Robert Sylvester Kelly, born January 8, 1967, professionally known as R Kelly, is a talented and prominent American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He was nominated for a Grammy for his song “You Are Not Alone,” which Michael Jackson covered and for which he won three for the song “I Believe I Can Fly.” [6] While he described himself as the “Pied Piper of R&B,” critics called him “the King of R&B.”
Wiki Profile
| Full Name: | Robert Sylvester Kelly |
| Date of Birth: | January 8, 1967 |
| Place of Birth: | Chicago, Illinois |
| State of Origin: | Illinois |
| Nationality: | American |
| Occupation: | Singer & Actor |
| Net Worth: | $100 million |
| Wife/Spouse: | Andrea Kelly (div) |
Early Life and Education
Robert Sylvester Kelly was born on January 8, 1967[34] in the Hyde Park area of Chicago, Illinois’ South Side, at Chicago Lying-In Hospital (now University of Chicago Medical Center).
He has two older sisters, a brother, and a younger brother and sister, making a total of five siblings, three of whom are half-siblings.
Joanne, his mother, was a devoted Baptist and a schoolteacher. She was born in Arkansas. His father, who was not present in Kelly’s life but eventually raised two children, is unknown.
His family resided in the Ida B. Wells Homes public housing complex in Chicago’s Douglas neighborhood, also on the city’s south side, in the Black Metropolis-Bronzeville District.
R Kelly’s mother wed his stepfather, Lucious, who supposedly worked for an airline, when he was about five years old.
At the age of eight, Kelly started singing in the church choir. In his memoirs, Kelly mentioned having a lover named Lulu when he was eight years old.
He claimed that their most recent play date ended tragically when she drowned after being pushed into the water during a fight with other kids over a creek’s play area. Lulu was Kelly’s initial musical inspiration, he said.
Career
R Kelly was among the members of MGM (Musically Gifted Men or Mentally Gifted Men) were Shawn Brooks, Marc McWilliams, Vincent Walker, and Robert Kelly. MGM received a contract offer from small label Tavdash Records in 1990.
The trio then split up shortly after recording and releasing the single “Why You Wanna Play Me.”
R Kelly attained widespread fame in 1989 when MGM took part in Natalie Cole’s talent competition show Big Break.
The group went on to win the $100,000 top prize when MGM performed “All My Love,” which would later serve as a demo for Kelly’s song “She’s Got That Vibe”.
Kelly joined Jive Records in 1991. Early in 1992, Kelly’s debut album, Born into the 90s, was made available (credited as R. Kelly and Public Announcement).
R Kelly sang lead vocals on the R&B songs “She’s Got That Vibe,” “Honey Love,” “Dedicated,” and “Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)” from the album, which was released in the early 1990s during the new jack swing era.
Kelly and Public Announcement set out on a tour in late 1992 under the name “60653,” which was inspired by the zip code of their Chicago neighborhood.
Only this album would share Public Announcement’s co-credit. In January 1993, Kelly left the group.
Prior to the Black Panties Tour, Kelly declared his plan to tour with R&B artist Mary J. Blige on “The King & Queen Tour,” while continuing to produce portions of the hip-hop project Trapped in the Closet.
R Kelly revealed that he was creating a dance music album in July 2014.
Along with fellow Chicagoan Jeremih and Lil Wayne, Kelly released “Switch Up” in November 2015. The song was followed by “Wake Up Everybody,” “Marching Band,” and “Backyard Party.”
The Buffet, the album that contained those hits, was released the following month. With first-week sales of 39,000 album-equivalent copies, it debuted at number sixteen on the Billboard 200, where it performed poorly.
R Kelly Net Worth
R Kelly is a top American singer, songwriter, actor, and record producer with a net worth of $100 million.
Awards and Recognitions
As a songwriter, producer, and vocalist, Kelly has received numerous accolades during his career and been nominated for many more.
For his song “I Believe I Can Fly,” he won three Grammy Awards: Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best Rhythm and Blues Song, and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television.
Following Kelly’s federal conviction in New York in 2021, The Recording Academy faced intense criticism for holding off on denying Kelly all three of his trophies. [355]
In 2013, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, presented Kelly with a key to the city in recognition of her work as “an artist whose music brings generations together.”
The key was revoked on September 30, 2021, following his conviction for numerous sex offences in New York.
Albums
- 12 Play (1993)
- R. Kelly (1995)
- R. (1998)
- TP-2.com (2000)
- Chocolate Factory (2003)
- Happy People/U Saved Me (2004)
- TP.3 Reloaded (2005)
- Double Up (2007)
- Untitled (2009)
- Love Letter (2010)
- Write Me Back (2012)
- Black Panties (2013)
- The Buffet (2015)
- 12 Nights of Christmas (2016)
Personal Life
R Kelly got married to Andrea Kelly (née Lee), his former backup dancer who is the mother of his three children, JoAnn, Jaah and Robert, Jr.
Following a physical altercation, Andrea requested a restraining order against Kelly in September 2005. She subsequently filed for divorce from Kelly in 2006.
After 13 years of marriage, their divorce was finally formalized in January 2009. Andrea recently accused Kelly of abusing her physically, verbally, and mentally, notably in the 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly.
