Rhona (album)

Rhona
Studio album by Rhona
Released	June 20, 2001 (2001-06-20)
Length	55:24
Label	Darkchild Epic
Producer	Fred "Uncle Freddie" Jerkins III Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Dan Shea Robert Smith Cory Rooney
Rhona chronology
Rhona (2001) Instant Classic (2024)
Singles from Rhona
"Satisfied" Released: March 2001 "The Meaning of Love" Released: 2001

Rhona is the debut studio album by American singer Rhona Bennett. It was released on June 20, 2001, by Darkchild and Epic Records.

Background

Bennett began performing at age 11 with ETA Creative Arts Theater. ^[1] At first trying her hand at acting, in 1991, she became a Mouseketeer on Disney Channel's The Mickey Mouse Club , before joining a spin-off dramedy called Emerald Cove on the network. ^[1] After the show ended in 1995, she moved to California, appearing on Living Single and Martin , and landed regular role on UPN's Homeboys in Outer Space and the WB's sitcom The Jamie Foxx Show . ^{[2] [3]} Also trying to establish herself as a singer, she began writing and recording solo material when her manager suggested that one of her songs would be suitable for Whitney Houston's 1998 album My Love Is Your Love . ^[3] He arranged a meeting with Rodney Jerkins, one of the producers on Houston's project, and although her song was not selected for the album, the presentation led to a record deal with Jerkins' own label, Darkchild Records. ^[3]

Release and promotion

"Satisfied," co-written by Bennett, was selected and released as the album's lead single. Issued in March 2001, became a top five hit on the US Hot Dance Club Play chart the following month, but failed to chart or sell noticeably elsewhere. ^[4] Following a promotional world trip, ^[3] further plans to release Rhona were put on hold after a fallout between Sony Music and Darkchild Records. ^[1] Consequently, the album received a limited Japan-wide release only and Bennett was soon dropped from the label. ^[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[5]

Denise Albert, writing for The Philippine Star , noted that "listening through Rhona's self-titled, 11-track debut album, it's apparent that she has the makings of a future superstar. Blessed with an amazing vocal range, Rhona takes on each funk-filled track with the ease of a music veteran [...] Her remake of the popular ballad "I Wanna Know What Love Is" will undoubtedly grab the hearts of sentimental Filipinos as well. Rhona's voice truly soars on this track. The other tracks on this album are tinged with funky, groovy pop sounds. Die-hard pop and R&B fans will love this album." ^[6] AllMusic editor Paul Clifford gave the album two out of five stars. He found that the "12-song set draws from a wealth of musical styles, and on first listening sounds quite diverse. However, on closer inspection, it appears to be another well-oiled production from the Darkchild conveyor belt. The standout track is "Best of Me," which features the distinctive Darkchild synthesized strings and the ever-wonderful vocal arrangements of LaShawn Daniels." ^[5]

Commercial performance

In Japan, Rhona peaked at number 37 on the Oricon Albums Chart, ^[7] spending five weeks on the chart. ^[7]

Track listing

Rhona track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Satisfied"	Rhona Bennett Rodney Jerkins Fred Jerkins III LaShawn Daniels Mischke Butler	R. Jerkins Daniels [a] Butler [a]	4:22
2.	"The Best of Me"	R. Jerkins F. Jerkins Daniels	R. Jerkins Daniels [a]	4:33
3.	"Take What Comes to You"	R. Jerkins F. Jerkins Daniels Butler	R. Jerkins Daniels [a]	3:52
4.	"The First Time"	Phil Gladston Gordon Chambers	R. Jerkins Robert Smith Cory Rooney Dan Shea Daniels [a] Butler [a]	5:19
5.	"Last Goodbye"	R. Jerkins F. Jerkins Smith Daniels Butler	R. Jerkins Smith Rooney Shea Butler [a]	4:20
6.	"Time Will Tell"	F. Jerkins Smith Daniels Butler Toni Estes	R. Jerkins Smith Daniels [a] Butler [a]	5:02
7.	"Miss the Way"	R. Jerkins F. Jerkins Daniels Carmen Lampson Samuel Hopkins	F. Jerkins Daniels [a]	4:01
8.	"I Will"	R. Jerkins F. Jerkins Daniels Butler Lampson Hopkins Harvey Mason Lee Jerkins Jr.	R. Jerkins Rooney Shea Daniels [a]	4:56
9.	"I Want to Know What Love Is"	Mick Jones	R. Jerkins Rooney Shea	4:40
10.	"Look to the Sky"	F. Jerkins Smith Daniels Butler	R. Jerkins Daniels [a]	4:31
11.	"The Meaning of Love"	F. Jerkins Daniels	R. Jerkins Daniels [a]	4:28
12.	"Satisfied" (Another Darkchild Remix)	Bennett R. Jerkins F. Jerkins Daniels Butler	R. Jerkins Daniels [a] Butler [a]	4:28
Total length:				55:24

Notes

• ^{^[a]} signifies vocal producer(s)

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Rhona. ^[8]

Technical

• Mischke Butler – vocal producer
• LaShawn Daniels – vocal producer
• Fred "Uncle Freddie" Jerkins III – producer
• Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins – producer
• Dan Shea – producer
• Robert Smith – producer
• Cory Rooney – producer

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Rhona

Chart (2001)	Peak position
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [7]	37

Release history

Release dates and formats for Rhona

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
Japan	June 20, 2001	CD cassette	Darkchild Epic	[7]

References

1. Bennett, Rhona (August 14, 2014). Beyond a Wish – How to Discover the Champion Within. United States: Booktango. ISBN   978-1-4689-4888-2.
2. "Rhona Bennet Speaks About Working On The Jamie Foxx Show! "It Was CRAZY I Never Even Auditioned!"". March 29, 2021. Retrieved July 5, 2025– via YouTube.
3. Guess, Hilliard. "EP 62 – RHONA BENNETT "EN VOGUE"" . Retrieved July 5, 2025– via Screenwriters' Rant Room.
4. "Rhona Rare CD Record COLLECTor's ITEMS". mediawars.ne.jp. Archived from the original on August 5, 2012. Retrieved November 21, 2005.
5. Clifford, Paul. "Rhona Bennett, Rhona". AllMusic . Retrieved July 5, 2025.
6. Albert, Denise (November 13, 2001). "Young Star: Rhona – Rhona". The Philippine Star . Retrieved July 5, 2025.
7. "ローナの作品 | ORICON NEWS" (in Japanese). Oricon . Retrieved July 5, 2025.
8. Rhona (CD liner). Rhona. Darkchild, Epic Records. 2001.