Ryan Cabrera

Ryan Cabrera is a singer/songwriter. He was born and raised in Dallas, TX. His debut album Take It All Away entered the Billboard 200 Album charts at #8. It's co-produced by Ryan along with John Rzeznik (of The Goo Goo Dolls).



Ryan began writing and playing guitar from a very young age. He is no stranger to performing, as he opened and headlined at numerous premiere venues in Dallas, while still only in high school. Ryan opened for such bands as Sister Hazel, Nine Days, Wheatus, Dexter Freebish, and The Pat McGee Band. This soon spawned more extensive touring across the US. In pursuit of his musical career, Ryan left college behind and moved to LA a year ago.

Ryan landed a deal at EMI Music Publishing and a recording contract on E.V.L.A/Atlantic Records shortly thereafter. He began collaborating for his album with high-profile EMI writers such as Guy Chambers (Robbie Williams), Kara Dioguardi (Enrique Iglesias, Celine Dion), Jimmy Harry (Kelly Clarkson) and John Rzeznik.

The 1st single off of Cabrera's album "On The Way Down" goes to Top 40 and Hot AC radio on May 17th 2004. The song's video features actress and Geffen/Interscope recording artist Ashlee Simpson (who stars in the WB network hit series 7th Heaven). Ryan is managed by Joe Simpson (Jessica Simpson and Ashlee's father).



The grassroots word of mouth buzz continues to grow as the Aware Marketing street team (who marketed and broke John Mayer and Jason Mraz) have been brought on to work Ryan's project. Most recently Ryan has been slated as the opening act for Jewel, who will be touring from May-July.

You will also find Ryan featured in the April issue of Seventeen, Popstar Magazine's May issue, and in Teen People, Acoustic Guitar World, M Magazine, Performing Songwriter and BOP in June. Ryan will be again featured in July's issues of Seventeen and YM magazine with more to follow shortly.

Thanks to Rachel Lttlsrgirl@aol.com for submitting the biography.

source : http://www.mostbeautifulman.com/musicians/ryancabrera/bio.shtml

Ronan Keating

Ronan Patrick John Keating was born in Dublin on the 3rd March 1977 to Gerry and Marie Keating. The last child of five and all gangly legs and messy blond hair, Ronan became known as 'Little Ro' by his three brothers, Ciaran, Gerard and Gary, and his sister Linda. Being the youngest in a large family had its advantages: his brothers and sisters would say he was spoilt; he was certainly always his "mam's little baby" but being the youngest of five also meant vying for attention and trying hard to keep up with his older brothers and sister. Family Values Although his family had little money, Ronan never remembers wanting for anything. His father had many different jobs, including lorry driver and barman, and his mother worked as a hairdresser to supplement the family income but both had high hopes for the Keating family. His mam in particular was a very proud lady and the Keating household was always a beautiful home.

Ronan was one of 300 boys that turned up for the audition for Boyzone. He performed his party piece - the classic Cat Steven's song 'Father & Son'. He was then asked to dance. He felt clumsy at first but after a while he forgot about looking ridiculous and began to relax it as if he were prancing around his front room at home. It worked - he was called back for a second audition. This time he sung a song by one of Ronan's idols - George Michael's 'Careless Whisper' and got together his dance routine. Again he made it through, this time there were just 10 of them left. At the final audition he boasted "Oh, I can sing anything" but as the decision came close the bravado waned and tension took hold. The announcement was made - Ronan was in.

It was 1993 and Ronan and his new found friends were about to take their first step on the path to worldwide fame. Their first appearance was just one day after the audition. They were booked onto Ireland's biggest TV chat show, The Late Late Show. They'd had no time to prepare let alone get to know each other. Needless to say, they were terrible. The critics had slated them, but they didn't let this get them down. The band were excited about the future and were above all determined to succeed.

Little did they know that they were about to become one of the biggest boybands ever. Five lads: Ronan Keating, Stephen Gately, Mikey Graham, Keith Duffy and Shane Lynch - one band: Boyzone.Back then, they could never have known that six years down the line that they would have sixteen top three singles, six of which were number ones, four number one albums (selling more than 12 million copies worldwide), dozens of sell-out UK tours and millions of fans the world over.

