K-Ci

Last updated

K-Ci
Birth nameCedric Renard Hailey
Also known as
  • Little Cedric
  • K-Ci
Born (1969-09-02) September 2, 1969 (age 55)
Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Years active1983–present
Labels
Member of
Formerly of
  • The Hailey Singers

Cedric Renard Hailey (born September 2, 1969), known professionally as K-Ci (formerly Little Cedric as a member of Little Cedric and the Hailey Singers), is an American singer, songwriter and member of K-Ci & JoJo and Jodeci.

Contents

Although Hailey is best known as the lead singer of Jodeci and second-lead singer of K-Ci & JoJo, he participated on different solo projects as K-Ci, most notably his 1994 cover of Bobby Womack’s "If You Think You're Lonely Now", which peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Early life

Hailey was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Anita and Cliff Hailey [2] both of whom were gospel singers. For a time, the Hailey family lived in Baltimore where they performed gospel music. The family later returned to Charlotte when Cedric was a teen. He attended Garinger High School.

Career

Along with younger brother, Joel (known professionally as "JoJo") and his father, Hailey recorded three gospel albums as "Little Cedric and the Hailey Singers" [3] beginning with the 1983 release I'm Alright Now by Atlanta International Records, Gospel. [4] Though the album failed to place on any Billboard magazine charts, [5] the next two releases, 1984's Jesus Saves and God's Blessing in 1985, [4] [5] both placed upon the Billboard Gospel Albums chart; the former at No. 4 and the latter at No. 22. [5]

Cedric and Joel's gospel singing eventually connected them with the DeGrate brothers, Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate and Dalvin DeGrate, with whom they formed the R&B group Jodeci. As lead vocalist for the group, Hailey and Jodeci would release three multi-platinum albums between 1991 and 1995. In 1996, the group announced a hiatus from recording and releasing music. Hailey continued to record with his brother as the duo K-Ci & JoJo, releasing five albums between 1997 and 2013.

As K-Ci, he recorded the 1992 duet "I Don’t Want to Do Anything" with Mary J. Blige on her debut album What's the 411? . Also, his cover of Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" was featured on the soundtrack to the 1994 film, Jason's Lyric . It was released as a single and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Personal life

Hailey dated fellow R&B singer and then label-mate Mary J. Blige from 1992 to 1997. Blige stated that they were engaged, but Hailey denied that they were going to get married. [6] [7]

The two Hailey brothers are cousins of R&B singers Fantasia Barrino, Dave Hollister, Calvin Richardson, and Stephanie Mills. [8]

Hailey has two sons, Devin Hailey [9] and Deven Cedric Renard.[ citation needed ]

Discography

with Jodeci
with K-Ci & JoJo
Solo album

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jodeci</span> American R&B Band

Jodeci is an American R&B quartet consisting of members DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo. Formed in 1988 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jodeci began as a duo of DeVanté Swing and JoJo but later each added their brothers. After signing with Uptown Records in 1990, the group finished work on their debut album, Forever My Lady (1991), which brought them mainstream success with three straight Billboard R&B No. 1 hit singles: the album's titular track, "Stay" and "Come and Talk to Me".

<i>Diary of a Mad Band</i> 1993 studio album by Jodeci

Diary of a Mad Band is the second studio album from American R&B group Jodeci, released December 21, 1993, on Uptown Records and distributed through MCA Records. The album also featured the first-ever album appearances from Timbaland & Magoo, S.B.I, Missy Elliott and Sista, two years before the latter group became known in the music industry. New Jersey rapper Redman also makes a guest appearance on the album. It was Jodeci's second album to reach number one on the R&B album chart, where it stayed for two weeks. It spawned the number 1 R&B hit "Cry for You"; the number 2 R&B hit "Feenin'", and the Top 15 R&B hit "What About Us". Despite not being released as a single, the album's opening track, "My Heart Belongs To U", was also an urban radio hit with it peaking at #55 & charting for 20 weeks on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. To date, the album has sold over four million copies in the United States and six million worldwide.

K-Ci & JoJo is an American R&B duo, consisting of brothers Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey and Joel "JoJo" Hailey. Natives of Charlotte, North Carolina, they are also the lead singers of the chart-topping R&B group Jodeci with the DeGrate brothers—Donald and Mr. Dalvin. They are best known for their 1998 single "All My Life" which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks and received three Grammy Award nominations. They also guest appeared on the well-known Tupac Shakur 1996 again no.1 multi-platinum song "How Do U Want It", which was nominated for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997. K-Ci & JoJo also achieved mainstream success with the 1999 hit "Tell Me It's Real", which peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Their 2001 song, "Crazy", was included on the Save the Last Dance soundtrack and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Donald Earle DeGrate Jr., better known by his stage name DeVanté Swing, is an American record producer, singer, songwriter and rapper. He is best known as the main songwriter and producer of the R&B group Jodeci, which includes his younger brother Dalvin “Mr. Dalvin” DeGrate. DeVante Swing also created Swing Mob, which consisted of various artists he discovered and mentored, such as Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Magoo, Ginuwine, Static Major with Playa, Darryl Pearson, Tweet, Jimmy Douglass, Stevie J, and Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott among others.

Dalvin Ertimus DeGrate, better known by his stage name Mr. Dalvin, is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, and rapper. He is one-quarter of the R&B group Jodeci, and the younger brother of Jodeci member DeVante Swing.

