Gordon Chambers
Encyclopedia
Gordon Chambers is a Grammy Award
-winning American singer-songwriter
and record producer
who has written songs for over 75 recording artists including Angie Stone, Yolanda Adams, The Isley Brothers, Brandy, Trey Songz, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, Usher, Marc Anthony, Jamie Foxx, Aretha Franklin
, Whitney Houston
and Beyoncé Knowles
. His #1 hits as lyricist include Anita Baker's Grammy-winning hit "I Apologize", Brownstone's Grammy nominated hit "If You Love Me", Angie Stone's "No More Rain (In This Cloud)", the Grammy nominated theme of Set It Off "Missing You" (performed by Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan) and Yolanda Adams "Someone Watching Over Me". He is the winner of eight awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), has four Dove Award nominations, and has been nominated for two Grammy Award
s, winning for the song "I Apologize" that he wrote for Anita Baker
. His songs have been performed at the ESSENCE Awards, American Music Awards, The Goodwill Games and the White House. His prestigious appearances, in addition to acclaimed European and Japanese tours,have included the Essence Music Festival, The Congressional Black Caucus, The Apollo Theater, Constitution Hall, B. B King's and the Kennedy Center.
He was born in the Bronx
to parents from Jamaica
, his father having grown up in Montego Bay
and his mother in Port Antonio
and Kingston
. Chambers moved to Teaneck, New Jersey
in 1977. He wrote his first song at the age of 7 and received guidance from other Teaneck residents, including trombonist Dick Griffin
, bassist Rufus Reid
and drummer Lenny White
. At Teaneck High School
he learned piano
and trumpet
, and joined New Progressions, a 16-piece band. In an interview with The Record
, Chambers stated that "Teaneck is the place where I had all my musical training" and recalled that "Growing up, knowing that [I] lived in Teaneck gave me something to dream and aspire to: that one day I could grow up and become a professional".
Chambers attended Brown University
, where he enrolled in 1986 with plans to major in political science
and become a lawyer. He returned to Teaneck after graduating, and it was there he wrote "If You Love Me
", the single by Brownstone
released in 1994 that reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
. While working as entertainment editor for Essence
magazine in 1993, an interview with Queen Latifah
led to the opportunity to write the song "Winki's Theme" that appeared on her 1993 album Black Reign
.
His solo albums have been nominated for Independent Soul Album of the Year by Soultracks.com and have been among CDBaby's top R&B sellers. His first solo album "Introducing Gordon Chambers" was released in 2005. The debut featured special guests Carl Thomas, Glenn Lewis, Sara Devine, Roy Hargrove and Mike Phillips. His second album, Love Stories, was released in 2007 and features soul artist Ledisi. Gordon Chambers upcoming album titled "Sincere" is set to be released on August 29, 2011, featuring duets with Sara Devine and Candace Coles, and production by Darien Dorsey, The BeatBanggahz and Jermaine Mobley. The album also includes covers of Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You" and his version of "Missing You", which he dedicates to late mentors Phyllis Hyman and Gerald Levert.
, Chambers is a resident of Brooklyn
.
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning American singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
and record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
who has written songs for over 75 recording artists including Angie Stone, Yolanda Adams, The Isley Brothers, Brandy, Trey Songz, Chaka Khan, Patti Labelle, Usher, Marc Anthony, Jamie Foxx, Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Louise Franklin is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. Although known for her soul recordings and referred to as The Queen of Soul, Franklin is also adept at jazz, blues, R&B, gospel music, and rock. Rolling Stone magazine ranked her atop its list of The Greatest Singers of All...
, Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
and Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
. His #1 hits as lyricist include Anita Baker's Grammy-winning hit "I Apologize", Brownstone's Grammy nominated hit "If You Love Me", Angie Stone's "No More Rain (In This Cloud)", the Grammy nominated theme of Set It Off "Missing You" (performed by Brandy, Tamia, Gladys Knight and Chaka Khan) and Yolanda Adams "Someone Watching Over Me". He is the winner of eight awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), has four Dove Award nominations, and has been nominated for two Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
s, winning for the song "I Apologize" that he wrote for Anita Baker
Anita Baker
Anita Baker is an American R&B/soul jazz singer-songwriter. To date, Baker has won eight Grammy Awards, and has four platinum albums and two gold albums to her credit....
. His songs have been performed at the ESSENCE Awards, American Music Awards, The Goodwill Games and the White House. His prestigious appearances, in addition to acclaimed European and Japanese tours,have included the Essence Music Festival, The Congressional Black Caucus, The Apollo Theater, Constitution Hall, B. B King's and the Kennedy Center.
