Ruben Studdard
Encyclopedia
Christopher Theodore Ruben Studdard (born September 12, 1978), best known as Ruben Studdard, is an American
R&B
, pop
, and gospel
singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season
of American Idol
. He received a Grammy Award
nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar."
In the years following Idol, Studdard has released four studio albums, including his most recent disc, 2009's Love Is
.
In addition to appearing on various television shows he has toured with Robin Givens
in the comedy-drama Heaven I Need a Hug and in 2008 accepted the role of Fats Waller
in a national tour of Ain't Misbehavin'.
, Germany
while his American father was stationed there with the U.S. Army, grew up in Birmingham
, Alabama
. The youngest son of two teachers, at the age of three he sang for the first time at the Rising Star Baptist Church in his hometown of Birmingham.
He continued singing gospel
in church, performing solos as a child while his mother sang in the local choir. While at Huffman High School
, he played football
for which he received a scholarship to Alabama A&M University. While at Alabama A&M he joined the Omicron Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
, the men's music fraternity of America.
After growing up listening to his mother's Donny Hathaway
albums, Fred Hammond
, and gospel music, Studdard began to pursue a career in the music industry, majoring in voice studies at Alabama A&M. He sang with Just a Few Cats, a popular local Birmingham jazz and R&B band founded by members of Ray Reach
's UAB Jazz Ensemble, along with other local musicians. "A lot of people don't realize how hard I was trying to get into the business before American Idol," Studdard related several years later. "I was making demos and just working so hard." A back-up singer from Just a Few Cats asked him to accompany her to Nashville, Tennessee
for an audition on the 2003 second season of "American Idol".
's "Ribbon in the Sky
." This guided him to being one of the local finalists. On American Idol, he impressed viewers with his performances of the Leon Russell
/Bonnie Bramlett
song "Superstar" (best known as a hit for The Carpenters
) and the Peabo Bryson
/Regina Belle
duet "A Whole New World
"; during his time on the show, Studdard received praise from music legends such as Lionel Richie
, Neil Sedaka
, Robin Gibb
of the Bee Gees
, Luther Vandross
, and Gladys Knight
.
During the televised competition, Studdard gained the nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear" and was noted for his shirts printed with "205", the telephone area code of his hometown of Birmingham. Studdard also did a cover version
of "For All We Know", originally recorded by Donny Hathaway, whose music he grew up with.
He won the contest over runner-up Clay Aiken
by only 134,000 votes out of 24,000,000 cast in the May 2003 finale, becoming the second American Idol winner.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley
declared March 11, 2003 as "Ruben Studdard Day".
Studdard released his first single, a cover of Westlife
's "Flying Without Wings
" (which he had sung on the show's finale), produced by The Underdogs
and Babyface, a month later in June 2003. Fueled largely by sales, it debuted at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100
. In December 2003, advance orders for his album Soulful
topped the 1 million mark before it was released into stores. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart
that month, selling over 400,000 copies in its first week and attaining the second highest first-week sales of any American Idol winner. The single "Sorry 2004
" from this album found substantial airplay, reaching #9 in the Billboard Hot 100
and #2 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Studdard received a Grammy Award
nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar", nominated with his idol Luther Vandross
(Vandross won that category). In March 2004, Ruben won the NAACP Outstanding New Artist award.
on November 23, 2004. The title track and first single "I Need an Angel
" was a cover of a 2002 single performed by R&B singer Daniel DeBourg
and written by R. Kelly
. The album
sold over 96,000 copies in its first week, it also entered the Gospel charts at #1, opened at #20 on the Billboard 200
chart, it since has sold over 500,000 copies. It was also #1 on the 2005 Billboard Year-End Gospel Albums Chart. As of June 2007, Studdard is the fifth-best selling American Idol performer with more than 2.4 million albums sold in the U.S.
In March 2005, Studdard filed a lawsuit against his godfather and business advisor Ronald Edwards. The suit alleges that Edwards ran up $156,000 on Studdard's credit cards and stole $90,000 from his checking account. Edwards filed a countersuit. On June 15, 2006, Studdard was awarded $500,000 for personal losses and another $1.5 million in punitive damages.
Between his second and third albums, Studdard began a diet and fitness program to deal with his weight, out of concern for a family history of diabetes and hypertension
resulting in his losing over 70 pounds on a vegetarian diet.
