Brian Kennedy Seals | |
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Born | Kansas City, Missouri, United States | August 8, 1983
Other names | Brian Kennedy, BK |
Musical career | |
Genres | |
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Labels | Universal Music Publishing Group |
Website | briankennedy |
Brian Kennedy Seals is an American songwriter, producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist, best known for co-writing and producing pop hit singles "Disturbia", "Forever", "Don't Wake Me Up", and "Mr. Know It All", as well as hit R&B singles "If This Isn't Love", "What It Is (Block Boy)", and "No Time for It". [1] [2]
Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Seals was a classically trained piano prodigy, and became an accomplished pianist by the age of 8, writing his own songs and performing in the Kansas City Boys' Choir. He would create jazz, contemporary, and Christmas albums from his compositions. [3] Seals relocated to Los Angeles in 2004 at the age of 20, beginning as a session player for Diane Warren, the Underdogs, and Babyface. [3] He would eventually catch his big break in 2006, when he produced and co-wrote “My Love” on Ciara’s sophomore album, Ciara: The Evolution , securing a publishing deal. [4]
His placement on Ciara's album was soon followed by chart-topping single "Disturbia" for the repackage of Rihanna's 2007 album Good Girl Gone Bad , and chart-topper "Forever" for Chris Brown's repackage of 2007 album Exclusive . [4] [5] Seals would continue to work with both Brown and Fenty, resulting in numerous future album placements on their projects, co-written demos for inclusion on the projects of other artists, as well as co-written songs worked on in collaboration with other artists (such as Joe Jonas' "See No More" ). [6] Seals participated in initial sessions for Usher's 2008 album Here I Stand , and a contribution of his ("Angel") was even tipped in various publications to be the emotional centerpiece of the project by participating writers, but the album changed direction and his contributions did not make the final cut. [7] Seals would then begin work on R&B singer Brandy Norwood's comeback album Human as executive producer, but would be later replaced by notable Norwood collaborator Rodney Jerkins after their long-awaited creative reunion. [8] [9] Seals would still contribute two songs to the album, and built a lasting writing relationship with then-unknown New Orleans songwriter Christopher "Frank Ocean" Breaux, who together co-wrote bonus track "Locket (Lost In Love)". Breaux and Seals would collaborate frequently for the next several years alongside several other producers, creating a pre-debut album, unofficial compilation/mixtape for Breaux titled The Lonny Breaux Collection, composed of completed songs, rough demos, and songs written for other artists. In 2009, Seals contributed five songs to Disney star Corbin Bleu's second album Speed of Light . [10] [11] Seals would further solidify his place in the music industry with "If This Isn't Love" for Jennifer Hudson's eponymous debut album, "It's Over" and additional album tracks for Jesse McCartney album Departure , "This Time" for American Idol contestant Pia Toscano, as well as top-ten lead single "Mr. Know It All" for Kelly Clarkson's 2011 album Stronger . [12] [13] [14] [15] These initial contributions would earn Seals his first three Grammy awards (Winner's certificates for production participation on Grammy-winning albums) and first three ASCAP Awards. [16] [4] [17]
In 2012, Seals would reunite with Brown and contribute "Don't Wake Me Up" to his fifth album Fortune . [18] Co-produced by William Orbit and originally pitched to pop artist Madonna (who was unable to record the song in time), the song would reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 and chart internationally. [19] A copyright infringement suit for the song against Brown, Orbit, Kennedy, and Sony Music Entertainment by UK songwriter Nayeri Gregor aka Nayri (who created a song of the same name in 2009 and pitched it to several parties involved) was settled in 2016. [20] Seals' contribution to Fenty album Unapologetic earned him further Grammy recognition during the 2014 awards season from the R&B wing of the Recording Academy. In 2016, Seals would co-write and produce lead single "No Time for It" to Fantasia's fifth album The Definition Of... , with her declaring in a Vogue interview that the song "set the atmosphere" amidst a period of upheaval in which she had recently scrapped a more jazz-flavored album concept for something that better mixed "contemporary" and "soul". [21] Described as a label-chosen song in which "the wormy synth melody and bass line might appear on a crossover rap hit made by a popular and radio-friendly producer like DJ Mustard", the song would later reach the top 10 of the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart. [21] In 2017, Seals was spotted in a recording studio with Lady Gaga alongside fellow songwriter Dallas Davidson to work on songs for potential inclusion on a follow-up project to 2016 album Joanne , but the songs never came to fruition. [22] [23]
