R. Kelly

Artist Image: R. Kelly
Attribution
Image Credit: Andrew Steinmetz (https://www.flickr.com/photos/andosteinmetz/3448098887), CC BY-SA 2.0

Biography

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Often referred to as the King of R&B, Kelly is recognized as one of the most successful R&B artists of all-time. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play. He is known for a collection of major hit singles including "Bump n' Grind", "Your Body's Callin'", "I Believe I Can Fly", "Gotham City", "Ignition (Remix)", "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time", "The World's Greatest", "I'm a Flirt", and the hip-hopera "Trapped in the Closet". In 1998, Kelly won three Grammy Awards for "I Believe I Can Fly". Kelly has written, produced, and remixed songs for many artists including The Winans, The Isley Brothers, Charlie Wilson, Quincy Jones, K-Ci & JoJo, Aaliyah, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Hi-Five, Nivea, Ciara, Mary J. Blige, Luther Vandross, Gerald LeVert, Raheem DeVaughn, Ruben Studdard, Jaheim, Kelly Price, Tamia, Maxwell, Celine Dion, Britney Spears, Usher, B2K, Twista, Tyrese, Jennifer Lopez, Trey Songz, and others in the U.S. and abroad. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), has recognized R. Kelly as one of the best-selling music artists in the United States with 38.5 million albums sold as well as only the fifth Black artist to crack the top 50 of the same list. In March 2011, R. Kelly was named the most successful R&B artist of the last 25 years by Billboard. Kelly has released 10 studio albums, sold 38.5 million albums in the U.S., 15 million singles, and over 55 million albums worldwide making him the most successful R&B male artist of 1990s.

Details

Item Name Item Details
Year Formed 1992
Number of Albums 44
Record Label Jive
Website www.r-kelly.com
Wikipedia R. Kelly on Wikipedia
Social Networks

Trivia

What has Kelly been credited with helping redefine?

R&B and hip hop

...He has been credited with helping to redefine R&B and hip hop , earning nicknames such as the King of R&B, the King of PopSoul, and the Pied Piper of R...
When did his musical career end?

2019

...h as the King of R&B, the King of PopSoul, and the Pied Piper of R&B. In 2019 , his musical career ended. Although Kelly is primarily a singer and song...
Kelly is primarily a singer and what else?

songwriter

...9, his musical career ended. Although Kelly is primarily a singer and songwriter , he has written, produced, and remixed songs, singles, and albums for...
What was Kelly nominated for in 1996?

Grammy Award

...ingles, and albums for many artists. In 1996, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for writing Michael Jackson's song You Are Not Alone Kelly has sold ...
What song did Kelly write for Michael Jackson?

You Are Not Alone

...as nominated for a Grammy Award for writing Michael Jackson's song You Are Not Alone Kelly has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him the ...
What was Kelly named by Billboard as between 1985 and 2010?

Top R&BHip Hop Artist

...s bestselling music artists. Kelly was named by Billboard as the Top R&BHip Hop Artist between 19852010 and the most successful R&B artist in history....
In what year was Kelly acquitted of all charges of child pornography?

2008

...ed on 13 counts of child pornography but was acquitted of all charges in 2008 . In January 2019, a widely viewed Lifetime docuseries titled Surviving R...
What was Kelly accused of doing in the 1990s?

sexual abuse

...nce the 1990s, Kelly has been the subject of numerous allegations of sexual abuse and misconduct, often with underage girls, all charges he denies. In...
What docuseries detailed allegations of sexual abuse by multiple women?

Surviving R. Kelly

...2008. In January 2019, a widely viewed Lifetime docuseries titled Surviving R. Kelly detailed allegations of sexual abuse by multiple women, allegatio...
How many counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse was Kelly indicted for?

10

...using the Mute R. Kelly hashtag, RCA Records dropped Kelly. On February 22, 2019, Kelly was indicted on 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse....
What type of themes does Kelly's music often explore?

sexual

...Kelly's music often explores sexual themes, both openly and through sly innuendoan aspect to be found in one of the very sources of contemporary R&B, ...
The spiritual lyrics and powerful vocal delivery of what is marked by the influence of gospel?

Kelly's performances

... other hand, the spiritual lyrics and powerful vocal delivery of Kelly's performances are clearly marked by the influence of gospel, another cornersto...
What is a cornerstone of African American music and culture?

gospel

...delivery of Kelly's performances are clearly marked by the influence of gospel , another cornerstone in AfricanAmerican music and culture. Some critics...
What two things have some critics and listeners found troubling?

sexuality and religion

... culture. Some critics and listeners have found the marriage of sexuality and religion to be troubling, but that barrier has already been broken by on...
Who has broken the barrier of marriage of sexuality and religion?

Marvin Gaye and Prince

...ready been broken by once shocking but now revered acts such as Marvin Gaye and Prince . As Essence writer Gordon Chambers asserted, Like many of our g...
Who wrote about Kelly singing about the needs of both the flesh and the spirit?