Studdard's third album, The Return
was released in October 2006; it goes back to his R&B roots, but is different from his previous efforts. Studdard collaborated with the artist Ne-Yo
on this album, along with a variety of producers. The single "Change Me" was released ahead of the album. The Return sold 71,000 copies in its first week to open at #8 on the Billboard 200 album chart
, but sales declined rapidly after that, not approaching those of his earlier albums. However, Studdard did have good success on the Urban Contemporary chart with "Change Me" (which reached #1) and its successor "Make Ya Feel Beautiful
". Studdard continued to tour saying he would play a variety of music: "Coming out to my show is like coming to my house. I'll play the songs I love. It's like a party. For me, a party has all different types of music happening."
Studdard appeared on the finale of American Idol season 6 in May 2007. He spent a few weeks touring with Robin Givens
in the comedy-drama Heaven I Need a Hug and prepared to take on the role of Fats Waller
in a national tour of Ain't Misbehavin' in 2008. The tour is scheduled to begin November 17, 2008 in Atlanta, GA and end May 14, 2009 in Syracuse, NY.
In December 2007, Studdard had been dropped from his record company, J Records
, due to poor sales of The Return and "[falling] short of expectations." He remained under contract with 19 Recordings
, however. As such he was assigned the high-profile position of performing the American Idol season 7
farewell song, a recording of Kenny Loggins
' "Celebrate Me Home
", in a new version produced by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.
Studdard performed "Celebrate Me Home" live on May 20, 2008, at the Nokia Theatre for the first night of the two-night Grand Finale of American Idol's seventh season.
's "Love Him Like I Do" along with Gospel duo Mary Mary
.
Studdard announced that his next album, to be released May 19, 2009, would be released on Sony Music offshoot Hickory Records
. The new album, entitled Love Is
, is being produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
. The first single off Love Is is the ballad "Together", which was written by Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Phillip Taj Jackson and Martin Kleveland, produced by StarGate & Martin K.
He performed his new single "Together" on American Idol season 8 on March 26, 2009.
Love Is was released on May 19, 2009 to mostly positive reviews. The album, which features a mix of covers and original songs, sold 15,200 units in its first week to debut at #36 on the Billboard 200, #5 on Independent Albums
and #8 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Studdard appeared with the "David Foster
and Friends" 10 city tour beginning October 21, 2009 in Chicago
, Illinois and ending November 8, 2009 in Vancouver
, Canada.
A fifth album, Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard
was released on January 26, 2010 by Sony's Legacy Recordings
.
Studdard returned to the American Idol
stage on March 31, 2010 to perform his latest single "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More". In his on camera interview with Ryan Seacrest
after his performance he said that he would be touring with Clay Aiken
in the summer.
Studdard and Aiken brought their “Timeless” tour to cities in the US and Canada beginning in Asheville, North Carolina
on July 23, 2010 and ending in Biloxi, Mississippi
on August 14. Instead of a concert focusing on each singers recordings, Studdard and Aiken opted for a variety show format covering medleys of songs from the 60s to the 90s with a few solos and interspersed with comedy bits.
in several roles, including single-episode appearances on the television series 8 Simple Rules
, Life on a Stick
, All of Us
, and Eve
, as well as a cameo appearance in the film Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He has also appeared on a television commercial for a Birmingham-area Kia
dealer.
He appeared in an episode of One on One
as himself & in an episode of All of Us
as an older Bobby. He also appeared in the 8 Simple Rules episode where CJ's dad comes; he played a delivery boy whom CJ mistakes for his father. He greets him by hugging him and saying, "You have always been my idol," referring to his win on Idol. Studdard also appeared on an episode of Eve
as Paul, Janie's younger brother who has a huge crush on Shelly.
Studdard headlined the revival tour of Ain't Misbehavin', starring alongside fellow American Idol (season 2)
alums, Trenyce
and Frenchie Davis
. Starring as Fats Waller
, Studdard received positive reviews and was part of the cast recording album released by Rhino Records on January 13, 2009.
Studdard has signed on as an official spokesperson for ‘Be Sickle Smart’, a nationwide grassroots health-education program aimed at increasing awareness of iron overload among people living with sickle-cell disease
.
After a performance on American Idol on March 31, 2010, Ruben discussed losing approximately 80 pounds through a vegan diet and regular exercise.
On November 16, 2011 Studdard's attorney announced that Studdard was in the process of a divorce. "Ruben Studdard and Zuri McCants Studdard have separated, and they are in the process of seeking a dissolution of their marriage," said Byron Perkins.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, and gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
singer. He rose to fame as winner of the second season
American Idol (Season 2)
The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003 and continued until May 21, 2003. The title of show was shortened from American Idol: The Search for a Superstar of Season 1 to just American Idol. Brian Dunkleman quit after the first season, and Seacrest therefore became the lone...
of American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
. He received a 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...
nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar."