Seals recently sold a portion of his catalog to music management and IP firm Hipgnosis Songs Fund for an undisclosed sum, with subsidiary Hipgnosis Songs Capital assuming ownership of the catalog in a 2023 purchase deal. [24]
In 2017, at the age of 33 following a urinalysis test to determine the origin of high blood pressure, doctors discovered that Seals was experiencing kidney problems. A biopsy showed he had FSGS, or focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a relatively common form of kidney disease which decreases the kidney's ability to properly filter blood as the filters are damaged/scarred. [25] Coupled with an improved diet and blood pressure-lowering medications, Seals subsequently received a kidney transplant from his brother Kevin, who had moved to Los Angeles to be his manager. Seals continues to be an advocate for frequent blood-pressure check-ups and early avoidance of hypertension in the African-American community. [25]
The following is a list of well-known demos and outtakes produced by Seals that have been discussed in various publications, shopped around to various artists, or have surfaced on blogs, mixtapes, and various music streaming channels:
Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known mononymously as Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter and actress. Her sound is characterized by heavy voice-layering and riffs. As of 2024, she has sold over 40 million records worldwide, with approximately 8.62 million albums sold in the United States. Her work has earned her numerous awards and accolades, including a Grammy Award and an American Music Award.
Łukasz Sebastian Gottwald, known professionally as Dr. Luke, Tyson Trax, and Made in China, is an American songwriter and record producer. His professional music career began in the late-night television sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live as its house band's lead guitarist in 1996 and producing remixes for artists such as Bon Jovi and Gravediggaz. He came into music prominence in 2004 for producing Kelly Clarkson's single "Since U Been Gone" with Swedish record producer Max Martin.
Batman Forever: Music from the Motion Picture is the 1995 soundtrack to the motion picture Batman Forever.
"Disturbia" is a song recorded by Barbadian singer Rihanna for Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded (2008), a re-release of her third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was written by Andre Merritt, Chris Brown, Brian Kennedy and Rob. A!, with the production of the song helmed by Kennedy. The song was released as the third single from the reloaded edition of the album, and seventh overall. "Disturbia" was sent to US contemporary hit radio on June 17, 2008, and was released as a CD single in the United Kingdom on July 22, 2008.
Human is the fifth studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on December 5, 2008 by Epic Records, Knockout Entertainment and Koch Records. The album was Norwood's debut Epic Records release, following her split with Atlantic Records in 2005, and her reunion with longtime collaborator and mentor Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who executively produced and wrote most of the album with his songwriting collective.
Stargate is a record producing and songwriting team composed of Tor E. Hermansen and Mikkel S. Eriksen, based in Los Angeles, USA. The team's genres include R&B, pop and hip hop. Stargate was established in Trondheim, Norway.
Joseph Alonzo "Lonny" Bereal Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. His 2011 debut single, "Favor" was a duet with singer Kelly Rowland, for whom he was originally a backing vocalist. Despite the song's commercial underperformance, Bereal shifted focus onto songwriting work for other R&B acts including Ariana Grande, Keri Hilson, Tank, Omarion, Jamie Foxx and Chris Brown—the latter of whom most extensively since 2007. In 2018, he executive produced Snoop Dogg's gospel album Bible of Love, released in March of that year. He was also a member of Busta Rhymes' Flipmode Squad.
Thomas Jay Hambridge is an American rock, country, and blues, producer, songwriter, musician and vocalist. Hambridge has received two Grammy Awards, an ASCAP award, seven Grammy nominations, seven Boston Music Awards, and has been inducted into the Buffalo Hall of Fame. In December 2015, Hambridge was given the key to his hometown of Buffalo, New York with Mayor Byron Brown declaring December 28 "Tom Hambridge Day." Hambridge's songs have been recorded by several notable artists and have been featured in movie productions, commercials and television programs. He has been referred to as "The White Willie Dixon" by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Buddy Guy and Susan Tedeschi's "Secret Weapon".
