Alexander O’Neal Attended Alcorn State University Before Becoming One of the Defining R&B Stars of the 1980s

Did you know that one of the most distinctive voices of 1980s R&B got his start at a historically Black university in Mississippi? His name is Alexander O’Neal, and before the platinum records and sold-out tours, he was a Mississippi kid with a powerful voice and big dreams.

Alexander O’Neal was born on November 15, 1953, in Natchez, Mississippi. As WBSS Media documents, after high school he attended Alcorn State University, the historically Black university in Lorman, Mississippi, before relocating to Minneapolis at the age of 20 to chase a career in music.

In Minneapolis, O’Neal became part of a legendary music scene. He sang with several bands before joining Flyte Tyme, a group whose members included the future super-producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. When Prince set out to build a new band called The Time around 1980, O’Neal was in the mix, but he was ultimately replaced as lead singer by Morris Day.

That setback became a springboard. Reuniting with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, O’Neal signed with Tabu Records and launched a solo career that made him a star. His self-titled debut album arrived in 1985, followed in 1987 by Hearsay, the record that cemented his legacy. Hits like “Fake,” which topped the R&B chart, and “Criticize” became anthems of the era, and his duets with Cherrelle, including “Saturday Love,” were staples on radio and the dance floor.

O’Neal found his most devoted audience across the Atlantic. He charted fourteen top 40 singles on the UK Singles Chart between 1985 and 1996 and placed three albums in the UK top ten, becoming a beloved figure in British soul. Today, he is recognized among Alcorn State University’s notable alumni, and he still lives and performs in England.

From the campus of Alcorn State University to the top of the British charts, Alexander O’Neal turned an HBCU start into one of the signature voices of soul music.