In the years following Idol, Studdard has released four studio albums, including his most recent disc, 2009's Love Is
Love Is (Ruben Studdard album)
Love Is is the fourth album by R&B-pop artist and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard that was released on May 19, 2009. The album debuted and peaked at #36 in the Billboard 200, with 15,000 copies sold in its first week of release. It featured production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and...
.
In addition to appearing on various television shows he has toured with Robin Givens
Robin Givens
Robin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
in the comedy-drama Heaven I Need a Hug and in 2008 accepted the role of Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
in a national tour of Ain't Misbehavin'.
Early life
Studdard, who was born in FrankfurtFrankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
while his American father was stationed there with the U.S. Army, grew up in Birmingham
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
. The youngest son of two teachers, at the age of three he sang for the first time at the Rising Star Baptist Church in his hometown of Birmingham.
He continued singing gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
in church, performing solos as a child while his mother sang in the local choir. While at Huffman High School
Huffman High School
Huffman High School is a secondary school located in Birmingham, Alabama.The school colors are orange and green. Approximately 97% of the students who attend the school are African American, 2% are Caucasian, and the small remainder are Hispanic or Asian. The school's athletic teams are known as...
, he played football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
for which he received a scholarship to Alabama A&M University. While at Alabama A&M he joined the Omicron Delta chapter of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia
Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia is an American collegiate social fraternity for men with a special interest in music...
, the men's music fraternity of America.
After growing up listening to his mother's Donny Hathaway
Donny Hathaway
Donny Edward Hathaway was an American soul singer-songwriter and musician. Hathaway contracted with Atlantic Records in 1969 and with his first single for the Atco label, "The Ghetto, Part I" in early 1970, Rolling Stone magazine "marked him as a major new force in soul music."His collaborations...
albums, Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond
Fred Hammond is a gospel music singer, bass guitar player, and record producer.-Musical career:Hammond has been active both as a member of the gospel performing group Commissioned, and as a solo artist...
, and gospel music, Studdard began to pursue a career in the music industry, majoring in voice studies at Alabama A&M. He sang with Just a Few Cats, a popular local Birmingham jazz and R&B band founded by members of Ray Reach
Ray Reach
Raymond Everett Reach, Jr. is an American pianist, vocalist and educator residing in Birmingham, Alabama, now serving as Director of Student Jazz Programs for the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame, director of the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame All-Stars and President and CEO of Ray Reach Music and Magic City...
's UAB Jazz Ensemble, along with other local musicians. "A lot of people don't realize how hard I was trying to get into the business before American Idol," Studdard related several years later. "I was making demos and just working so hard." A back-up singer from Just a Few Cats asked him to accompany her to Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
for an audition on the 2003 second season of "American Idol".
American Idol
When auditioning, Studdard sang Stevie WonderStevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's "Ribbon in the Sky
Ribbon in the Sky
"Ribbon in the Sky" is a hit 1982 R&B single released by Motown star, American singer Stevie Wonder. The ballad was first featured on the greatest-hits compilation, Original Musiquarium, and charted at #54 pop and #10 R&B when it was released...
." This guided him to being one of the local finalists. On American Idol, he impressed viewers with his performances of the Leon Russell
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
/Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett
Bonnie Bramlett is an American singer and sometime actress known for her distinctive vocals in rock and pop music. This began in the mid 1960s as a backing singer, forming the husband-and-wife team of Delaney & Bonnie, and continuing to the present day as a solo artist.-Life and career:Bramlett...
song "Superstar" (best known as a hit for The Carpenters
The Carpenters
Carpenters were an American vocal and instrumental duo, consisting of sister Karen and brother Richard Carpenter. The Carpenters were the #1 selling American music act of the 1970s. Though often referred to by the public as "The Carpenters", the duo's official name on authorized recordings and...
) and the Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson
Peabo Bryson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter, born in Greenville, South Carolina...
/Regina Belle
Regina Belle
Regina Belle is a singer-songwriter who first surfaced in the late 1980s. She is notable for her Grammy award winning duet with Peabo Bryson, "A Whole New World".-Biography:Regina Belle was born in Englewood, New Jersey...
duet "A Whole New World
A Whole New World
"A Whole New World" is the Oscar winning featured pop single from the soundtrack to the 1992 Disney film Aladdin. It was composed by Alan Menken with lyrics by Tim Rice. The song is a ballad between the primary characters Aladdin and Jasmine about the new world they are going to discover together....
"; during his time on the show, Studdard received praise from music legends such as Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie
Lionel Brockman Richie, Jr. , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and record producer. Since 1968, he has been a member of the musical group Commodores signed to Motown Records...
, Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...
