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The Weeknd Biography (Best Known for Singles "Can't Feel My Face" and "The Hills")

Birthday: February 16, 1990 (Aquarius)

Born In: Toronto, Canada

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The Weeknd is the stage name of Canadian singer, songwriter, and record producer Abel Makkonen Tesfaye. He got recognition after posting many of his songs on YouTube under the username 'The Weeknd'. Inspired by legendary Michael Jackson to become a singer, he was later influenced by R&B stars like Aaliyah, Missy Elliott, Timbaland and The Neptunes. He started his career with mixtapes that he released from his own website for free. His three mixtapes, 'House of Balloons', 'Thursday', and 'Echoes of Silence', helped him create a loyal fan base. All of his studio albums were received with positive reviews. Suffering from shyness and insecurity as a child, Tesfaye made conscious efforts to shun publicity during his early career. He avoided giving interviews and didn't even use his own image in his mixtape covers. He interacted with his fans on Twitter. However, he gained confidence as his songs started to top charts worldwide. He has so far worked with stars like Kanye West, Beyoncé, Ed Sheeran, Kendrick Lamar and Drake. Tesfaye, who wants to be remembered for being unique and different, started with his Jean-Michel Basquiat-inspired hairstyle, which is his most recognizable feature.

Image Credit http://www.prphotos.com/p/PRR-007968/the-weeknd-at-2015-mtv-video-music-awards--press-room.html?&ps=5&x-start=1 Image Credit https://www.instagram.com/p/CPZqjynhBtR/(theweeknd) Image Credit https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Weeknd_(253662129).jpeg(Pedro Mora [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)]) Image Credit http://www.prphotos.com/p/LNU-000902/the-weeknd-at-amy-los-angeles-premiere--arrivals.html?&ps=8&x-start=0(CelebLens) Image Credit https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsi-RCUHRub/(abelvocals •) Previous Next

Birthday: February 16, 1990 (Aquarius)

Born In: Toronto, Canada

586191 Rhythm & Blues Singers #20 Pop Singers #40 Singers #129 Rhythm & Blues Singers #20 Pop Singers #40 Singers #129 586191

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Canadian Celebrities Born In February

Also Known As: Abel Makkonen Tesfaye

Age: 36 Years, 36 Year Old Males

Born Country: Canada

Pop Singers Lyricists & Songwriters

Height: 5'8" (173 cm), 5'8" Males

Notable Alumni: Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute

City: Toronto, Canada

More Facts

education: Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute

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You wanted to know

• 1

  What is The Weeknd's real name?

  The Weeknd's real name is Abel Tesfaye.

• 2

  Where is The Weeknd from?

  The Weeknd is from Toronto, Canada.

• 3

  What genre of music does The Weeknd make?

  The Weeknd is known for making R&B and pop music.

• 4

  How did The Weeknd get his stage name?

  The Weeknd got his stage name from dropping the "e" in "weekend" to avoid copyright issues.

• 5

  What was The Weeknd's first hit song?

  The Weeknd's first hit song was "Wicked Games" from his mixtape "House of Balloons."

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Canadian PeopleRhythm & Blues SingersCanadian MenMale SingersAquarius Singers Childhood & Early Life

The Weeknd was born to Makkonen and Samra Tesfaye on February 16, 1990, in Scarborough, Ontario. He is the only child of his parents who moved from Ethiopia to Canada in the 1980s.

He was brought up by his mother and maternal grandmother, and doesn't remember his father who left the family when he was one or two. His mother worked as a nurse and caterer to support the family, attending night school at the same time.His first language is Amharic, which he learned from his grandmother. He also became fluent in French from the French-immersion class he attended till eighth grade.During his childhood, he attended two schools, West Hill Collegiate Institute and Birchmount Park Collegiate Institute. However, he got kicked out of one and dropped out of the other after six months. He then left home and started to live with two of his friends in a one-bedroom house at 65 Spencer Avenue.Continue Reading Below Recommended Lists:Male Lyricists & SongwritersCanadian Rhythm & Blues SingersCanadian Lyricists & SongwritersMajor WorksThe Weeknd's compilation album 'Trilogy' peaked at No. 5 on the Canadian Albums Chart and No. 4 on the U.S. 'Billboard' 200. Within a week of its release, it sold 86,000 copies. It eventually reached platinum status in America and double platinum status in Canada.His debut studio album 'Kiss Land' peaked at number two on the U.S. 'Billboard' 200 chart. With a sale of 96,000 copies, it trailed the top ranking album by only two thousand copies.'Beauty Behind the Madness' is his most successful album, earning him multiple awards and nominations. It became the tenth best-selling album of 2015, with 1.5 million copies sold worldwide, and has sold over two million copies in the United States so far.Awards & Achievements

In 2015, The Weeknd joined the ranks of Elvis Presley, The Beatles and Taylor Swift after his track 'The Hills' replaced his other chart-topping single, 'Can't Feel My Face', on the 'Billboard' Hot 100 chart. He is the 12th person to have two tracks back-to-back on the top of the list.

Continue Reading Below In 2015, his album 'Beauty Behind the Madness' won two Grammy Awards for 'Best Urban Contemporary Album' and 'Best R&B Performance'. His song, 'Earned It', which was included in the album, earned him an Academy Award nomination.The album 'Starboy' received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number one on the 'Billboard' 200 chart. It became the top album in 80 countries within a day of its release.Personal Life & Legacy

The Weeknd has been in a relationship with runway model Bella Hadid since early 2015. She also appeared in his music video 'In the Night'. However, they reportedly broke up in late 2016, due to conflicting schedules.

In early 2017, he sparked rumors of dating pop star Selena Gomez. Apparently, they came close while working on a project together. They parted ways in late 2017. He was also romantically linked to Alice Ustinova. In 2022, he started dating Simi Khadra.

Facts About The Weeknd

The Weeknd's real name is Abel Tesfaye, and he chose his stage name because he left home one weekend and never came back.

He has a pet Doberman named Caesar, who often makes appearances on his social media.

The Weeknd is known for his unique hairstyle, which he initially grew out as a form of rebellion against his strict Ethiopian parents.

He has a passion for collecting rare and vintage watches, with an impressive collection that he often showcases in his music videos.

The Weeknd is a big fan of comic books and has cited characters like Batman and Spider-Man as inspirations for his music and image.

Awards

Grammy Awards

2018	Best Urban Contemporary Album	Winner
2016	Best Urban Contemporary Album	Winner
2016	Best R&B Performance	Winner

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See the events in life of The Weeknd in Chronological Order

REPORT ERROR By Seth, D., Updated On: July 09, 2024 REPORT ERROR

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Article Title - The Weeknd Biography Author - Editors, TheFamousPeople.com Website - TheFamousPeople.com URL - https://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/the-weeknd-29746.php

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