Gordon Chambers

... now revered acts such as Marvin Gaye and Prince. As Essence writer Gordon Chambers asserted, Like many of our great soulmen, Kelly sings about the ne...
What was Kelly accused of doing with a minor in a videotape?

sexual acts

...raphy when a videotape surfaced that allegedly showed him involved in sexual acts with a minor. Many critics predicted the damaging allegations would ...
How many of Kelly's children were raised by a single mother?

four

... Kelly was surrounded by hardship and poverty from the beginning. One of four children, Kelly was raised by a struggling single mother and schoolteach...
What year was Kelly born?

1968

...story is a familiar ragstoriches ascent. Born Robert Kelly on January 8, 1968 , in the south side of Chicago, Kelly was surrounded by hardship and pove...
What was Joanne's occupation?

schoolteacher

...of four children, Kelly was raised by a struggling single mother and schoolteacher , Joanne, in Chicago's housing projects. Even before he had reached ...
What nickname did R. Kelly earn him?

King of R&B

...songs, several of which became chartbusters, earning him the nickname King of R&B . Blessed with a distinctive voice, Kelly has his own innovative styl...
Who is an American singer?

Robert Sylvester Kelly

... Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known as R. Kelly to his fans, is an American singer. He has written, produced, and remixed many songs, several of whic...
Kelly was inclined towards what from a young age?

music

...efining musical genres, such as R&B and hip hop. He was inclined towards music from a young age and was encouraged by his high school music teacher to...
Where did he start performing as a teenager?

in the streets

...o pursue his musical interest. As a teenager, he started performing in the streets and formed his own musical group with some of his friends. He got a...
How many records has Kelly sold worldwide as of 2019?

75 million

...a highly successful solo career. As of 2019, Kelly has sold more than 75 million records worldwide. In spite of his success, he remains a controversia...
What year was R. Kelly born?

1967

...R. Kelly was born on this date in 1967 . Robert Sylvester Kelly was born at Chicago Lyingin Hospital in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. His moth...
What hospital was Robert Sylvester Kelly born in?

Chicago Lyingin Hospital

... born on this date in 1967. Robert Sylvester Kelly was born at Chicago Lyingin Hospital in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. His mother, Joanne K...
Where was Robert Kelly's mother?

Joanne Kelly

...ingin Hospital in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago. His mother, Joanne Kelly , was a professional singer who raised her children in the Baptist ch...
What did Kelly's high school music teacher describe his childhood home?

It was bare

.... Kelly's high school music teacher described Kelly's childhood home: It was bare . There was no father there, I knew that, and they had very little. K...
At what age did Kelly begin singing in the church choir?

eight

...and they had very little. Kelly began singing in the church choir at age eight . Kelly grew up in a house full of women, who he said would act differen...
When was Kelly sexually abused by an older female family member?

From age eight to 14

... act differently when his mother and grandparents were not home. From age eight to 14 , Kelly was sexually abused by an older female family member. Exp...
What was Kelly's 2012 autobiography called?

Soulacoaster

... female family member. Explaining why he never told anyone, Kelly wrote in his 2012 autobiography Soulacoaster that he was too afraid and too ashamed....
How many Grammy Awards did Kelly win for his hit "I Believe I Can Fly"?

three

...ocals and highly sexualized lyrics. Lauded as the King of R&B, Kelly won three Grammy Awards for his hit I Believe I Can Fly, and had more Top 40 hits...
What was Robert Sylvester Kelly's birth date?

January 8, 1967

...abuse to sex trafficking. Early Life Born Robert Sylvester Kelly on January 8, 1967 , in Chicago, Illinois, singersongwriter R. Kelly has enjoyed treme...
Where was R. Kelly born?

Chicago, Illinois

...ing. Early Life Born Robert Sylvester Kelly on January 8, 1967, in Chicago, Illinois , singersongwriter R. Kelly has enjoyed tremendous success on both...
How many children did Kelly have?

five

...mother, and began singing in his church's choir as a young child. One of five children, Kelly was later able to attend Kenwood Academy. There, he was ...
What school did Kelly attend?

Kenwood Academy

...a young child. One of five children, Kelly was later able to attend Kenwood Academy . There, he was persuaded by his music teacher, Lena McLin, that he...
Who convinced Kelly that he had a gift for performing?

Lena McLin

...attend Kenwood Academy. There, he was persuaded by his music teacher, Lena McLin , that he truly had a gift for performing. She's my second mother, Kel...
What year did Billboard magazine list Kelly as the Top R&BHip Hop Artist?

2010

...artist of the 1990s and one of the world's bestselling music artists. In 2010 , Billboard magazine considered Kelly the most successful R&B artist in h...
For how long was Kelly accused of sexual abuse of young adults?

more than two decades

...R&BHip Hop Artist for the time period between 1985 and 2010. For more than two decades , Kelly was accused of the sexual abuse of young adults and mino...
In what year did Kelly have an illegal marriage to underage protégé Aaliyah?