, Robin Gibb
Robin Gibb
Robin Hugh Gibb, CBE is a British singer and songwriter. He is best known as a member of the Bee Gees, co-founded with his twin brother Maurice , and elder brother Barry....
of the Bee Gees
Bee Gees
The Bee Gees are a musical group that originally comprised three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. The trio was successful for most of their 40-plus years of recording music, but they had two distinct periods of exceptional success: as a pop act in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and as a...
, Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
, and Gladys Knight
Gladys Knight
Gladys Maria Knight , known as the "Empress of Soul", is an American singer-songwriter, actress, businesswoman, humanitarian, and author...
.
During the televised competition, Studdard gained the nickname "Velvet Teddy Bear" and was noted for his shirts printed with "205", the telephone area code of his hometown of Birmingham. Studdard also did a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of "For All We Know", originally recorded by Donny Hathaway, whose music he grew up with.
He won the contest over runner-up Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken
Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released...
by only 134,000 votes out of 24,000,000 cast in the May 2003 finale, becoming the second American Idol winner.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley
Bob Riley
Bob Riley may refer to:* Bob Riley, 52nd Governor of Alabama* Bob C. Riley, acting Governor of Arkansas for 11 days in 1975* Bob Riley , sports car designer and founder of Riley Technologies...
declared March 11, 2003 as "Ruben Studdard Day".
2003–2004: Soulful
Westlife
Westlife are an Irish boy band established on 3 July 1998. They are to disband in 2012. The group's line-up was Nicky Byrne, Kian Egan, Mark Feehily, Shane Filan, and Brian McFadden . The group are the only act in British and Irish history to have their first seven singles peak at number one...
's "Flying Without Wings
Flying Without Wings
"Flying Without Wings" is a song released by Irish boyband Westlife from their self-titled debut album.-Background:The song became an instant hit in the United Kingdom and many parts of the world. The song became the group's third UK number 1 single, spending 13 weeks on charts. It is also one of...
" (which he had sung on the show's finale), produced by The Underdogs
The Underdogs (duo)
The Underdogs is an R&B/pop production duo composed of Harvey Mason, Jr. and Damon Thomas.-Biography:Harvey Mason, Jr. is the son of Harvey Mason, Sr., a noted session drummer...
and Babyface, a month later in June 2003. Fueled largely by sales, it debuted at #2 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...
. In December 2003, advance orders for his album Soulful
Soulful (Ruben Studdard album)
Soulful is the 2003 debut album from second-season American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.-Track listing:# "Sorry 2004" – 4:22...
topped the 1 million mark before it was released into stores. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 album chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
that month, selling over 400,000 copies in its first week and attaining the second highest first-week sales of any American Idol winner. The single "Sorry 2004
Sorry 2004
"Sorry 2004" is a song recorded by the American R&B singer Ruben Studdard. It was released as a single from his 2003 album Soulful.-Chart performance:...
" from this album found substantial airplay, reaching #9 in 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...
and #2 on the Billboard R&B singles chart. Studdard received a 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...
nomination in December 2003 for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance for "Superstar", nominated with his idol Luther Vandross
Luther Vandross
Luther Ronzoni Vandross was an American singer-songwriter and record producer. During his career, Vandross sold over twenty-five million albums and won eight Grammy Awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times...
(Vandross won that category). In March 2004, Ruben won the NAACP Outstanding New Artist award.
2004-2005: I Need An Angel
Studdard released the gospel album I Need an AngelI Need an Angel (album)
I Need an Angel is the 2004 second album from American singer Ruben Studdard.-Track listing:# "I Need an Angel" – 4:51# "Center of My Joy" – 5:52# "Goin' Up Yonder" – 3:40# "Fix It, Jesus" – 3:46# "Amazing Grace" – 4:31...
on November 23, 2004. The title track and first single "I Need an Angel
I Need an Angel
"I Need An Angel" is the title of a song by singer Daniel DeBourg released on his Tell the World album in 2002, that made #30 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The song was produced by Derek S. Clark of Tacoma, Washington and written by R. Kelly.A version performed by R...
" was a cover of a 2002 single performed by R&B singer Daniel DeBourg
Daniel DeBourg
Daniel DeBourg is an English pop singer, songwriter, former dancer and model. In 2007, he was a finalist on the fourth UK series of the TV talent show, The X Factor.-Early life:...
and written by R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
. The album
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
sold over 96,000 copies in its first week, it also entered the Gospel charts at #1, opened at #20 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
chart, it since has sold over 500,000 copies. It was also #1 on the 2005 Billboard Year-End Gospel Albums Chart. As of June 2007, Studdard is the fifth-best selling American Idol performer with more than 2.4 million albums sold in the U.S.