A crucial time for the band. They had their first single out - the old disco classic by an American group called the Detroit Spinners called 'Working My Way Back to You' on the A-side and Ronan's favourite party piece 'Father & Son' on the B-side. But they still had a lot of work to do - they had to make people like them. They travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to some of the most remote areas of the country, playing hundreds of shows. It was seriously hard and they often had to play to pretty hostile crowds but for Ronan, it was one of the most enjoyable times in his career - a time of excitement and togetherness for the band.

Eventually the hard work began to pay off. The fans were growing in numbers, the press were showing interest and a group of girls were to be found congregating outside Ronan's house. Although he though it was strange at first, he began to start to like it - it helped him believe in himself. Boyzone - Making The Mark The first Boyzone single was a success. It had 'Working My Way Back To You' on the A-side and 'Father & Son' on the B-side. In March 1994 it entered the Irish charts at No. 3.

After the success in Ireland of 'Working My Way Back To You', Polygram signed the band up for an album. It was the break they were hoping for and they were determined not to let anybody down. They teamed up with producer Ray Hedges and recorded the song that was to be their next release, the Osmonds classic 'Love Me For a Reason'. It was decided that Ronan should sing lead vocals - he was thrilled.

Boyzone's first break into the UK market came when they were asked to tour with the Smash Hits Roadshow in the autumn of 1994. The band knew it was their big chance to get maximum exposure performing to crowds of 10,000 to 25,000 people every night. After winning Best New Comers at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party in the summer the pop industry had to take notice. They were 16, they were Boyzone, they were pop stars.

'Love Me For A Reason' reached No. 2 in the UK Christmas charts and the band made their first appearance on Top of The Pops which for Ronan, was a dream come true. Boyzone - Said And Done The New Year of 1995 brought in continued hard work, the album Said and Done was put together with Ronan singing lead vocals on half of the tracks and a whole heap of song writing credits.

The summer of 1995 saw the band embark on the biggest nation-wide tour of Ireland there had ever been - they performed in over 32 counties, doing 36 shows in just 30 days. It was a demanding schedule and Ronan found it hard to deal with the separation from his family and friends but with constant phone calls home somehow he coped. Boyzone - Rollercoaster Times Boyzone had a string of hits in 1995/1996: 'Key To My Life' reached No. 3 in May; 'So Good' with Ronan singing lead vocal reached No. 4 in July; the album Said and Done picked the No. 1 slot in the UK and Irish album charts; 'Father & Son got to No. 2 in November; and, 'Coming Home Now' peaked No. 3 in early 1996. For Boyzone, success had come by the bucket load.

Boyzone mania travelled the world: the band toured the far East; completed a massive UK tour in the summer of 1996 including 4 shows at Wembley Arena in July, each one attended by 15,000 fans; their second album A Different Beat was released in October 1996; more tours of South East Asia, the Middle East and India came in 1997; and, the Boyzone version of Tracey Chapman's 'Baby Can I hold You' came out in November of that year.

During the dizzy heights of autumn 1996, with a sell-out Boyzone UK tour and a second album destined for No. 1 under their belts Ronan's world came crashing down around him. It was September 26th 1996 when Ronan took the phone call from his brother Ciarran - his mam had breast cancer. It was difficult for Ronan to accept and being on tour with Boyzone helped him block the reality out.

The 3rd of March 1998 saw in Ronan's 21st birthday. Boyzone had had a second Number One hit album with A Different Beat, five hit singles including two No. 1's for 'Words' and the title track from the album.

A 3rd album Where We Belong was being put together and a new Boyzone single 'All That I Need' on which Ronan sung lead vocals was due for release on 20 April. Ronan and Steven Gately were due to head out to Tokyo to promote the Mr Bean movie - Boyzone had recorded 'Picture Of You' for the soundtrack, producing a No. 2 hit in the UK charts back in July 1997. The schedule for Boyzone was once again as hectic as it had ever been.

The problem was, Ronan had barely stopped to breath and the pain of the bereavement for the loss of his mother wouldn't go away. It was the evening before an appearance on Top Of The Pops and Ronan had just had enough - he desparately needed a break. He could no longer face the constant press bombardments asking him about his mother's death - he was tired of the gruelling schedule. He needed to take stock and ease his emotional state. He took a break from Boyzone. Amid much press speculation of breakdowns and illness, all completely unfounded, Ronan took a well-deserved holiday with his then girlfriend Yvonne to the tiny Caribbean island of Nevis.

