, 2008. "Don't Turn Back" is the album's second single and video.

Signed to Akon's KonLive label, O'Donis is "my secret weapon" says the multi-platinum star. For Colby O, Akon executive produced, co-wrote 10 of the tracks with O'Donis (Colby wrote or co-wrote 14 of the 15), and produced eight of the songs. O'Donis produced another four and together they produced one. Akon is also featured on "What You Got." Other guest appearances include T-Pain, Lil Romeo, and Paul Wall. In addition, the multi-talented O'Donis plays guitar on the album (he's studied under Johan Oiested, Carlos Santana's rhythm guitarist), as well as bass, drums, percussion, synthesizer and keyboards (he's been playing piano for six years).

The past year has been a busy one for O'Donis as he has captivated audiences touring extensively throughout the US. "Performing and entertaining is what I live for," says O'Donis. "I want to be able to show the fans that I'm a 'real' musician as well as a singer and dancer."

Born in Queens, New York to Puerto Rican parents, Colby spent a great deal of time during his childhood in Orlando, Florida -- arguably the country's haven for breaking young artists. By the age of 9, he was working with producers Full Force (Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam, Backstreet Boys, *NSYNC) who shopped his demos and produced his "Mouse In The House" for the 1999 Stuart Little soundtrack. The precocious Colby began producing himself when he was just 12 years old and was opening major concerts in Florida at 14 before moving with his family to Los Angeles. A subsequent meeting with Akon led to his signing to KonLive and a three-year journey to his breakthrough, Colby O.

O'Donis will be joining New Kids on the Block for a portion of their fall tour beginning September 23 through October 4.

September 23: East Rutherford, NJ - Izod

September 24: Uniondale, NY - Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum

September 26: Boston, MA - TD Banknorth

September 27: Atlantic City, NJ - Borgata

September 28: Boston, MA - TD Banknorth

September 30: Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun

October 2: Washington DC - Verizon Center

October 3: Cleveland, OH - Quicken Arena

October 4: Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena

Source: Geffen Records

CONTACT: Yvette Gayle, +1-310-865-6278, fax, +1-310-865-7903,
yvette.gayle@umusic.com; or Fairley McCaskill, +1-310-865-9634, fax,
+1-310-865-7903, fairley.mccaskill@umusic.com, both for Geffen Records

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