In March 2005, Studdard filed a lawsuit against his godfather and business advisor Ronald Edwards. The suit alleges that Edwards ran up $156,000 on Studdard's credit cards and stole $90,000 from his checking account. Edwards filed a countersuit. On June 15, 2006, Studdard was awarded $500,000 for personal losses and another $1.5 million in punitive damages.
Between his second and third albums, Studdard began a diet and fitness program to deal with his weight, out of concern for a family history of diabetes and hypertension
Hypertension
Hypertension or high blood pressure is a cardiac chronic medical condition in which the systemic arterial blood pressure is elevated. What that means is that the heart is having to work harder than it should to pump the blood around the body. Blood pressure involves two measurements, systolic and...
resulting in his losing over 70 pounds on a vegetarian diet.
2006–2008: The Return
The Return (Ruben Studdard album)
The Return is the third album by R&B-pop artist Ruben Studdard and was released on October 17, 2006. The first single, "Change Me", was released on July 31, 2006.-Reception:...
was released in October 2006; it goes back to his R&B roots, but is different from his previous efforts. Studdard collaborated with the artist Ne-Yo
Ne-Yo
Shaffer Chimere Smith, Jr. , better known by his stage name Ne-Yo, is an American pop and R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit "Let Me Love You" for singer Mario...
on this album, along with a variety of producers. The single "Change Me" was released ahead of the album. The Return sold 71,000 copies in its first week to open at #8 on the Billboard 200 album chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, but sales declined rapidly after that, not approaching those of his earlier albums. However, Studdard did have good success on the Urban Contemporary chart with "Change Me" (which reached #1) and its successor "Make Ya Feel Beautiful
Make Ya Feel Beautiful
"Make Ya Feel Beautiful" is the second single from Ruben Studdard's third album The Return. It has reached a peak of #32 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart. In addition, the single has reached a peak at #6 on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart....
". Studdard continued to tour saying he would play a variety of music: "Coming out to my show is like coming to my house. I'll play the songs I love. It's like a party. For me, a party has all different types of music happening."
Studdard appeared on the finale of American Idol season 6 in May 2007. He spent a few weeks touring with Robin Givens
Robin Givens
Robin Simone Givens is an American model and film, television, and stage actress. She is best known for her role as Darlene Merriman on the television series Head of the Class.-Early life:...
in the comedy-drama Heaven I Need a Hug and prepared to take on the role of Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
in a national tour of Ain't Misbehavin' in 2008. The tour is scheduled to begin November 17, 2008 in Atlanta, GA and end May 14, 2009 in Syracuse, NY.
In December 2007, Studdard had been dropped from his record company, J Records
J Records
J Records was an American record label, owned and operated by Sony Music Entertainment, and was distributed through the RCA Music Group.-Company history:...
, due to poor sales of The Return and "[falling] short of expectations." He remained under contract with 19 Recordings
19 Entertainment
19 Entertainment, based in Los Angeles, United States, is a creator and producer of entertainment properties based around the areas of Music and Television / Film, including American Idol in the United States, Pop Idol in the United Kingdom as well as versions of the Idol series in more than...
, however. As such he was assigned the high-profile position of performing the American Idol season 7
American Idol (season 7)
The seventh season of American Idol, the annual reality show and singing competition, began on January 15, 2008 and concluded on May 21, 2008. Ryan Seacrest continued to host the show with Simon Cowell, Paula Abdul, and Randy Jackson returning as judges...
farewell song, a recording of Kenny Loggins
Kenny Loggins
During the next decade, Loggins recorded so many successful songs for film soundtracks that he was referred to as, King of the Movie Soundtrack.He began with "I'm Alright" , "Mr. Night", and "Lead the Way" from Caddyshack...
' "Celebrate Me Home
Celebrate Me Home (song)
"Celebrate Me Home" is a song written by Bob James and Kenny Loggins, and recorded by Loggins as the title track of his 1976 debut solo album Celebrate Me Home.-The Song:...
", in a new version produced by Terry Lewis and Jimmy Jam.
Studdard performed "Celebrate Me Home" live on May 20, 2008, at the Nokia Theatre for the first night of the two-night Grand Finale of American Idol's seventh season.
2009–2010: Love Is
Studdard was featured in the music video for gospel singer Deitrick HaddonDeitrick Haddon
Deitrick Haddon is a Gospel singer, songwriter and producer. A popular artist known for his contemporary style of music, he is well known for his progressive gospel styles.-Early years:Haddon is a native of Detroit, Michigan....
's "Love Him Like I Do" along with Gospel duo Mary Mary
Mary Mary
Mary Mary is an American gospel music duo, consisting of sisters Erica Atkins-Campbell and Tina Atkins-Campbell . The duo are often credited along with Kirk Franklin for broadening the fan base of urban contemporary gospel in the 2000s by introducing elements of soul music, hip hop, funk and jazz...