It was on the April 30th 1998 Ronan and Yvonne were married. Their relationship been a whirlwhind romance and as he stood there during the ceremony on the paradise island of Nevis he felt there was no doubt that this was right.

In November 1998 the Boyzone schedule became one of the busiest periods the band had known. They were promoting their latest album that was in the shops Where We Belong as well as the know single 'I Love The Way You Love Me' and Ronan also presented Miss World.

On 15th March 1999 baby Jack was born. For Ronan this was "the ultimate gift" and though Jack can have anything he wants, Ronan is determined that he will never be spoilt. His mother taught him to have manners and treat people respectfully, values he intends to pass onto his son. And just as his mother did with him, Ronan will teach his son what matters more than anything - that if you give love, you will get it back in return.

Boyzone had become Ireland's most successful pop export of all time paving the way for other Irish acts such as The Corrs and B*Witched. A week after his son Jack was born in March 1999, Ronan's next baby was introduced to the world - Ireland's newest boy band, Westlife. Boyzone had reached the pinnacle of success and Ronan wanted to experience the thrill of starting out again. Ronan's experiences with Boyzone stood him in good stead to take on the role of co-manager with the Boyzone manager Louis Walsh. He's been down that road before and can offer the band much in the way of advise and assistance. Westlife, have taken the UK charts by storm achieving a succession of No. 1 hits.

As an artist, Ronan had already received virtually every accolade known to man: from numerous Smash Hits Awards for 'Most Fanciable Male' and MTV Awards for "Best Pop Band" to a coveted Ivor Novello Award for 'Picture Of You' - the song he wrote for the Mr Bean movie - joining the ranks of pop superstars George Michael and Sir Elton John.

In the summer of 1999 Ronan Keating released his first solo single, 'When You Say Nothing At All', taken from the Brit Award winning 'Notting Hill' film soundtrack. Ronan's first solo offering naturally crashed into the charts at No. 1 and 'When You Say Nothing At All' became one of the love songs of the year selling in excess of half a million copies.

By mid-1999 the band were struggling to be individuals, and it was no surprise when Boyzone announced that they were going to take a year out to work on solo projects, after the release of their The Greatest Hits album By Request. Hello LA Ronan flew out to Los Angeles in January, to write and record his debut solo album. Ronan's reputation as an artist of the highest calibre has lead to him working with some of the world's best songwriters and producers, from Steve Lipson, Pat Leonard (Madonna) and Barry Gibb (The Bee Gees) to Bryan Adams and Gregg Alexander (The New Radicals).

The first single from the album was the upbeat and summery 'Life Is A Rollercoaster', which was released to the world on 10th July. Needless to say, Ronan scored his second No. 1 hit as a solo artist.

Ronan himself describes the album as "?a real mix of pop, rock and traditional music. I'm proud of every single track. Each song sounds and feels very special. I was really nervous at first about going in to the studio on my own without the other lads, but it was exciting to create my own stuff and to write with new people. I'm really happy with the result."

"With tracks such as the poppy 'Life Is A Rollercoaster', the rocky 'If You Love Me' and the Bryan Adams/Phil Thornalley penned 'The Way You Make Me Feel' the album has something for everyone. Add to that the Irish sounding 'Only For You' plus the beautiful ballads 'Once Upon A Lifetime' and 'In This Life' - and you've covered the whole spectrum! Simply entitled Ronan - the album was released on 31st July."

Ronan's autobiography Life Is a Rollercoaster was released. A heartfelt journal of Ronan's life experiences to date, the book tells it just as it happened. Ronan's success as a solo artist is on a roll, the rollercoaster keeps going. Just three months after the release of Ronan's debut solo album Ronan, the album has already sold in excess of 500,000 copies worldwide and his presence in Europe has lead to his nomination for "Best Male" at the MTV Awards in Stockholm on the 6th November.

Following the massive acclaim of his debut solo album, and the number 1 success of "Life is a Rollercoaster", Ronan Keating has now released the third single from the album, the heartfelt and passionate ballad "The Way You Make Me Feel". Penned by Phil Thornalley and Bryan Adams, "The Way You Make Me Feel" is a very laid back and mellow song full of passion and drive.
source : http://www.clioonline.com/ronan/biography.html

Rob Thomas

As the driving force of matchbox twenty, Rob Thomas is widely acknowledged as one of the most distinctive vocalists and gifted songwriters in contemporary music. Since making their debut in 1996, matchbox has evolved into one of the most admired and consistently successful rock bands in recent history, with over 25 million albums sold worldwide.

