R. Kelly comes to Nigeria

The Pied Piper of R n B; multiple Grammy Awards-winning balladeer, songwriter and producer, will headline for this year’s Nigeria Breweries Plc-sponsored Star Mega Jam holding in Lagos and Abuja on December 17 and 18. While the Lagos leg of the concert holds at the Polo Club Grounds, Ikoyi, the Old Parade Grounds, Abuja, will heave and creak with pulsating and soulful music from the acclaimed King of R n B. Kelly would not be alone; he would have for company and competition for his renowned vocal prowess, Nigeria‘s finest like D‘banj, the Mo‘Hits Crew, P-Square, 9ice, Sound Sultan, Timaya, Faze, MI and KC Presh. Past Star Quest winners, The Pulse and Jukebox would also share the stage with Kelly.

The corporate affairs adviser, NB Plc, Yusuf Ageni, says, ”The Star Mega Jam has become a brand on its own, a unique way of sharing the brighter life, and highly anticipated every year by thousands of Star (lager) lovers all over the country.” He said that it is in continuation of a tradition that started in 2000 that the brewery giant decided to deliver another spectacular line up, spearheaded by R n B‘s most enduring figure with the intention to thrill and excite music lovers. In the last ten years, the SMJ has featured among other artistes, Usher, Kanye West, T.Pain, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, LL Cool J, Nas and Akon among many other American stars.



Some things you need

to know about R.Kelly



Robert Sylvester Kelly was born January 8, 1967 in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. The third of four children, the Kellys, including their school teacher mom, lived in Chicago‘s housing projects. Little is known about his father.

His first singing group, M&M won $100, 000 in a talent hunt show, ‘Big Break‘ hosted by Natalie Cole but the group disbanded almost immediately because of disagreement over sharing formula. It was there an A&R manager spotted him, became his manager and helped him get a contract on Jive Records.

Two years later, he and Public Announcement released their first album, Born into the 90s, which went platinum. But he didn‘t stay long with the group as he went on to record a solo album, 12 Play, in 1993. Certified multi-platinum, 12 Play contained hits like ‘Your Body‘s Calling‘, ‘Sex Me‘ and ‘Bump and Grind‘ which spent a record-breaking 12 weeks at number one on the Hot R&B Singles chart and the Billboard R&B singles chart.

In August 1994, Kelly married singer, Aaliyah, who was just 15 at the time while he was 27. Because she was underage, the marriage was conducted secretly in a hotel near O‘Hare Airport. However, it was annulled months later by which time he had produced her platinum-certified album, ‘Age Aint Nothing But a Number.‘ Thereafter, he married one of his dancers with whom he has two daughters and a son. They divorced in 2006 after ten years of marriage.

Kelly produced Michael Jackson‘s melancholic ballad, ‘You Are Not Alone‘ and went on to write and produce for Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, Jodeci, Notorious BIG and Toni Braxton among many others. He and Jackson were back in the studio working on three songs when he died suddenly last year.

In his illustrious career, he has won many awards while all his albums have been certified chart busters. In 1996, Kelly‘s ‘I Believe I Can Fly‘ won three Grammy Awards for best R n B song, best song written for a motion picture and best male R n B perform.

But it has not been a roller-coaster ride for Kelly. He has a robust list of legal troubles. In February 2002, news of a sex tape purported to be that of Kelly and a 14-year-old broke and he was indicted on 21 counts of child pornography. He pleaded not guilty and was released on $750, 000 bail. After years of delay, the child pornography trial proper began in May 2008. Kelly was acquitted of all charges.

Source:http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201011121255715