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Singer Ali at the 2020 PyeongChang Peace Music Festival

Ali

알리

  • Solo · Female
  • Soul
  • Ballad
  • R&B
  • Debuted 2009
  • Active

Singer Ali at the 2020 PyeongChang Peace Music Festival — Photo: KATV · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Debut
200910.08
Birthday
11.201984
Genre
Soul · Ballad · R&B

Basic info

Ali is a singer who made her name as a guest vocalist on Leessang songs and went on to perform deep-toned ballads and soul. Her signature songs include 〈365일〉 and 〈지우개〉.

Debut
October 8, 2009 · Debut song 365일
Birthday
November 20, 1984
Years active
2009–
Meaning of the Name
The name was given by Leessang's Gil and Gary, taken from the boxer Muhammad Ali.
Genre
Soul · Ballad · R&B
Real name
조용진
Debut reference
Listed by debut year rather than idol generation.

걸어온 길

From her days at Dankook University's practical music department, she sang as a backing vocalist for acts such as Big Mama and Wheesung and as a jazz-club vocalist. She became known in 2005 by taking part in Leessang's 〈내가 웃는 게 아니야〉.

She released her first solo album in 2009 and promoted the ballad 〈365일〉. Her powerful tone, built on soul and jazz, is a hallmark.

She sang 〈상처〉, the OST of the 2012 drama 《옥탑방 왕세자》, and 〈In My Dream〉, the OST of 《황금의 제국》 in 2013. She became widely known by winning multiple times on KBS's 《불후의 명곡》.

In December 2011, after criticism of 〈나영이〉 from her first full-length album, she withdrew the album. On December 16 she apologized publicly and said she herself had also been a victim of sexual violence. She later appeared in musicals including 《레베카》, and in April 2018 performed at the inter-Korean peace concert in Pyongyang.

Signature songs

  1. 365일 2009 YouTube Spotify
  2. 상처 2012 YouTube Spotify
  3. 지우개 2013 YouTube Spotify
  4. In My Dream 2013 YouTube Spotify

Links go to each service's search results. Lyrics are not included for copyright reasons.

Key releases

  1. 2009.10 After the Love Has GoneEPFirst solo album, includes 〈365일〉
  2. 2011.12 Soul-Ri1st studio album
  3. 2013.01 지우개EP
  4. 2014.11 Turning PointEP
  5. 2015.10 White HoleEP
  6. 2015 The Message Part 22nd studio album

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Major awards

  • 2009 Cyworld Digital Music Awards Best New Female Artist
  • 2012 Hong Kong Asian Pop Music Festival Grand Prize

Key records and stories

  • She made her name by taking part as a guest vocalist on Leessang's 〈내가 웃는 게 아니야〉 and 〈발레리노〉.
  • She released her first solo album in 2009 and promoted 〈365일〉.
  • In December 2011, after 〈나영이〉 from her first full-length album drew criticism for evoking a child victim of sexual crime, she withdrew the album and apologized.
  • She won several times on KBS's 《불후의 명곡》.
  • On MBC's 《복면가왕》 in 2016, she became the reigning champion with three straight wins.
  • She was DJ of KBS Happy FM's 《두근두근 음악엔》 from December 2020 to June 2022.

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