As matchbox twenty’s primary composer, Thomas has penned a remarkable string of chart-topping hits, including “Push,” “3AM,” “If You’re Gone,” “Bent,” “Real World,” “Back 2 Good,” “Mad Season,” “Disease,” “Unwell,” and “Bright Lights.” matchbox has earned the distinction of having had more #1 hits and spending more weeks at #1 on both the national Modern AC and Adult Top 40 charts than any other artist in history.

Rob’s growing reputation as an exceptional songwriter has led to invitations to collaborate with a select list of artists – most notably Santana, for whom he wrote and sang the smash single, “Smooth,” which earned Thomas three Grammy Awards. He has also worked with the likes of Willie Nelson, Marc Anthony, Mick Jagger, and Bernie Taupin. Combining all of his projects, Thomas has contributed to the sales of over 75 million records. He has earned 13 BMI Awards, including both songwriter and song of the year, and he was named Billboard’s Songwriter of the Year two years in a row.

In June 2004, the Songwriters Hall of Fame presented Thomas with its first-ever “Starlight Award” – created to recognize a songwriter in the early years of his or her career who is already making a lasting impact. Rob’s composing talent has also been acknowledged with cover stories in American Songwriter (which named him songwriter of the year) and Performing Songwriter.

Among his many honors, in 2001 Rob was inducted into the South Carolina Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame. Thomas – who grew up in such South Carolina cities as Lake City, Turbeville, and Columbia – became the youngest-ever member of the Hall of Fame. The award placed him in the company of such South Carolinian legends as James Brown, Minnie Pearl, and Dizzy Gillespie.

Rob and his wife have established Sidewalk Angels Foundation, a non-profit organization created to aid those in need in and around America’s big cities – working with various charities to assist people who are destitute or homeless and get lost in the system; those who cannot afford proper medical care; and animals that have been abandoned or abused.

Sidewalk Angels Foundation takes its name from the lyrics to Thomas’ solo recording, “A New York Christmas.” First released in 2002, the single’s sales that year benefited Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, N.Y. Reissued for Christmas 2003, the single’s proceeds were given to Pets Alive, a no-kill animal shelter in Middletown, NY. In August 2004, a benefit concert in New York City featuring Rob, Jewel, Daryl Hall, and Rhett Miller raised over $100,000 for Sidewalk Angels, which in turn donated the evening’s proceeds to Pets Alive.

Born on a military base in West Germany, Rob spent much of his youth shuttling between his grandmother in South Carolina and his mom in Florida. After dropping out of both high school and his difficult home life, the 17-year-old drifted around the Southeast, hitchhiking and crashing where he could. The only constant in his life was music, an inspiring soundtrack that included artists ranging from Al Green and Van Morrison to Elvis Costello and Elton John. He released the pressures of his life in his songwriting, at the same time developing his signature vocal style while fronting a number of local rock bands – which ultimately led to the formation of matchbox twenty.

With the forthcoming release of his debut solo album, Thomas begins a new chapter in his remarkable musical journey.

source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Rob-Thomas-Biography/7CABF7AC4B73BA7C48256FE5000A216E

Rihanna

Rihanna is a North American R&B/Soul singer. Most of the worldly population would also classify her as a tradtional dancehall singer; who has splurged onto the entertainment scene unexpectedly.

Rihanna was born on the Caribbean island of Barbados in 1988. Through the years, particularly during her pre-teen and teenage years, she would sing to friends and family only for amusement purposes. One day, a mutual friend of Rihanna introduced her to music producer Evan Rogers, whose home base is in New York.

He asked Rihanna to perform whatever song that came to mind for her. Rogers was obviously suprised on what great talent Rihanna had. Immediately, both Rogers and Rihanna made demos containing close to twelve tracks including the 2005 smash hit Pon De Replay and mailed the demos out to various recording comanies including Def Jam Recordings where Rihanna would eventually be signed onto.

Shawn Carter, also known as simply 'Jay Z' in the urban community, who was recently crowned as the CEO of Def Jam, was enticed by the mature sounds of the talented singer, and immediately started recording for her upcoming LP disc.