.
Studdard announced that his next album, to be released May 19, 2009, would be released on Sony Music offshoot Hickory Records
Hickory Records
Hickory Records is a United States record label founded by Acuff-Rose Music in 1954 which operated the label up to 1979. Present owner Sony/ATV Music Publishing revived the label in 2007. Originally based in Nashville, functioning as an independent label throughout its history, it has had several...
. The new album, entitled Love Is
Love Is (Ruben Studdard album)
Love Is is the fourth album by R&B-pop artist and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard that was released on May 19, 2009. The album debuted and peaked at #36 in the Billboard 200, with 15,000 copies sold in its first week of release. It featured production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and...
, is being produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis
James Samuel "Jimmy Jam" Harris III and Terry Steven Lewis are an American R&B and pop-music songwriting and record production team...
. The first single off Love Is is the ballad "Together", which was written by Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen, Phillip Taj Jackson and Martin Kleveland, produced by StarGate & Martin K.
He performed his new single "Together" on American Idol season 8 on March 26, 2009.
Love Is was released on May 19, 2009 to mostly positive reviews. The album, which features a mix of covers and original songs, sold 15,200 units in its first week to debut at #36 on the Billboard 200, #5 on Independent Albums
Independent Albums
The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels...
and #8 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.
Studdard appeared with the "David Foster
David Foster
David Walter Foster, OC, OBC , is a Canadian musician, record producer, composer, singer, songwriter, and arranger, noted for discovering singers such as Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and Charice Pempengco; and for producing some of the most successful artists in the world, such as Céline Dion, Toni...
and Friends" 10 city tour beginning October 21, 2009 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois and ending November 8, 2009 in Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, Canada.
A fifth album, Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard
Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard
Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard is a compilation of recordings by singer Ruben Studdard. It is part of a series of similar Playlist albums issued on the Legacy label by Sony Music Entertainment....
was released on January 26, 2010 by Sony's Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings
Legacy Recordings is Sony Music Entertainment's catalog division. It was founded in 1990 by CBS Records under the leadership of Jerry Shulman, Richard Bauer, Gary Pacheco and Amy Herot to handle reissues of recordings from the vast catalogues of Columbia Records, Epic Records and associated...
.
Studdard returned to the American Idol
American Idol
American Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
stage on March 31, 2010 to perform his latest single "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More". In his on camera interview with Ryan Seacrest
Ryan Seacrest
Ryan John Seacrest is an American radio personality, television host, network producer and voice actor. He is the host of On Air with Ryan Seacrest, a nationally syndicated Top 40 radio show that airs on KIIS-FM in Los Angeles and throughout the United States and Canada on Premiere Radio Networks,...
after his performance he said that he would be touring with Clay Aiken
Clay Aiken
Clayton Holmes "Clay" Aiken is an American singer, songwriter, actor, producer and author who began his rise to fame on the second season of the television program American Idol in 2003. RCA Records offered him a recording contract, and his multi-platinum debut album Measure of a Man was released...
in the summer.
Studdard and Aiken brought their “Timeless” tour to cities in the US and Canada beginning in Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
on July 23, 2010 and ending in Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi, Mississippi
Biloxi is a city in Harrison County, Mississippi, in the United States. The 2010 census recorded the population as 44,054. Along with Gulfport, Biloxi is a county seat of Harrison County....
on August 14. Instead of a concert focusing on each singers recordings, Studdard and Aiken opted for a variety show format covering medleys of songs from the 60s to the 90s with a few solos and interspersed with comedy bits.
2010–present: New label
It was announced in July 2011 that Studdard had signed with Shanachie Entertainment and would release his next album in the fall of 2011.Acting
Studdard has worked as an actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
in several roles, including single-episode appearances on the television series 8 Simple Rules
8 Simple Rules
8 Simple Rules is an American sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 17, 2002, to April 15, 2005, with 76 episodes produced over three seasons. It is based on the self-improvement book of the same name. The show starred John Ritter until his death on September 11, 2003...
, Life on a Stick
Life on a Stick
Life on a Stick is an American sitcom that premiered on Fox on March 24, 2005. Thirteen episodes of the show were completed, but Fox only showed the first five before pulling the show due to poor ratings.-Premise:...
, All of Us
All of Us
All of Us is an American sitcom that premiered on the now-defunct UPN network in the United States on September 16, 2003, where it aired for its first three seasons. October 1, 2006, the show moved to The CW, a new network formed by the merger of UPN and The WB All of Us is an American sitcom that...
