You Hee-yeol |
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Yoo Hee-yeol at the LG Optimus LTE showcase event, on October 10, 2011
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Background information | |
Born | April 19, 1971 |
Origin | Seoul, South Korea |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | |
Years active | 1992–present |
Labels | Antenna Music (1997–present) |
Website | antenna - Yoo Hee-yeol |
Korean name | |
Hangul | 유희열 |
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Hanja | 柳喜烈 |
Revised Romanization | Yu Hui-yeol |
McCune–Reischauer | Yu Hŭi-yŏl |
You Hee-yeol (Hangul: 유희열; Hanja: 柳喜烈 ; born April 19, 1971) is a South Korean singer-songwriter, radio DJ, and the host of You Hee-yeol's Sketchbook. He is the founder of the record label Antenna Music and the sole member of the project band Toy.
You Hee-yeol was born in Seoul and attended Kyungbock High School. He graduated from Seoul National University's College of Music with a major in composition. He first appeared in the local pop music scene by winning the grand prize at the fourth You Jae-ha Music Contest held in 1992 with the song "달빛의 노래" ("The Moonlight Song").
In 1994, he started the band Toy as a duo with Yoon Jeong-oh. But after releasing Toy's first album, Yoon left the band to study overseas and You joined the navy for his mandatory military service. Since 1996, Toy has continued as a one-man band with You as the sole member. After his discharge from military service, Toy's second album Fairy Tales for Adults was released, with the title song "Remember I Was Next to You" sung by Kim Yeon-woo becoming a big hit. Since then, You has rarely sung the songs in his albums and instead features guest vocalists such as Kim Yeon-woo, Kim Hyung-joong, Lee Jang-woo, Yoon Jong-shin, Kim Jang-hoon, Jinu, and Byeon Jae-won.
You has also produced many albums for K-pop musicians including Lee Seung-hwan, Yoon Jong-shin, Lee Sora and Lee Moon-se. In 1997, he founded the record label Antenna Music, then known as Toy Music.