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R’n’B singer - songwriter - painter - athlete
Born in 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Before his mid-80’s singing career he was a highly successful athlete, qualified for the 1984 Olympics (at sixteen, he set the world record for the 200 metres at 20.8 seconds). An automobile accident in Brazil stopped his athletic career but started his singing career in soul music. He landed a solo recording deal at Capitol Records via his session singing with Evelyn King, Kashif, Howard Johnson, James Ingram, George Benson and Melba Moore (for whom he wrote Mind Up Tonight, No.25 in the R’n’B Charts, No.17 in Hot Dance Charts and No.22 in U.K. chart). He became one of the leading soul stars of the New York Hush sound. His debut album (No.23 in R’n’B charts) produced by Paul Laurence, in 1983, included (You’re A) Good Girl (No.22 in R’n’B chart) and Who Do You Think You Are? as well as his own take on the 1970 The Temptations classic Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me) (No.79 in R’n’B chart). His second album (No.9 in R’n’B charts and No.102 in Pop Charts) produced by Paul Laurence followed, in 1984, from which Settle Down was a No.66 UK hit and No.60 in U.S. R’n’B chart in 1985 as well as Your Love’s Got A Hold On Me (No.11 R’n’B chart and the closest he came to a pop crossover in US - No.102 U.S. Pop Chart). The album, also featured the track I Like Your Style which received heavy airplay on the better U.K. soul stations and his duet with Melba Moore (Can’t Take Half) All Of You (No.28 in R’n’B chart) as well as his cover on the 1964 The Temptations classic My Girl. The same year he recorded with Melba Moore on When You Love Me Like This . Then toured with comedian Eddie Murphy in 1985. His commercial peak came with the four singles of his third album (No.10 in R’n’B charts) in 1987: the self produced Downtown (No.11 in R’n’B chart), the Paul Laurence-produced Wanna Make Love (All Night Long) (No.7 in R’n’B charts), his biggest ever hit I’m In Love (No.2 in r’n’b charts and No.54 hit in U.K.) and Sexy Girl (No.9 in R’n’B charts and No.23 U.K. hit) both last two produced and written by Timmy Allen and Paul Laurence. In 1992 he released a self produced and written single Out There Doing Wrong and in 2010 he returned with a comeback album, produced by himself and Paul Laurence. Outside of his music and sports career Lillo has a talent for drawing. At a Manhattan exhibition, one of his drawings caused controversy as it depicted a guy melting away while sitting on a chair. He called it ’Beginning Of The End’ and wouldn’t sell it when offered $500. He also once played himself in ’Champaign’, a Brazilian soap opera, during which he sang Just My Imagination.