, and Eve
Eve (TV series)
Eve is an American sitcom starring Eve, Jason Winston George, Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle-Reid, Brian Hooks and Sean Maguire. That aired on the UPN network from September 15, 2003 to May 11, 2006, with 66 episodes produced spanning 3 seasons...
, as well as a cameo appearance in the film Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He has also appeared on a television commercial for a Birmingham-area Kia
Kia Motors
Kia Motors , headquartered in Seoul, is South Korea's second-largest automobile manufacturer, following the Hyundai Motor Company, with sales of over 1.4 million vehicles in 2010...
dealer.
He appeared in an episode of One on One
One on One (TV series)
One on One is an American sitcom that aired on the now-defunct UPN from its September 3, 2001 premiere until May 15, 2006. The series stars Flex Alexander as a single sportscaster, who becomes a full-time dad when his ex-wife decides to accept a job out of the country and his teenage daughter...
as himself & in an episode of All of Us
All of Us
All of Us is an American sitcom that premiered on the now-defunct UPN network in the United States on September 16, 2003, where it aired for its first three seasons. October 1, 2006, the show moved to The CW, a new network formed by the merger of UPN and The WB All of Us is an American sitcom that...
as an older Bobby. He also appeared in the 8 Simple Rules episode where CJ's dad comes; he played a delivery boy whom CJ mistakes for his father. He greets him by hugging him and saying, "You have always been my idol," referring to his win on Idol. Studdard also appeared on an episode of Eve
Eve (TV series)
Eve is an American sitcom starring Eve, Jason Winston George, Ali Landry, Natalie Desselle-Reid, Brian Hooks and Sean Maguire. That aired on the UPN network from September 15, 2003 to May 11, 2006, with 66 episodes produced spanning 3 seasons...
as Paul, Janie's younger brother who has a huge crush on Shelly.
Studdard headlined the revival tour of Ain't Misbehavin', starring alongside fellow American Idol (season 2)
American Idol (Season 2)
The second season of American Idol premiered on January 21, 2003 and continued until May 21, 2003. The title of show was shortened from American Idol: The Search for a Superstar of Season 1 to just American Idol. Brian Dunkleman quit after the first season, and Seacrest therefore became the lone...
alums, Trenyce
Trenyce
Lashundra Trenyce Cobbins , known professionally as Trenyce, is an American singer and was a finalist for the second season of American Idol in 2003, finishing in fifth place.- Biography:...
and Frenchie Davis
Frenchie Davis
Franchelle "Frenchie" Davis is an R&B singer and former contestant on the second season of the American reality television show American Idol. Davis performed in Rent on Broadway in 2003...
. Starring as Fats Waller
Fats Waller
Fats Waller , born Thomas Wright Waller, was a jazz pianist, organist, composer, singer, and comedic entertainer...
, Studdard received positive reviews and was part of the cast recording album released by Rhino Records on January 13, 2009.
Advocacy
Studdard's love of music led him to create The Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts. The foundation's mission statement says their aim is "to promote the essential role of the arts in education through learning initiatives for the development of students in the Greater Birmingham Area."Studdard has signed on as an official spokesperson for ‘Be Sickle Smart’, a nationwide grassroots health-education program aimed at increasing awareness of iron overload among people living with sickle-cell disease
Sickle-cell disease
Sickle-cell disease , or sickle-cell anaemia or drepanocytosis, is an autosomal recessive genetic blood disorder with overdominance, characterized by red blood cells that assume an abnormal, rigid, sickle shape. Sickling decreases the cells' flexibility and results in a risk of various...
.
Personal life
Studdard met Surata Zuri McCants in October 2006, when he was signing CDs at a Wal-Mart in Atlanta. On June 28, 2008, Studdard married McCants in a short, private ceremony in Mountain Brook, Alabama.After a performance on American Idol on March 31, 2010, Ruben discussed losing approximately 80 pounds through a vegan diet and regular exercise.
On November 16, 2011 Studdard's attorney announced that Studdard was in the process of a divorce. "Ruben Studdard and Zuri McCants Studdard have separated, and they are in the process of seeking a dissolution of their marriage," said Byron Perkins.
Awards and nominations
- American Music AwardsAmerican Music Awards-Conception:The AMAs were created by Dick Clark in 1973 to compete with the Grammys after the move of that year's show to Nashville, Tennessee led to CBS picking up the Grammy telecasts after its first two in 1971 and 1972 were broadcast on ABC...
- 2004, Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist: (Nominated)
- BET AwardsBET AwardsThe BET Awards were established in 2001 by the Black Entertainment Television network to celebrate African Americans and other minorities in music, acting, sports, and other fields of entertainment over the past year. The awards are presented annually and broadcast live on BET...