"Forever My Lady" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci from their debut album of the same name (1991). The song was the second single released in promotion for the album in August 1991. "Forever My Lady" was the first of five number one R&B hits for the group, spending two weeks at number one on the US R&B chart and also peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was written and produced by member DeVante Swing and singer/producer Al B. Sure!. The song was dedicated to Al B. Sure!'s then girlfriend Kim Porter, as well as their newborn son Quincy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cry for You (Jodeci song)</span> 1993 single by Jodeci

"Cry for You" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their second album, Diary of a Mad Band (1993). The song was released as the album's lead single in November 1993 by Uptown/MCA. It peaked at numbers fifteen and nineteen on the US Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. The song also spent four weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop songs chart, and number one on the Billboard Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop airplay chart. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales in excess of 500,000 units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come and Talk to Me</span> 1992 single by Jodeci

"Come and Talk to Me" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci from their debut album Forever My Lady (1991). The song was the fourth single released in promotion for the album in March 1992. As the third number one R&B hit for Jodeci, "Come and Talk to Me" spent two weeks at the number 1 spot on the R&B chart for and peaked at 11 on the Hot 100. The song also topped the R&B year-end chart for 1992.

"Stay" is a song by American group Jodeci from their debut album Forever My Lady (1991). The song was the third single released in promotion for the album in December 1991. "Stay" was the group's second number one R&B hit, spending two weeks at number-one on the US R&B chart and peaked at number forty-one on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Love Always</i> 1997 studio album by K-Ci & JoJo

Love Always is the debut album of American R&B duo K-Ci & JoJo, released on June 17, 1997, by MCA Records. It was recorded at various studios in New York and the Los Angeles area in 1996 and 1997. It was produced by JoJo and several others, including DeVante Swing, Jon-John Robinson, James Mtume, and Jeff Redd. The duo were originally a part of Jodeci before this album.

<i>My Book</i> (album) 2006 studio album by K-Ci

My Book is the debut solo album of K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci as well as K-Ci & JoJo. One single was released off the album called "It's All Love" featuring KansasCali.

"If You Think You're Lonely Now" is a song recorded and released by American soul singer-songwriter Bobby Womack in 1981 from his album The Poet. It was initially released as the B-side to his song "Secrets" but proved to be the more popular track. The single reached number three for four weeks on the Hot Soul Singles chart. This is significant because Womack released the song during a time when R&B was on a down slope and the charts were largely dominated by dance music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Feenin'</span> 1994 single by Jodeci

"Feenin'" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci, recorded for their second album, Diary of a Mad Band (1993). It was released as the second single from the album in March 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Let's Go Through the Motions</span> 1993 single by Jodeci

"Let's Go Through the Motions" is a song written and produced by DeVante Swing and performed by American R&B group Jodeci. It was released on April 6, 1993 through Uptown/MCA Records as the lead single off the original motion picture soundtrack of Ted Demme's film Who's the Man?

"What About Us" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their second album Diary of a Mad Band (1993). The song was released as the third and final single for the album in August 1994.

"Freek'n You" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995). The song, released as the album's first single, peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995. Listed by Billboard magazine as one of the best selling singles of 1995, it was certified gold by the RIAA for sales in excess of 500,000 units.

"Love U 4 Life" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995). The song was released as the second single for the album on Halloween 1995, and peaked at number 31 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"Get on Up" is a song by American R&B group Jodeci recorded for their third album, The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995). The song was released as the third and final single for the album in 1996. "Get on Up" contains the sample of the 1981 song from Quincy Jones featuring Toots Thielemans' "Velas". Produced by Mr. Dalvin and written by Mr. Dalvin and K-Ci & JoJo, it is the only Jodeci single to date that was not produced or written by group leader DeVante Swing. It was also the last Jodeci single released in 18 years before the group returned in 2014 with the single "Nobody Wins". The group performed the song when they guest starred in a season one episode of the UPN sitcom Moesha.

<i>4 All the Sistas Around da World</i> 1994 studio album by Sista

4 All the Sistas Around da World is the debut and sole studio album recorded by American R&B group Sista, released September 20, 1994, on Elektra Records. One of the group's members was future rap star and producer Missy Elliott; her future collaborator Timbaland co-produced the album.

<i>The Past, the Present, the Future</i> (Jodeci album) 2015 studio album by Jodeci

The Past, the Present, the Future is the fourth studio album from American R&B group Jodeci, released on March 31, 2015 on Sphinx Music Entertainment and distributed through Epic Records. It is the group's first studio album in 20 years.

References

  1. Hayley, KCi. "Tears in Heaven (biography)". KCi Hayley official website.
  2. Billboard (April 7, 2003). "K-Ci, JoJo Free After Tax Evasion Arrest". Billboard . Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  3. Carpenter, Bil (2005). "Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia": 253.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  4. 1 2 AllMusic. "Little Cedric : Discography". AllMusic . Retrieved April 9, 2015.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. 1 2 3 Billboard. "Little Cedric : Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  6. Sullivan, Caroline (January 31, 2002). "'My boyfriend was trying to kill me. There were weapons'". The Guardian. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  7. MaGee, Ny (July 16, 2019). "K-Ci Recalls Why He Called It Quits On Relationship with Mary J Blige". EURweb.com. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  8. "Stephanie Mills Opens Up About Who She's Related To". Yourblackworld.net. May 18, 2016. Archived from the original on December 8, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
  9. "Devin Hailey Releases Hot New Visual 'Kick It 2 U' | Son of K-Ci Hailey – Nephew of JoJo". UrbanBridgez.com | R&B, Interviews, TV, Films. September 15, 2020. Retrieved June 1, 2024.