The Real Thing (Vanessa Williams Album)
''The Real Thing'' is the eighth studio album by American singer Vanessa Williams. It was released by Concord Records on June 2, 2009 in the United States. The album features productions by Keith Thomas, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Rob Mathes, and Rex Rideout. ''The Real Thing'' peaked at number 91 on the US ''Billboard'' 200. It also reached number one on the Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart, number two on the Top Jazz Albums chart, and number 36 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Background and composition ''The Real Thing'' was originally intended to be a "Brazilian-type" record. However, when Williams contacted Babyface for the album production, it was revealed the album would have a more R&B sound. She considered the album a combination of different influences, such as classical, jazz, and Latin music. ''The Real Thing'' was also produced by Keith Thomas, Rob Mathes and Rex Rideout, and features songs written by Stevie Wonder, Bill Withers, Bebel Gilberto, Phil Galdsto ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams (born March 18, 1963) is an American singer, actress, and fashion designer. She gained recognition as the first African-American woman to receive the Miss America title when she was crowned Miss America 1984. She resigned her title amid a media controversy surrounding nude photographs of her being published on ''Penthouse'' magazine. Thirty-two years later, Williams was offered a public apology during the Miss America 2016 pageant for the events. Williams rebounded from the scandal with a successful career as a singer and actress. In 1988, she released her debut studio album ''The Right Stuff (album), The Right Stuff'', whose The Right Stuff (Vanessa Williams song), title single saw moderate success as well as "Dreamin' (Vanessa Williams song), Dreamin' which peaked at number 8 in the United States in 1989. With her second and third studio albums, ''The Comfort Zone (album), The Comfort Zone'' (1991) and ''The Sweetest Days'' (1994), she saw continued com ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Evan Rogers
Carl Sturken and Evan Rogers are New York–based songwriters and record producers. They have produced hits for Ruben Studdard, Wild Orchid, Christina Aguilera and Evelyn Champagne King and helped build the career of Rihanna. In addition to being principals of Rihanna's production company SRP Music Group, they have achieved more than twenty top 40 hits, twelve top 5 hits and six BMI Awards. Their songs have sold more than 60 million albums around the world. History 1980s Sturken and Rogers started their careers in the New York R&B scene of the mid-1980s. During that time, Rogers released a full-length solo album, 1985's '' Love Games'' for RCA Records (he would release a second album, ''Faces of Love'' for Capitol four years later), and the duo produced Gavin Christopher for EMI Manhattan Records, scoring their first big hit with Christopher's "One Step Closer to You." They also worked on the legendary ''Beat Street'' soundtrack and began to build a reputation by produ ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Javier Colon
Javier Colon (stylized as Colón; born April 29, 1978) is an American acoustic singer-songwriter. He has referred to his style of music as being "acoustic soul." He was a member of EmcQ and The Derek Trucks Band, and worked with many musicians before going solo. From 2002 to 2006, he was signed to Capitol Records, known as artist Javier. In 2006, however, the contract was terminated and Javier Colon became an independent artist with his own label, Javier Colon Music. In 2011, He was the winner of season 1 of American talent competition show on NBC, ''The Voice'', receiving $100,000 and signing a recording contract with Universal Republic Records. Colon eventually decided to part ways with Universal Republic in 2012. Early life Colon was born in Stratford, Connecticut, the son of a Dominican father and Puerto Rican mother. His father worked in a radio station. He went to Frank Scott Bunnell High School in Stratford, Connecticut, where he started writing songs. Then he pursue ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Sheléa
Sheléa Frazier also known as Sheléa (), stylized as SHELÉA or sheléa, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Her 2014 track "I'll Never Let You Go" peaked at 23 on ''Billboard'''s Adult R&B chart. She is mentored by Stevie Wonder, and is a protégée of Quincy Jones. Sheléa portrays gospel singer Dorinda Clark Cole in the 2020 Lifetime biopic, ''The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel''. Life and career Sheléa Frazier was born in Redwood City, California and raised in Bakersfield, California. She has been singing and playing piano since she was a child. She has cited Natalie Cole's album '' Unforgettable...with Love'' as the impetus for her desire to become a singer. Sheléa co-wrote and performed the theme song to the UPN television sitcom ''All of Us'' from 2003 to 2006. Sheléa began her professional career working with producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. In 2008, she sang lead on the track " Someone to Watch Over Me", at the request of Take 6; the song ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Guy Sigsworth
Guy Sigsworth is an English record producer and songwriter. During his career, he has worked with many artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Imogen Heap, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian, Alanis Morissette, Eric Whitacre, Alison Moyet, and AURORA . He has also collaborated with many celebrated instrumental musicians, including Talvin Singh, Jon Hassell, and Lester Bowie. He was previously a member of the band Frou Frou together with Imogen Heap. Early life Sigsworth grew up in Ilkley, where he developed a youthful passion for early music, especially the 14th-century composer Guillaume de Machaut. His earliest musical heroes were the multi-instrumentalist David Munrow and the maverick field recordist and composer David Fanshawe. He was a pupil at Leeds Grammar School in the 1970s. He studied the harpsichord, first at summer schools at the Casa de Mateus in Portugal, and later for a year at the Utrechts Conservatorium in the Nethe ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris ( Judkins; May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, who is credited as a pioneer and influence by musicians across a range of genres that include rhythm and blues, Pop music, pop, Soul music, soul, Gospel music, gospel, funk, and jazz. A virtual one-man band, Wonder's use of synthesizers and other electronic musical instruments during the 1970s reshaped the conventions of Contemporary R&B, R&B. He also helped drive such genres into the album era, crafting his LP record, LPs as cohesive and consistent, in addition to socially conscious statements with complex compositions. Visual impairment, Blind since shortly after his birth, Wonder was a child prodigy who signed with Motown's Tamla label at the age of 11, where he was given the professional name Little Stevie Wonder. Wonder's single "Fingertips" was a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in 1963, at the age of 13, making him the List o ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Carole Bayer Sager
Carole Bayer Sager (born Carol Bayer on March 8, 1947) is an American lyricist, singer, and songwriter. Early life and career Bayer Sager was born in Manhattan, New York City, to Anita Nathan Bayer and Eli Bayer. Her family was Jewish. She graduated from New York University, where she majored in English, dramatic arts, and speech. She had already written her first pop hit, "A Groovy Kind of Love", with Toni Wine, while still a student at New York City's High School of Music and Art. It was recorded by the British invasion band The Mindbenders, whose version was a worldwide hit, reaching number 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. This song was later recorded by Sonny & Cher, Petula Clark, and Phil Collins, whose rendition for the film '' Buster'' reached number one in 1988. Solo albums Bayer Sager's first recording as a singer was the 1977 album ''Carole Bayer Sager'', produced by Brooks Arthur. It included the hit single " You're Moving Out Today", a song which she co-wrote ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Keith Thomas (record Producer)
Keith Thomas is an American record producer and songwriter. His production and artist management company, Levosia Entertainment, is currently in Nashville, Tennessee. He has worked on 40 No. 1 ''Billboard'' hits and has received multiple Grammy nominations and awards. Career Born and raised in the Atlanta suburb of Conyers, Georgia, Thomas was singing lead for his father's gospel group by the age of 9. While still in high school, his ability as a keyboard player led him to recording sessions in the local Atlanta studios. Here, he came to the attention of country superstar Ronnie Milsap. Thomas moved to Nashville as Ronnie's first staff writer for Milsap's newly formed publishing company, Ronjoy Music. Shortly thereafter, Thomas signed on with Word Records and began a seven-year tenure as their staff writer and producer. During this time, Thomas produced over 16 albums for various artists earning over 20 No. 1 singles. Encouraged by this success, Thomas left Word and founded his ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Lauren Evans
Lauren Evans (born February 3, 1983) is an American singer and platinum-selling songwriter. She is an ASCAP Award Winner and has written hit singles for Alexandra Burke, Monrose, Jordin Sparks, and Camila. As a songwriter, Evans has achieved five platinum certifications and two gold certifications in six countries. Early life Evans grew up in San Bernardino, California, the daughter of a pastor, John Evans, of Promise Keepers and Maranatha! Music; a Christian record label for which she has recorded several popular songs for. Evans' cover of "You're Worthy of My Praise" became an oft-played radio hit for the label. Career Lauren's music career got an early start from working with production duo Buster & Shavoni who featured her on DreamWorks' ''The Prince of Egypt'' soundtrack under the pseudonym Christian. "Didn't I," co-written by Evans, earned her a 1999 Stellar Award nomination for Contemporary Female Vocalist of the Year. Collaborating with producer Rex Rideout, another of ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Norah Jones
Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar; March 30, 1979) is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She has won several awards for her music and as of 2012, has sold more than 50 million records worldwide. ''Billboard'' named her the top jazz artist of the 2000's decade. She has won nine Grammy Awards and was ranked 60th on ''Billboard'' magazine's artists of the 2000s decade chart. In 2002, Jones launched her solo music career with the release of ''Come Away with Me'', which was a fusion of jazz with country, blues, folk and pop. It was certified diamond, selling over 27 million copies. The record earned Jones five Grammy Awards, including the Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best New Artist. Her subsequent studio albums—'' Feels Like Home'' (2004), '' Not Too Late'' (2007), and '' The Fall'' (2009)—all gained platinum status, selling over a million copies each. They were also generally well received by critics. Jones's fifth studio album, ''Little Br ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |
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Michael Bublé
Michael Steven Bublé ( ; born September 9, 1975) is a Canadian singer. A four-time Grammy Award winner, he is often credited for helping to renew public interest and appreciation for traditional pop standards and the Great American Songbook. His musical influences include Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Tony Bennett, Nat King Cole, Bobby Darin, and Elvis Presley, and Sam Cooke. In 2003, Bublé's first album reached the top ten in Canada and the United Kingdom. He found a worldwide audience with his 2005 album '' It's Time'' and his 2007 album ''Call Me Irresponsible'' – which reached number one on the Canadian Albums Chart, the UK Albums Chart, the US ''Billboard'' 200, the Australian ARIA Albums Chart and several European charts. His 2009 album '' Crazy Love'' debuted at number one on the US ''Billboard'' 200 after three days of sales, and remained there for two weeks. It was also his fourth number one album on ''Billboard'''s Top Jazz Albums chart. H ... [...More Info...]       [...Related Items...]     OR:     [Wikipedia]   [Google]   [Baidu]   |