Cupid

Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, R&B vocalist Bryson Bernard, widely recognized under the stage name Cupid, first developed his singing voice in a church choir at the urging of his father, the local pastor. While holding a full athletic scholarship in track and field at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he ultimately followed his deeper interest in music by quitting the team to assemble a vocal group and later withdrawing from school. Once that ensemble dissolved, Bernard immediately pivoted to a solo path, taking any available stage at talent shows, weddings, and funerals. The nickname Cupid stuck after audiences responded strongly to his cover of 112’s late-’90s hit single “Cupid.”

His initial radio exposure came in 2001 with the single “Do Ya Thing,” which appeared on the self-pressed debut album issued under his own name the next year. The gospel-tinged quality of his vocals soon drew interest from area promoters and rappers, leading to opening slots for blues acts and background vocal work on various rap releases. Those experiences shaped his second independent project, 2005’s The King of Down South R&B, which blended country, blues, and New Orleans bounce.

Atlantic Records signed him in January 2007 after late-2006 local buzz around “Cupid Shuffle.” The track then held a spot in the Top 30 of Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart for several weeks and reached number 66 on the Hot 100. His major-label debut, Time for a Change, followed later that year and debuted at number 58. Although the RIAA later certified “Cupid Shuffle” platinum, Cupid did not release another album on a major label. He instead continued issuing music through Lafayette’s Hub City imprint, delivering Feel Good Music, Positopia, and Dance Fever in the first half of the 2010s. An unsuccessful blind audition on season three of The Voice left his determination intact.