R+b star Akon has recorded a "secret" country and western record and released it under an alias in a bid to be the first successful black artist in the genre.

The Lonely singer is a big fan of country music and is determined to conquer the genre but is convinced that fans of the music would not buy the records if they were released under his real name.

And the 34-year-old insists he is already on his way to making it big as a country star as he has already released his first single - and it has been a major success.

He says, "No black artist has ever broken into the genre. I'm going in under a secret alias and I've already got my first hit record."