Of course Rihanna completed the recording of her LP disc entitled Music Of The Sun. She amazingly did not just sing the notes to the songs that can be heard on the album, she also co-written a majority of them. She has gone to various radio stations around the United States promoting her vivacious single, "Pon De Replay," and her album, which will be released on August 30, 2005.

Rihanna says she is inspired by such artists like Alicia Keys, Beyonc? Knowles and Mariah Carey. She also states that on her album, you'll not only listen to reggae, but you'll hear ballads and other R&B fused tracks. Well, we can't wait

Thanks to sarapaxton_sara@hotmail.com for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Rihanna-Biography/1B2EA22412B9ECF548257061000D6C00

Ricky Martin

Artist(Band):Ricky Martin

Source: http://www.rickymartin.com/
Enrique Martin Morales
BORN: December 24, 1971, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Ricky Martin, the tireless international superstar who detonated the Latin Pop Explosion, is back with Sound Loaded, the eagerly-awaited follow-up to his phenomenal English language debut album, which has sold 15 million copies worldwide and has been certified seven times RIAA-platinum in the United States since its release in 1999. With Sound Loaded, Ricky charts further his path of artistic growth, continuing to find new ways of blending el ritmo with elements of Pop, Rock, and Funk. Ricky's worldwide fanbase, which has grown exponentially with each of his releases, will not be disappointed with Sound Loaded. While remaining true to his Latin music roots, Ricky extends the possibilities of his music with 15 brand-new tracks ranging from heart-stopping ballads to booty-stomping party anthems.

Taking time off from his exhaustive tour schedule to record Sound Loaded earlier this year, Ricky assembled his dream writing/production team, many of whom helped him create the magic of Ricky Martin: Robi Rosa, Walter Afanasieff, Desmond Child, George Noriega, Emilio Estefan, Jr., Randall Barlow, Steve Morales, Mark Taylor, KC Porter.

Sound Loaded kicks off with Ricky's latest hit single, "She Bangs," a frenetic hook-packed tribute to a wild woman who bumps la vida loca up a couple of notches. (The album also includes a Spanish language version of the song.) The album's remaining songs--"Saint Tropeze," "Come To Me," "Loaded," "Nobody Wants To Be Lonely," "Amor," "Jezabel," "The Touch," "One Night Man," "Are You In It For Love," "Ven A M? (Come To Me)," "If You Ever Saw Her," "Dame M?s (Loaded)" and "Cambia La Piel"--provide a musical portrait of Ricky Martin now as well as the soundtrack to a nonstop Latin Pop Dance Music Party (with candlelit couches in the corners for interludes of amor.)

Born in Puerto Rico, Ricky Martin first came to the attention of American audiences for acting stints including the role of Marius in "Les Mis?rables" on Broadway.

For more than a decade, Ricky Martin watched his popularity escalate around the world, even as he remained under the radar of stateside audiences. And then…

More than a billion television viewers in 187 countries across the globe felt the full force of Rickymania when he performed "The Cup Of Life" at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards ceremonies in February 1999. Ricky's single, "La Copa de la Vida," was the official song of the World Cup France '98 and has been a #1 single in more than 30 countries. That same night, Ricky's full-length Latin recording Vuelve won the Grammy for Best Latin Pop Performance.

In April 1999, when the true first week's sales (280,000) were tallied on Ricky's "Livin' La Vida Loca," the blockbuster single shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the single with the highest #1 sales figures in Columbia Records history and the highest single week's sales figures in 1999. Ricky Martin became the first solo Latin male artist of the SoundScan era to hit #1 on the Hot 100 and the first male artist to have the #1 single on the Hot 100 in more than a year. "Livin' La Vida Loca" had the highest single week's sales figures of any single released in 1999. "Livin' La Vida Loca" became the #1 single in five international markets including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Released on May 11, 1999, Ricky Martin, Ricky's English language debut album, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart with the highest first week's sales (more than 660,000) in Columbia Records history. A international success story, Ricky Martin became the #1 album in ten international markets including the United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Spain, Norway, Finland, New Zealand, and the pan-European Music Media chart. Ricky Martin has been certified platinum (or better) in some 33 countries.

