Jon B.

Jon B. (born Jonathan David Buck November 11, 1974 in Providence, Rhode Island, USA) is a Grammy nominated American R&B singer and songwriter.

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. He first started singing at the age of four, and learned piano and keyboard by nine. By 16, he played bass and drums as well. Because his grandparents also owned a record store, Buck was raised on a varied musical diet that included influences like Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder.

Career

In 1992, Jon B. was shipping demos around when he caught the attention of Tracey Edmonds, then President and CEO of Yab-Yum Records. He was contracted as a songwriter for Edmonds and her husband, Kenneth «Babyface» Edmonds, and wrote songs for After 7, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Color Me Badd and others.

Albums

Bonafide

On May, 23 1995, his debut album, Bonafide, was released by Yab Yum/Sony 550/Epic Records. The album contained the top ten hit «Someone To Love,» a duet with Babyface that gained wide exposure on the Bad Boys soundtrack, peaking at #10 on the U.S. charts. The Grammy-nominated track highlighted his dulcet tenor voice and garnered Jon comparisons to Babyface himself. Later in the year, his second single «Pretty Girl» became a top forty hit, peaking at #25. The album also featured funk bassist/singer Bootsy Collins. After spending almost an entire year on the Top 200 Albums, «Bonafide» was eventually certified platinum.

Cool Relax

On September 16, 1997, Jon’s second album, Cool Relax, was released. The album contained three of Jon’s biggest hits; the Tim & Bob produced «They Don’t Know», «Are U Still Down» (which featured Tupac Shakur), and «I Do (Whatcha Say Boo)». Videos were shot for all three songs, including a video for the remix of «Cool Relax» featuring Guru and «Don’t Say». Actress Sanaa Lathan appeared in the video as Jon’s girlfriend. Cool Relax was hailed as one of the best R&B albums released that year and was certified double platinum. This was his most successful album and «They Don’t Know» was his highest chart topping single of his career.

Pleasures U Like

His third album, Pleasures U Like was released on March 20, 2001, with the sole single and video being «Don’t Talk». The album was well received critically and publicly, going gold, but poor promotion spurred Jon to leave Epic after its release. Jon said of the situation: «It was time for new energy. My last album [for Sony] … we did a gold [selling] album, which is really cool, off of one single… I worked really hard on that album. I had Nas on there, Faith on there, AZ, Cuban Link - it was a full album, as far as having a shot on the market. But I think that it was just a matter of promotion.»

Stronger Everyday

On October 5, 2004, his fourth album, Stronger Everyday (originally titled Everday Struggles), was released. For this album, Jon got the help from hit producers Just Blaze, Johnny «J», and Mike City. The first single was the Tank (singer) produced «Lately» with Kenneth «Babyface» Edmonds on background vocals. The album included appearances by rappers Ol’ Dirty Bastard (going by the name Dirt McGirt), Scarface (rapper), Beenie Man, and once again Tupac Shakur. Videos were shot for «Lately» and «Everytime (remix)» featuring Beenie Man. Like Pleasures U Like, it was well-received critically, but received sub-par promotion. He then left Sanctuary Urban in late 2005. Despite the lack of well deserved promotion, the album sold north of 200k units from iTunes support, video play, touring and good word of mouth.

Holiday Wishes: From Me To You

In 2006, Jon signed with Arsenal Records. On November 14 of that same year, Jon released his first album on Arsenal/Vibezelect Records, Holiday Wishes: From Me To You, a collection of original compositions and his covers of Christmas classics like «Joy To The World» and Donny Hathaway’s «This Christmas». That same year, Mexican pop band RBD released a cover of Jon B’s «Tu Amor» as the first single of their English album «Rebels.»

Helpless Romantic

Jon released his fifth studio album on October 28, 2008, «Helpless Romantic» (originally titled Back To Love). The first single «Ooh So Sexy» featured southern rapper Paul Wall. This album also received poor label support/promotion, and no music videos were shot or promoted. Jon collaborated on the song «Tonight» off of Paul Wall’s 2007 album «Get Money Stay True». In 2009, a remix for «Drops of Rain» was released online. It featured Jonesii, a singer Jon has been working with for over 10 years. She was also featured on background and lead vocals for the song «Ride of Our Lives» off the album.

Comfortable Swagg

On February 14, 2012, Jon released his sixth studio album «Comfortable Swagg». The album is the first released on his independent record label, Vibezelect, Inc. The first single from the album is the sultry slow tempo track «Only One». On February 16, Jon released the video to «Only One» on YouTube. West coast rapper DJ Quik is featured on the song «Fill Your Cup». This is the fourth collaboration between Jon and DJ Quik, having previously worked on the tracks «Real Women», «Hydromatic», and «Do Today» on Quik’s album The Book of David. Jon uses singer Jonesii again on this album, singing background vocals on «Fill Your Cup». Songwriter/producer Adonis Shropshire is the only outside producer who worked on the album, producing the dance/house track «Goin Down». Jon’s brother Kevin, plays bass on the songs «Comfortable Swagg», «Amnesia», and «Fill Your Cup», as well as cello on the song.

Other projects

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.

In 2009, Jon was featured on a special song by rapper Invincible called «A Soldier Never Dies», dedicated to fallen Marine, Anthony Vargas. One of the video’s leads was portrayed by rising Hispanic actor, Sonny Ayon. The music video was directed by Paolo Ongkeko and produced by Don Le.

Personal life

In 1999, Jon married his middle school sweetheart, Musiic Galloway.

In 2002, a fire in his home caused the destruction of his recording studio. Later, his marriage to wife Musiic ended in divorce. These events caused Jon to take time off to regroup, later signing with Sanctuary Urban Records.

In 2007, Jon married his second wife, Danette Jackson. In July 2007, they welcomed their first child, daughter Azure Luna (which means Blue Moon).