Aloe Blacc
A soulful singer-songwriter who fused social consciousness with pop anthems, turning 'I Need a Dollar' and Avicii's 'Wake Me Up' into global hits.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American singer·Birthday: January 7·Generation X
Biography
Aloe Blacc's path to pop-soul stardom was anything but straightforward. Born Egbert Dawkins, he began his career deep in the underground hip-hop scene as one-half of the duo Emanon, crafting jazz-inflected beats and rhymes. This foundation in lyrical substance never left him. His pivot to singing on the 2006 album 'Good Things' revealed a rich, earnest baritone perfectly suited for songs of struggle and uplift. The breakout 'I Need a Dollar' became an unlikely global anthem during the 2010 financial crisis, its bluesy stomp feeling both timeless and urgently modern. His collaboration with Avicii on 'Wake Me Up' fused his soulful voice with electronic folk, creating a record-shattering hit that dominated airwaves worldwide. Blacc has consistently used this platform for advocacy, focusing on financial literacy, education, and social justice, ensuring his music carries a message as resonant as his voice.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Aloe was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Aloe Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Aloe's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His vocal feature on Avicii's 'Wake Me Up' topped the charts in 22 countries and became a global dance-pop phenomenon.
- The single 'I Need a Dollar' reached platinum status in multiple territories and was used as the theme for the HBO series 'How to Make It in America'.
- His song 'The Man' reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and was heavily featured in advertising campaigns.
- Released the socially conscious album 'All Love Everything' in 2020, addressing themes of family and community.
Did You Know?
He holds a degree in Linguistics and Psychology from the University of Southern California.
Before music was his full-time career, he worked as a business consultant for the firm Ernst & Young.
Blacc is a dedicated advocate for financial education and has worked with the nonprofit Operation HOPE.
He is a first-generation American; his parents immigrated from Panama.
“I'm not trying to be a pop star, I'm trying to be a pop servant.”
