Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq ( born May 14, 1966 in Oakland, California; actually Raphael Charles ( Charlie Ray ) Wiggins ) is an American musician, singer and songwriter. He is considered a pioneer and major producer of Neo- Soul.
Life
At the age of six years makes Charlie Wiggins as the bassist for the local gospel choir attention to itself ( not as a singer ). Follow Smaller local appearances before he receives after high school graduation in 1984, the unique chance to go as a bassist with Prince and Sheila E. on a world tour.
End of the 80s he founded with his brother D' Wayne Wiggins and cousin Timothy Riley the R & B-/Soul-Trio Tony! Toni! Tone! . Their first album, published in 1988 Who?, Achieved gold status in the U.S., takes place outside of the U.S. market but little commercial success.
The worldwide breakthrough with the group until 1993 with their third album Sons of Soul, which will be sold more than three million units and rewarded with a Grammy nomination. After release of the album House of Music (1996 ), the way the band members but separate.
Charlie changed his birth name in Wiggins Raphael Saadiq. Tests are to distinguish themselves as a solo artist but quickly discarded. As early as 1999 he founded with singer Dawn Robinson ( En Vogue ) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad ( A Tribe Called Quest ), the neo-soul group Lucy Pearl. With hits like Dance Tonight they celebrate great successes, but after only one album, the group dissolves again.
In subsequent years, Saadiq is mainly active as a producer; he supported artists such as D' Angelo, The Roots, Macy Gray, TLC, Kelis, Joss Stone and John Legend with his talent. In 2002 he founded his record label Pookie Entertainment, over which he after more than 15 years, his first solo album, Instant Vintage published. The plate is developing into a great success, bringing him a proud number of five Grammy nominations. Grammys but he finally obtained as an author big hit singles with D' Angelo ( Untitled / How Does It Feel ) and Erykah Badu ( Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip Hop ) ).
2004 appeared the second solo album As Ray Ray. 2009 was followed by the album The Way I See It, 2011 then Stone Rollin '.
Discography
Albums
- 2002: Instant Vintage
- 2004: As Ray Ray
- 2008: The Way I See It
- 2011: Stone Rollin '