He was born in the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
to parents from Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
, his father having grown up in Montego Bay
Montego Bay
Montego Bay is the capital of St. James Parish and the second largest city in Jamaica by area and the fourth by population .It is a tourist destination with duty free shopping, cruise line terminal and the beaches...
and his mother in Port Antonio
Port Antonio
Port Antonio is the capital of the parish of Portland on the northeastern coast of Jamaica, about 60 miles from Kingston. It had a population of 12,285 in 1982 and 13,246 in 1991...
and Kingston
Kingston, Jamaica
Kingston is the capital and largest city of Jamaica, located on the southeastern coast of the island. It faces a natural harbour protected by the Palisadoes, a long sand spit which connects the town of Port Royal and the Norman Manley International Airport to the rest of the island...
. Chambers moved to Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck, New Jersey
Teaneck is a township in Bergen County, New Jersey, and a suburb in the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 39,776, making it the second-most populous among the 70 municipalities in Bergen County....
in 1977. He wrote his first song at the age of 7 and received guidance from other Teaneck residents, including trombonist Dick Griffin
Dick Griffin
Dick Griffin is an American trombonist known for his work in free jazz, especially with Rahsaan Roland Kirk, the Sun Ra Arkestra, and Charles Mingus...
, bassist Rufus Reid
Rufus Reid
Rufus Reid is an American jazz bassist, educator, and composer. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.-Personal history:...
and drummer Lenny White
Lenny White
Leonard White III, better known as Lenny White is an American jazz fusion drummer, who is best known for playing in Chick Corea's Return to Forever.-Biography:...
. At Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School
Teaneck High School is a four-year comprehensive public high school, which is part of the Teaneck Public Schools district in Teaneck, New Jersey, United States...
he learned piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
, and joined New Progressions, a 16-piece band. In an interview with The Record
The Record (Bergen County)
The Record is a newspaper in northern New Jersey. It has the second largest circulation of New Jersey's daily newspapers, behind The Star-Ledger. Owned by the Borg family since 1930, it is the flagship publication of the North Jersey Media Group. Stephen Borg is the publisher of The Record...
, Chambers stated that "Teaneck is the place where I had all my musical training" and recalled that "Growing up, knowing that [I] lived in Teaneck gave me something to dream and aspire to: that one day I could grow up and become a professional".
Chambers attended Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
, where he enrolled in 1986 with plans to major in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and become a lawyer. He returned to Teaneck after graduating, and it was there he wrote "If You Love Me
If You Love Me
"If You Love Me" is a single by Brownstone released in the fourth quarter of 1994. It was the lead single from the album From the Bottom Up. It is their biggest hit peaking at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and UK Singles chart as well as #2 on the Billboard Hot R&B songs chart...
", the single by Brownstone
Brownstone (group)
Brownstone is an American female contemporary R&B group that was popular during the mid-1990s. They are best known for their 1995 hit single "If You Love Me," which was nominated for a Best R&B Performance Grammy Award...
released in 1994 that reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. While working as entertainment editor for Essence
Essence (magazine)
Essence is a monthly magazine for African-American women between the ages of 18 and 49. The magazine covers fashion, lifestyle and beauty with an intimate girlfriend-to-girlfriend tone.-History:...
magazine in 1993, an interview with Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
led to the opportunity to write the song "Winki's Theme" that appeared on her 1993 album Black Reign
Black Reign
Black Reign is the third studio album by American rapper Queen Latifah, released on November 16, 1993 in the United States. Compared to her two previous efforts, Black Reign was relatively her most successful album up to this point for Latifah, peaking at number sixty on the Billboard 200 and...
.
His solo albums have been nominated for Independent Soul Album of the Year by Soultracks.com and have been among CDBaby's top R&B sellers. His first solo album "Introducing Gordon Chambers" was released in 2005. The debut featured special guests Carl Thomas, Glenn Lewis, Sara Devine, Roy Hargrove and Mike Phillips. His second album, Love Stories, was released in 2007 and features soul artist Ledisi. Gordon Chambers upcoming album titled "Sincere" is set to be released on August 29, 2011, featuring duets with Sara Devine and Candace Coles, and production by Darien Dorsey, The BeatBanggahz and Jermaine Mobley. The album also includes covers of Donny Hathaway's "A Song For You" and his version of "Missing You", which he dedicates to late mentors Phyllis Hyman and Gerald Levert.
, Chambers is a resident of Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
.