Robert Knight was born Robert Henry Peebles on April 24, 1945 in Franklin, Tennessee. Knight made his professional vocal debut with the Paramounts, a racially integrated doo-wop quintet during the Civil Rights era comprised of friends at the all-black Natchez High School and all-white Franklin … Read MoreRobert Knight (1945-2017)
Composer Sir Charles Jones, a collaborator of throwback and modern in his traditional Southern style of R&B, was born Charles Jones, Jr. on April 25, 1973, in Akron, Ohio, to composer/pianist Charles Jones Sr. and Blanche Jones, a civil rights activist from Birmingham. He was … Read MoreSir Charles Jones (1973- )
New Jack Swing R&B singer Ralph Edward Tresvant was born on May 16, 1968, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Patricia Tresvant and Ralph Hall. He and siblings, Andre and LaTonya, were reared in the Roxbury section of the city. While a teenager, Tresvant and his friends … Read MoreRalph Edward Tresvant Jr. (1968- )
New Jack Swing R&B singer Johnny Gill Jr. was born on May 22, 1966, in Washington, DC. to Johnny Gill Sr., a Baptist minister, and Annie Mae Gill. He began singing at the age of five in church and his family’s gospel ensemble, Little Johnny, … Read MoreJohnny Gill (1966- )
Sir Guy was born Clarence Eugene Barron, on October 16, 1946 in a musical family in Norfolk, Virginia to Thelma Barron Cartwright and James Norfleet, Sr; reared by mother and stepfather, William “Bro. Bear” Cartwright in the segregated section of the city called Berkley-Campostella. He … Read MoreSir Guy/ Clarence Eugene Barron (1946-2010)
David Lubega “Lou Bega” Balemezi is a singer who is best known for his 1999 song “Mambo No.5 (A Little Bit of… ). Balemezi was born on April 13, 1975, to a Sicilian mother and a Ugandan father in Munich, Germany. After his parents separated, … Read MoreLou Bega/ David Lubega Balemezi (1975- )
In addition to composer, balladeer, and R&B singer, Charles Brown was also a classically trained pianist. He was born Tony Russell Charles Brown on September 13, 1922, in Texas City, Texas, to John Mose Brown and Mattie Evelyn Simpson Brown. Brown graduated from Central High … Read MoreCharles Brown (1922-1999)
Lyricist, guitarist, singer Tweet, as she was called growing up on Custer Street, in Rochester, New York, was born Charlene Keyes on January 21, 1971, in a home filled with music, where she learned to play drums and the guitar. Her parents are Tom Keys, … Read MoreTweet (1971- )
Soprano lyricist June Deniece Chandler Williams was born on June 3, 1951, in Gary, Indiana. She was the first of four children born to Lee Chandler, a security guard, and Alma Chandler, a licensed practical nurse, Williams sang as a child in the choir at … Read MoreDeniece Williams (1951- )
R&B lyricist, singer, and dancer Jermaine Stewart was born William Jermaine Stewart in Columbus, Ohio, on September 7, 1957, to Eugene Stewart and Ethel M. Stewart. His parents moved the family to Chicago, Illinois, in 1972. Stewart had four siblings Eugene, Jr., Sondra, Leandra, and … Read MoreJermaine Stewart (1957-1997)
