An accomplished songwriter, producer and remixer, R. Kelly has written and produced for Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Kelly Price, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige and Luther Vandross -- just to name a few! R. Kelly has also won Grammy Awards, sold multi-platinum albums across the world, achieved No.1 singles and performed sell-out tours wherever he performs.
It was in 1991 that R. Kelly signed to Jive Records. He locked himself away in a recording studio and began to write, sing and learn as many instruments as he could to play on his debut album. The result was 'Born Into The '90s' which was released in 1992 to critical acclaim. 'Born' was a mix of soul, swing beats infused with rap and pure attitude and the album struck gold with music lovers going platinum in the USA. R. Kelly's first UK tour in 1992 had him performing three sell-out shows at the Hammersmith Apollo. On his next tour 18 months later, the number of sell-out shows increased to five at the same venue plus a date in Wolverhampton.
The Kelly profile was growing significantly and where the debut album had gone silver, the follow-up, '12 Play' went platinum. 'Your Body's Callin'', the first single from '12 Play', became R. Kelly's first UK Top 20 single early in 1994 and this was followed by 'She's Got That Vibe' which peaked at No.3. 'Bump'n'Grind' completed the hat-trick with a No.8 chart position in 1995.
Having established himself as an artist, R. Kelly took on the mantle of writer, producer and mixer and soon found himself in demand. In 1995, he remixed Janet Jackson's 'Anytime, Anyplace' before keeping it in the family with Michael Jackson's 'You Are Not Alone', which R. Kelly wrote, produced and arranged the vocals. The song was a No.1 hit on both sides of the Atlantic and made R. Kellymore sought-after than ever.
Over the next two years he wrote and produced 'When You Call My Name' for Luther Vandross; wrote and produced the international hit for Changing Faces, 'G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.'; guested on Notorious BIG's 'Life After Death' album; wrote, produced and duetted on Mary J Blige's track, 'It's On'; wrote and produced the Toni Braxton hit, 'I Don't Want To'; wrote, produced and arranged 'Every Nation' by the Red Hot R&B All Stars, and eventually had a No.1 UK hit with the international mega-hit single, 'I Believe I Can Fly' from the movie, 'Space Jam'.
'I Believe' took R. Kelly's career into the stratosphere - selling over 5 million copies worldwide and earning him 3 Grammy Awards in 1998 for Best Song For A Motion Picture, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance. R. Kelly's also performed the inspirational song at the Grammy Award ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York.
In the UK, 'I Believe' went platinum and R. Kelly followed up with the Top 10 hit single, 'Gotham City' which was taken from the movie, 'Batman Forever'. In 1998, R. Kelly made a guest appearance on the remix of Wyclef Jean's international hit single, 'Gone 'Til November'; produced a track for Kelly Price as well as remixing and guesting on her single, 'Friend Of Mine', and launched the career of his prodigy, Sparkle whose album he has produced and written and on whose debut Top 10 single, 'Be Careful' he duetted.
In 1998, R. Kelly released a double-album entitled 'R.', containing 30 tracks including the hits 'I Believe I Can Fly', 'Gotham City' and the hit single, 'Half On A Baby'. The album featured contributions from Keith Murray, Noreaga, Cam'Ron and Sparkle and is heralded as a stunning mix of street beats and sweet ballads. Upon its release in early November, the album 'R.' debut at #2 in the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart! Also, the duet with Celine Dion "I'm Your Angel" made a fantastic leap from #155 to #1 in the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart!
When the ballad 'If I Could Turn Back The Hands of Time' was released in 1999, it became a smash hit in many countries, including Holland, Sweden and the UK. 'R'. is currently certified 6x Platinum in the United States and has sold over one million copies across the UK & Europe!
Now, before the Year 2000 comes to a close, R. Kelly will be releasing his next and sixth offering, entitled 'TP-2.com'. The new album will be out in the stores in the USA on November 7. The first single from 'TP-2.com' is a song called 'I Wish', a nod and tribute to R. Kelly's roots and his mother.
