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Mika
Mika Penniman was born 18 August 1983, & known as Mika (IPA [IPA 'mik?]). He is a Lebanon-born, London-based singer who has a recording contract with Casablanca Records and Universal Music. Some sources note his birth name as Michael Holbrook Penniman.Mika was born in Beirut, Lebanon, the middle child of 5 children born to a Lebanese mother & an American father.
When he was one year old his family was forced to leave war-torn Lebanon & moved to Paris.
The family moved to London, when he was 9 years old. In London he attended the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle where he experienced more severe bullying at school &had problems with dyslexia. He was home-schooled by his mother for close to a year.
He was trained by a Russian opera professional & his public performances & jobs have varied from classical performances in the Royal Opera House, writing in-flight music for British Airways & creating an Orbit Chewing Gum jingle.
He was trained by a Russian opera professional & his public performances & jobs have varied from classical performances in the Royal Opera House, writing in-flight music for British Airways & creating an Orbit Chewing Gum jingle.
His debut radio appearance was on Dermot O'Leary's BBC Radio 2 show in September 2006, Later with Jools Holland & on The Friday Night Project on 19 January 2007.
He was the musical act for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, on 26 March 2007 & for Jimmy Kimmel Live on 27 March 2007.
His band consists of Martin Waugh (guitars, backing vocals), Michael Choi (bass, backing vocals), Cherisse Osei (formerly of The Faders, drums) and Luke Juby (keyboards, guitar, backing vocals).
Mika comes from a family of 3 girls and 2 boys. His sister Yasmine, who works as an artist under the nom de plume Dawack, painted the cartoon art for his album Life in Cartoon Motion.
Although his "camp" performances have led to speculation that he might be gay, Mika keeps his sexuality private. In response to media speculation he has been quoted as saying, "I never talk about anything to do with my sexuality. I just don't think I need to. People ask me all the time. But I just don't see the point." The quote continues, "In order to survive I've kind of shut up different parts of my life, & that's one of them, especially this early in my career."
He has brushed aside suggestions that he is steering clear of sexual taboos in order to appeal to the American market, pointing to the song "Billy Brown", which's about a man who has a homosexual affair. He's quoted as saying, "If I was worried about sexual taboos I certainly wouldn't have made the record I made. It has nothing to do with that. It has more to do with self-respect."
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