Emile Haynie, often credited simply as Emile, is an American record producer. Born and raised in Buffalo, New York, his range of production includes alternative rock, hip hop, indie and pop music. Haynie has worked with several prominent artists in the music industry including Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Eminem, Lana Del Rey, Bruno Mars, Linkin Park, FKA Twigs, Florence Welch and Camila Cabello, among others. Additionally, Haynie received two Grammy Awards for his work with English singer Adele, namely Album of the Year for the diamond certified 25 as well as Record of the Year for "Hello".
Two Eleven is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Brandy. Released on October 16, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasing her previous album, Human (2008). The album's title is taken from Norwood's birthday; it is also the day on which her idol and friend, entertainer Whitney Houston died eight months before Two Eleven's release.
Brandy Lynn Clark is an American country music singer-songwriter. Her songs have been recorded by Sheryl Crow, Miranda Lambert, the Band Perry, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, Billy Currington, Darius Rucker, and Kacey Musgraves. She debuted as an artist in her own right in 2013 with her album 12 Stories and has released four additional studio albums. Clark is a sixteen-time Grammy Award nominee, including the 2015 Best New Artist award, and won the Country Music Association Award for Song of the Year as a co-writer on "Follow Your Arrow". In 2023, Clark and frequent collaborator Shane McAnally wrote the music and lyrics for the musical Shucked, earning a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Original Score.
Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded is the reissue of Barbadian singer Rihanna's third studio album Good Girl Gone Bad (2007). It was first released digitally in selected countries on June 2, 2008, by Def Jam Recordings and SRP Records. Launched to mark the first anniversary of the original album, Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded features three newly recorded songs and a DVD showing exclusive behind-the-scenes footage of Rihanna's worldwide tour, the Good Girl Gone Bad Tour (2007–2009). For the new material, she worked with past collaborators Ne-Yo, Stargate, and C. "Tricky" Stewart, as well as Brian Kennedy, Mark Endert, Mike Elizondo, Mark "Spike" Stent and Maroon 5.
Natasha Tameika Cobbs Leonard is an American gospel musician and songwriter. She released the extended play Grace in 2013 with the hit lead single "Break Every Chain". The EP reached No. 61 on the Billboard charts.
Victoria Monét McCants is an American R&B singer and songwriter. First gaining recognition for her songwriting work, Monét pursued a recording career with the release of a series of extended plays (EPs); her fifth, Jaguar (2020) was met with critical acclaim. Her debut studio album, Jaguar II (2023) became her commercial breakthrough and was supported by the hit single, "On My Mama", which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and earned a Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year. The nomination was among seven she received at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, from which she won Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
Dominique Armani Jones, known professionally as Lil Baby, is an American rapper from Atlanta, Georgia. He rose to prominence following the release of his 2017 mixtapes Harder than Hard and Too Hard, the former of which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100 entry with its lead single, "My Dawg." He signed with Quality Control Music, an imprint of Motown and Capitol Records to release his debut studio album Harder Than Ever (2018), which peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and was supported by the Billboard Hot 100-top ten single "Yes Indeed". He released two additional retail projects that same year: The collaborative mixtape Drip Harder with fellow Georgia-based rapper Gunna—which saw continued success with its singles "Drip Too Hard" and "Close Friends"—and his commercial mixtape Street Gossip, which peaked at number two on the Billboard 200.
Jesús Manuel Nieves Cortés, known professionally as Jhayco, is a Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, and record producer. After releasing multiple EPs, his debut studio album Famouz was released in 2019.
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Troy Christopher Taylor is an American record producer, singer, and songwriter from New Haven, Connecticut, best known for his discovery and mentorship of R&B singer Trey Songz. He was formerly a member of production collective The Characters, and founded the record label Songbook Entertainment in 2002, through which he signed Songz the following year. Throughout his career, Taylor has produced and worked extensively with the singer, as well as other prominent R&B acts including the Isley Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston, and Boyz II Men.