Ricky Martin has kept extremely busy since the release of English language debut. As his "Livin' La Vida Loca" became the party anthem of the new millennium (winning two MTV Video Music Awards--Best Dance Video & Best Pop Video--in the process), Martin embarked on one of the best-selling tours in modern concert history, selling out more than 250 concerts in some 25 countries.

When dates for Ricky Martin's anxiously-awaited American tour were announced, each of the venues sold-out within an hour (in some cases, within minutes!) of going on sale. Due to an unprecedented demand for tickets, 11 new dates were added to Ricky's SRO tour itinerary. By tour's end, Ricky Martin had performed to more than 500,000 people across the country and sold some $22.6 million dollars worth of tickets. A Ricky Martin performance at London's Hyde Park drew more than 100,000 fans.

Ricky Martin's mantelpiece is jam-packed with awards. In 1999, in addition to his Vuelve Grammy, he walked off with two Billboard Latin Music Awards: Album Of The Year (Vuelve) and Hot Latin Track Of The Year ("Vuelve"). The 1999 MTV Video Music Awards gave Ricky's "Livin' La Vida Loca" two awards: Best Dance Video and Best Pop Video; he also won the MTV North Latin Viewer's Choice Award, the MTV South Latin Viewer's Choice Award and the MTV Russia Viewer's Choice Award. Ricky was named the World's Best Selling Latin Male at the World Music Awards and won Favorite Male Artist at the Teen Choice Awards. He was named Male Artist Of The Year and Male Hot 100 Singles Artist Of The Year at the 10th Annual Billboard Music Awards.

He was named Male Entertainer of the Year at this year's American Latino Media Arts Awards while "Livin' La Vida Loca" was named Latin Pop Track of the Year at the 7th Annual Billboard Latin Music Awards. Ricky Martin was named World's Best-selling Pop Male Artist and World's Best-selling Latin Artist at the 12th Annual World Music Awards. The video for Ricky's "Shake Your Bon Bon" has been nominated for Best Male Video and Best Dance Video in this year's MTV Video Music Awards.

Ricky Martin was the star of "Ricky Martin: One Night Only!," his first network television special. Filmed at New York's Liberty Park Directed by Emmy Award winner Ken Ehrlich, "Ricky Martin: One Night Only!" premiered on Friday, November 26, on CBS and captured a 7.6/14 share rating. A home video of the show has been certified platinum by the RIAA, as has "The Ricky Martin Video Collection."

Picked by People magazine has one of the World's 50 Most Beautiful People, Ricky Martin has been the subject of major pieces in Time, Vanity Fair, Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, People, Interview, TV Guide, and many others. Ricky has been named "Entertainer Of The Year" by Entertainment Weekly and is one of People's 25 Most Intriguing People Of '99. Ricky Martin was one of the subjects on the annual "Barbara Walters Oscar Special."

Throughout his career, Ricky Martin has remained true to his Puerto Rican roots and the Hispanic/Latino fanbase that first made him a star. A peerless musical ambassador (who's also fluent in five languages!), Ricky has introduced Latin Pop music to markets around the world including the United States, England, Japan, China, Germany, and many others. He continues to perform and record in Spanish and often visits his native Puerto Rico. At his appearance at the first annual Latin Grammy Awards, Ricky acknowledged the enormous cultural and musical contributions of the legendary Tito Puente, the master of mambo who passed away this year.

Ricky Martin is an active participant in many social causes including the Pediatric AIDS Foundation, the Luciano Pavarotti & Friends fundraising concerts, the Carousel of Hope, the Rainforest Foundation, and others.

To date, Ricky Martin has sold more than 32 million albums (more than 24 million) and singles (more than 8 million) worldwide. His 2000 World Tour has taken him to Canada, Japan, Asia, Australia, Europe, and back to the States.

Thanks to rojo2030@hotmail.com for submitting the biography.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Ricky-Martin-Biography/E146E08612A7FDC2482568950002002E

Red Hot Chili Peppers

Red Hot Chili Peppers were conceived in 1983 in a living room in Hollywood where four close buddies from Fairfax High School (Anthony Kiedis, Hillel Slovak, flea and Jack Irons) performed an acappella rehearsal for a performance to take place at the legendary Rhythm Lounge. The performance consisted of one song, "Out In L.A." which, traditionally, remained their opening song in every live show to date. [Up to November '89 definitely not for BSSM tour in '91, maybe not for '90 tour - lsh] The band soon developed a strong following in Los Angeles, something unheard of considering the fact that the band had only been in existence for a couple of months and had not yet pressed a single album.

