Jon B

Early life

Born in Rhode Island and raised in Pasadena, California, Buck comes from a musical family; with his father David, a professor of music, his mother Linda, a concert pianist and his siblings Deborah, a violinist and his brother Kevin, a cellist. In 1992, Jon B. was shopping demos around when he caught the attention of Tracey Edmonds, then President and CEO of Yab-Yum Records.

Career

Jon B is a consummate artist, an accomplished musician and noted songwriter and producer with several gold and platinum records under his belt. His is a richly textured body of music, a testament to one man’s love for all things soul.... His beginning was seasoned by early influences including Duran Duran, Inxs, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Babyface, Prince and Sade, he spent the summer after high school writing, producing and recording 40 incredible songs and began making his rounds to all major record labels.

1995–1997: Bonafide and Cool Relax

Jon B., prior to his rise to fame, used to be a songwriter and wrote songs for After 7, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Color Me Badd, the Spice Girls and others. Jon B.'s popularity began in the mid-1990s, he released his debut studio album in 1995 entitled Bonafide; the album spawned the popular hit and Grammy-nominated single "Someone to Love", which featured the Grammy Award-winning artist Babyface. The album was a commercial success as it went platinum, selling over 1 million copies.

He released his second studio album Cool Relax in 1997, the album spawned the top 10 single "They Don't Know" and two other top 20 hits, one featuring Tupac Shakur. Cool Relax received generally positive reviews from music critics and it is his most successful album commercially, it has been certified as Double Platinum by the RIAA.

While on tour promoting Cool Relax, he formed a group with two of his back-up singers, Dominiquinn and Silky Deluxe, named Jack Herrera collectively. A full album, titled Retro Futuristo, was put together, but never officially released. However, two tracks from the project did see release. "Free to Believe" appeared on the soundtrack to the film Light It Up and "High Off You" appeared on Red Star Sounds, Vol. 1: Soul Searching.

Within a few months, he’d met Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and his wife, Tracy Edmonds, who were interested in signing Jon to their label imprint, Edmonds Record Group (formerly Yab Yum). The relationship between Jon and Edmonds Record Group immediately bore fruit. His debut album “Bonafide” went platinum and he was nominated by the Grammys for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for the single, “Someone to Love.” His sophomore effort “Cool Relax” also went platinum and earned him multiple Billboard Music Award nominations including Top R&B Artist, Top Hot R&B Single for “They Don’t Know/ Are U Still Down,” Top Hot R&B Singles Artist and a Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best Male Single. "Are U Still Down" featuring the legendary Tupac Shakur collaborating with Jon in the studio, before his death in 96. .Jon also solidified his production sound with a collaboration with Jay Z and Coko (from SWV) featured on the "Hav Plenty sound track. Continuing to produce his third album "Pleasures U like" featuring some of R&B and Hip Hop's heavy weights, Faith Evan's, Nas, Az, and Cuban Link, as well as the successful single "Don't Talk" which Jon wrote and produced himself. His appreciation for the music and the culture allowed him to have innovative idea's and express his influence in many genre's of musical styles, R&B, Hip Hop, Rock, Reggae/Dance Hall, and Jazz... following the versatile styling's of his previous album's.

Jon later went on to write and produce records for Luther Vandross ( "Grown Thangs"), Toni Braxton ( "In the late of night" ), also songs for Gina Thompson, Color Me Badd, Az Yet, as well as remixing Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone". "Stronger Everyday" Jon's fourth release was another gem of an album full of amazing track's and collaboration's with Hip Hop legend's like Scarface , Old Dirty Bastard, and Bennie Man. Jon scored a top ten video on the U.K. MTV/ TRL Top Ten with the song "Everytime (remix featuring Beenie Man) Jon co produced with Just Blaze.

In 2008 he released "Helpless Romantic" Keeping the tradition alive of the classic R&B sound that captivates. This album was more self contained with few collaborations but atmospheric, romantic songwriting. This album was Jon getting back to the basic's of writing, producing, and singing. The project was widely over looked due to the lack of promo/video or tour. Impressively enough Jon's loyal fan's supported the single "Ooh so Sexy"feat Paul Wall to #11 on the R&R charts 2012 Comfortable Swagg was the first release on Jon B's label Vibezelect Inc with Singles Only One and Comfortable Swagg being picked up by Centric and VH-1 Soul, MTV Europe,Urban blogs stateside and UK. Jan 2013 Jon B releases B-Sides Collection debuting #5 on iTunes Soul Album Charts B-Sides Collection features 23 unreleased tracks from 2001-2012.

"With every album 40 to 50 songs are cut and here are some that didn't make the cut but have remained classics I feel the fans deserve to have a glimpse into all the B-Sides that complete Jon B ."

2017 Jon B is Back with a new project, an episode of Unsung and humble heart for the loyal fans who continue to support 20 plus years and counting.

Compilations

Mixtapes