1994

... allegations included an illegal marriage to underage protégé Aaliyah in 1994 , a video depicting Kelly abusing a minor aged 13 at the time which was p...
When was a video of Kelly abusing a minor published?

2002

...picting Kelly abusing a minor aged 13 at the time which was published in 2002 , and a cultlike atmosphere obtaining sexual violence against underage fe...
In what year was a cultlike atmosphere obtaining sexual violence against underage females exposed?

2017

... obtaining sexual violence against underage females which was exposed in 2017 . A jury trial for a 21count child pornography indictment was held in 200...
What was exposed in 2017?

a cultlike atmosphere obtaining sexual violence against underage females

... time which was published in 2002, and a cultlike atmosphere obtaining sexual violence against underage females which was exposed in 2017. A jury tria...
Who argued against Kelly's release?

Prosecutors

... related to his physical and sexual abuse of young adults and minors. Prosecutors argued against allowing Kelly release on any bail package, with whic...
Who taught Kelly to have a powerful sense of Christian faith?

his mother

...ago, and he was taught to have a powerful sense of Christian faith by his mother . On Kellys debut album, Born into the 90s (1992), he joined with the ...
What was Kellys debut album called?

Born into the 90s

...ful sense of Christian faith by his mother. On Kellys debut album, Born into the 90s (1992), he joined with the vocal group Public Announcement to del...
When was Born into the 90s released?

1992

...Christian faith by his mother. On Kellys debut album, Born into the 90s ( 1992 ), he joined with the vocal group Public Announcement to deliver a smooth...
What was Kellys signature sound laced with?

hiphop rhythms

...uncement to deliver a smooth and melodic signature sound laced with hiphop rhythms . Subsequent efforts achieved evergreater success as Kellys dominanc...
When was his inspirational ballad I Believe I Can Fly released?

1996

...anslated into pop stardom. His inspirational ballad I Believe I Can Fly ( 1996 ) was a massive hit and earned three Grammy Awards, including one for bes...
How many copies did Kelly's 1998 album sell in the US alone?

eight million

...tributed to the success of the album R. (1998), which sold more than eight million copies in the United States alone. However, his personal life was d...
Who did Kelly secretly marry in 1994?

Aaliyah

...ersy, beginning with the revelation that he had secretly wed the singer Aaliyah in 1994, when she was 15; the illegal marriage was annulled shortly th...
How long was Kelly's trial delayed?

several years

...as a result of a variety of circumstances, his trial was delayed for several years . Over the long pretrial period, Kelly continued to release albums t...
What was Kelly accused of doing with another underage girl?

sex

...icago SunTimes by an anonymous source) that allegedly showed Kelly having sex with another underage girl. He was soon indicted on multiple charges rel...
How many months later was Age Ain't Nothing released?

six

...eir debut album, Born into the '90s, in 1992. 12 Play was followed within six months by Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, the Kellyproduced 1994 debut f...
What was the name of Kelly's 1994 debut album?

Age Ain't Nothing But a Number

...he '90s, in 1992. 12 Play was followed within six months by Age Ain't Nothing But a Number , the Kellyproduced 1994 debut from Aaliyah. Kelly and Aaliy...
Who released You Are Not Alone?

Michael Jackson

...iyah. Kelly and Aaliyah wed in secret that August. Later that year, Michael Jackson released You Are Not Alone, a ballad Kelly wrote and coproduced. R...
How many Top Ten singles did Kelly spawn?

trio

...Kelly wrote and coproduced. R. Kelly topped the Billboard 200, spawned a trio of Top Ten singles, and went quintuple platinum. Between fulllengths, Ke...
What Batman & Robin soundtrack single took Kelly back to the Top Ten in 1997?

Gotham City

...ther consolidated his crossover success with soundtrack work. The Batman & Robin soundtrack single Gotham City took Kelly back to the Top Ten in 1997....
What was the name of Kelly's group?

Public Announcement

...et corners. He started off his career with a group by the name of Public Announcement . R. Kelly a master producer, composer, and performer and is ofte...
How old was Aaliyah when she released her first album?

15

...escribed as spiritually inspirational and extremely sexual. Aaliyah, then 15 , soon found herself with a hit album and fending off rumors of an alleged...
What was the name of Kelly's wife?

Andrea Lee

...d all ties between Aaliyah and Kelly were severed. Kelly soon married Andrea Lee , who was a former backup dancer, and had two daughters and one son. R...
What was JayZ's career?

hiphop MC

...is success, decided to team up with another music industry leader, the hiphop MC JayZ, after great commercial successes on other collaborations with t...
How many daughters and one son did Kelly have?

two

...d. Kelly soon married Andrea Lee, who was a former backup dancer, and had two daughters and one son. R. Kelly, at the pinnacle of his success, decided...
Who did Kelly team up with?

JayZ

...ss, decided to team up with another music industry leader, the hiphop MC JayZ , after great commercial successes on other collaborations with tracks su...