It was at this point that Hillel Slovak and Jack Irons decided to continue their prior commitment in their former band, WHAT IS THIS?, while Flea (also formerly a member of WHAT IS THIS?) and Anthony Kiedis recruited Jack Sherman (guitar) and Cliff Martinez (drums). After being signed to EMI Records this line-up recorded the band's first and self-titled debut album. In 1985 Hillel Slovak rejoined the group while Sherman pursued a career as a studio musician.

The band recorded their second album, FREAKY STYLEY, in Detroit with the FUNK GOD, George Clinton, acting as producer.

In 1986 Cliff Martinez was replaced by Jack Irons, reuniting the original line-up. The band's third LP entitled THE UPLIFT MOFO PARTY PLAN was released in 1987 and, as always, the "Hardest working band in show business" followed it's release with a ridiculously extensive tour. They maintained as unusually huge (sold out) live audience, considering their record company had chosen to ignore them purely because of their confusion about the band's type of music. Nevertheless, the tour was great success.

In June 1988 Hillel Slovak died, leaving Anthony, Flea and Jack devastated at the loss of a beautiful friend. It was as that time that Jack Irons left the band, unable to continue with a constant reminder of such an intense loss. [He ended up playing with Pearl Jam -drexx@distrito.com (Andres Guevara)]

Anthony and Flea made the choice to continue on. Anthony says "Flea and I realized that we couldn't stop because of the death of our best friend. It was going to be a permanent source of sadness in our lives, but we wanted to keep the Red Hots going because, after five years, it had become our lives."

Anthony and Flea then set out to find two partners who would not only be top of the line musicians, but lifelong friends as well.

Enter John Frusciante, a then 18-year old guitarist who Flea knew from impromptu jams in those recent months. Anthony happened to be present while John was trying out with another Hollywood band, Thelonius Monster. It was via this try-out the John joined the Peppers. John recalls, "Anthony heard me that day and went home to tell Flea that I should be a Pepper, not a Monster. Anthony then called me and told me the same thing and that I was now an equal member of the Red Hots."

"They were my favorite band in the world. I knew every lyric, every guitar part, every solo, and bass part, and had always felt their music to be a source of peace and beauty in my life. I always felt very spiritually and philosophically connected with the band's ideals and way of life. The moment I joined the band was probably the most intense rush of pure happiness I will ever experience in my life."

Finding a drummer was more difficult. After auditioning, and playing with about 40 drummers, none of whom had the mind, body, spirit, and cock that was necessary to be a Pepper, the threesome found Chad Smith. "Chad is a human power plant behind the drums" says Anthony. "He gives it all he has and looks hysterical doing it." As Flea so eloquently puts it, "He has the soul of ten thousand soul monkeys from outer space."

Anthony, John, Flea and Chad jumped right into recording their most recent album, MOTHER'S MILK and, following it's release, began a nine month tour of the world and elsewhere.

MOTHER'S MILK was a success, both artistically and financially, bringing the band their first Gold Album.

On June 16, 1990, the band was introduced at the Greak Theater, (in L.A.) by none other than David St. Hubbins of the legendary group Spinal Tap, which the band apparently feels is the greatest honor a group could receive, in this day and age.

Now that this current line-up is, as Flea puts it, "Tighter than a mosquito's asshole," they are putting their bodies, brains and sexual organs to work to write and record the best music that GOD and the cosmic forces that be will allow them to make. About their direction John claims, "The funky stuff will be funkier, the heavy stuff will be heavier, and the melodic stuff will be more beautiful. Some of it will just be out. Our lives are based on our music and vice-versa and we just want to keep expanding while retaining the energy and flame of cosmicity that
this band has had from day one."

At the time this is being written (August 1990) Anthony is spending the better part of his time with his beautiful girlfriend - Carmen, John with his cigarettes, Flea with his confusion and Chad, in the presence of the Martocci moment. Red Hot Chili Peppers is not four individuals, but one Positive Mental Octopus. It is here to spread love and peace to whoever wants it.

