R. Kelly

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), best known by the stage name R. Kelly, is an R&B singer-songwriter, arranger, performer and record producer. Debuting in 1992 with the group Public Announcement, Kelly went solo in 1993 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". Kelly has written, produced, and remixed songs for other artists such as Gladys Knight, The Isley Brothers, JS, The Winans, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton, Tamia, K-Ci & Jo-Jo, Gerald LeVert, Kirk Franklin, Trinitee 5:7, Aaliyah, Changing Faces, Sparkle, Janet Jackson, Quincy Jones, Charlie Wilson, Michael Jackson, Kelly Price, Maxwell, Jaheim, Céline Dion, Vanessa L. Williams, Brian McKnight, N-Phase, K. Michelle, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Ginuwine, Tyrese, Cash Money Big Timers, Ciara, Destiny's Child, Nick Cannon, Marques Houston, B2K, among others. R. Kelly, the third of four children, was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, and attended Kenwood Academy High School, where his music teacher-mentor Lena McLin inspired him to become a singer. Kelly's single mother, Joanne, was a singer and a Baptist. Kelly's father was absent throughout most of his life. In Chicago, Kelly's family lived on 63rd Street before relocating to a small house at 115th and Parnell Streets. Kelly began singing in the church at the age of eight. As a teenager, he began street performing under the Chicago 'L' trains before he eventually formed a group with his friend Marc McWilliams.