For those of you in search of the meaning of life: find a good burrito place, eat there and be kind to your fellow man.
source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Red-Hot-Chili-Peppers-Biography/ED591958B335BBEF4825682D001888CD

R. Kelly

An accomplished songwriter, producer and remixer, R. Kelly has written and produced for Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Kelly Price, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige and Luther Vandross -- just to name a few! R. Kelly has also won Grammy Awards, sold multi-platinum albums across the world, achieved No.1 singles and performed sell-out tours wherever he performs.

It was in 1991 that R. Kelly signed to Jive Records. He locked himself away in a recording studio and began to write, sing and learn as many instruments as he could to play on his debut album. The result was 'Born Into The '90s' which was released in 1992 to critical acclaim. 'Born' was a mix of soul, swing beats infused with rap and pure attitude and the album struck gold with music lovers going platinum in the USA. R. Kelly's first UK tour in 1992 had him performing three sell-out shows at the Hammersmith Apollo. On his next tour 18 months later, the number of sell-out shows increased to five at the same venue plus a date in Wolverhampton.

The Kelly profile was growing significantly and where the debut album had gone silver, the follow-up, '12 Play' went platinum. 'Your Body's Callin'', the first single from '12 Play', became R. Kelly's first UK Top 20 single early in 1994 and this was followed by 'She's Got That Vibe' which peaked at No.3. 'Bump'n'Grind' completed the hat-trick with a No.8 chart position in 1995.

Having established himself as an artist, R. Kelly took on the mantle of writer, producer and mixer and soon found himself in demand. In 1995, he remixed Janet Jackson's 'Anytime, Anyplace' before keeping it in the family with Michael Jackson's 'You Are Not Alone', which R. Kelly wrote, produced and arranged the vocals. The song was a No.1 hit on both sides of the Atlantic and made R. Kellymore sought-after than ever.

Over the next two years he wrote and produced 'When You Call My Name' for Luther Vandross; wrote and produced the international hit for Changing Faces, 'G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.'; guested on Notorious BIG's 'Life After Death' album; wrote, produced and duetted on Mary J Blige's track, 'It's On'; wrote and produced the Toni Braxton hit, 'I Don't Want To'; wrote, produced and arranged 'Every Nation' by the Red Hot R&B All Stars, and eventually had a No.1 UK hit with the international mega-hit single, 'I Believe I Can Fly' from the movie, 'Space Jam'.

'I Believe' took R. Kelly's career into the stratosphere - selling over 5 million copies worldwide and earning him 3 Grammy Awards in 1998 for Best Song For A Motion Picture, Best R&B Song and Best R&B Vocal Performance. R. Kelly's also performed the inspirational song at the Grammy Award ceremony at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

In the UK, 'I Believe' went platinum and R. Kelly followed up with the Top 10 hit single, 'Gotham City' which was taken from the movie, 'Batman Forever'. In 1998, R. Kelly made a guest appearance on the remix of Wyclef Jean's international hit single, 'Gone 'Til November'; produced a track for Kelly Price as well as remixing and guesting on her single, 'Friend Of Mine', and launched the career of his prodigy, Sparkle whose album he has produced and written and on whose debut Top 10 single, 'Be Careful' he duetted.

In 1998, R. Kelly released a double-album entitled 'R.', containing 30 tracks including the hits 'I Believe I Can Fly', 'Gotham City' and the hit single, 'Half On A Baby'. The album featured contributions from Keith Murray, Noreaga, Cam'Ron and Sparkle and is heralded as a stunning mix of street beats and sweet ballads. Upon its release in early November, the album 'R.' debut at #2 in the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart! Also, the duet with Celine Dion "I'm Your Angel" made a fantastic leap from #155 to #1 in the Billboard Top 100 Singles chart!

When the ballad 'If I Could Turn Back The Hands of Time' was released in 1999, it became a smash hit in many countries, including Holland, Sweden and the UK. 'R'. is currently certified 6x Platinum in the United States and has sold over one million copies across the UK & Europe!

Now, before the Year 2000 comes to a close, R. Kelly will be releasing his next and sixth offering, entitled 'TP-2.com'. The new album will be out in the stores in the USA on November 7. The first single from 'TP-2.com' is a song called 'I Wish', a nod and tribute to R. Kelly's roots and his mother.

source:http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/R-Kelly-Biography/8443398246D52A15482568CA00177954