- 2005, Best Gospel Artist: (Nominated)
- 2004, Best New Artist: (Nominated)
- 2004, Best Male R&B Artist: (Nominated)
- Grammy Awards
- 2004, Best Male R&B Vocal Performance: "Superstar" (Nominated)
- Image Awards
- 2004, Outstanding New Artist: SoulfulSoulful (Ruben Studdard album)Soulful is the 2003 debut album from second-season American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.-Track listing:# "Sorry 2004" – 4:22...
(Winner)
- 2004, Outstanding New Artist: Soulful
- Soul Train Awards
- 2004, Best New R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist: "Superstar" (Nominated)
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart Positions | Certifications (sales threshold Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... ) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
US Gospel |
US Indie Independent Albums The Billboard Independent Albums is a chart of the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays in the United States, compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is used to list artists who are not signed to major labels... |
||||||
| 2003 | Soulful Soulful (Ruben Studdard album) Soulful is the 2003 debut album from second-season American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.-Track listing:# "Sorry 2004" – 4:22...
(#54639) |
1 | 1 | — | — | RIAA certification: Platinum U.S. sales: 1.8 million |
|||
| 2004 | I Need an Angel I Need an Angel (album) I Need an Angel is the 2004 second album from American singer Ruben Studdard.-Track listing:# "I Need an Angel" – 4:51# "Center of My Joy" – 5:52# "Goin' Up Yonder" – 3:40# "Fix It, Jesus" – 3:46# "Amazing Grace" – 4:31... (#62623) |
20 | 6 | 1 | — | RIAA certification: Gold U.S. sales: 483,000 |
|||
| 2006 | The Return The Return (Ruben Studdard album) The Return is the third album by R&B-pop artist Ruben Studdard and was released on October 17, 2006. The first single, "Change Me", was released on July 31, 2006.-Reception:... (#78961) Music download A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment... |
8 | 2 | — | — | U.S. sales: 238,000 | |||
| 2009 | Love Is Love Is (Ruben Studdard album) Love Is is the fourth album by R&B-pop artist and American Idol winner Ruben Studdard that was released on May 19, 2009. The album debuted and peaked at #36 in the Billboard 200, with 15,000 copies sold in its first week of release. It featured production from Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and... Hickory Records Hickory Records is a United States record label founded by Acuff-Rose Music in 1954 which operated the label up to 1979. Present owner Sony/ATV Music Publishing revived the label in 2007. Originally based in Nashville, functioning as an independent label throughout its history, it has had several... (#301005) |
36 | 8 | — | 5 | U.S. sales: 50,000 | |||
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart or not released | |||||||||
Compilation albums
| Year | Album | Certifications (sales threshold Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... ) |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard Playlist: The Very Best of Ruben Studdard is a compilation of recordings by singer Ruben Studdard. It is part of a series of similar Playlist albums issued on the Legacy label by Sony Music Entertainment....
|
U.S. sales: 3,500 |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US 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... |
US R&B |
US Urban Urban contemporary Urban contemporary is a music radio format. The term was coined by the late New York DJ Frankie Crocker in the mid 1970s. Urban contemporary radio stations feature a playlist made up entirely of hip hop/rap, contemporary R&B, pop, electronica such as dubstep and drum and bass and Caribbean music... |
|||
| 2003 | "Flying Without Wings Flying Without Wings "Flying Without Wings" is a song released by Irish boyband Westlife from their self-titled debut album.-Background:The song became an instant hit in the United Kingdom and many parts of the world. The song became the group's third UK number 1 single, spending 13 weeks on charts. It is also one of... " |
2 | 13 | 27 | Non-album single |
| "Superstar" | 112 | 2 | — | Soulful Soulful (Ruben Studdard album) Soulful is the 2003 debut album from second-season American Idol winner Ruben Studdard.-Track listing:# "Sorry 2004" – 4:22... |
|
| 2004 | "Sorry 2004 Sorry 2004 "Sorry 2004" is a song recorded by the American R&B singer Ruben Studdard. It was released as a single from his 2003 album Soulful.-Chart performance:... " |
9 | 2 | — | |
| "What If" | — | 47 | — | ||
| "I Need an Angel I Need an Angel "I Need An Angel" is the title of a song by singer Daniel DeBourg released on his Tell the World album in 2002, that made #30 on the Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks chart. The song was produced by Derek S. Clark of Tacoma, Washington and written by R. Kelly.A version performed by R... " |
— | — | 32 | I Need an Angel I Need an Angel (album) I Need an Angel is the 2004 second album from American singer Ruben Studdard.-Track listing:# "I Need an Angel" – 4:51# "Center of My Joy" – 5:52# "Goin' Up Yonder" – 3:40# "Fix It, Jesus" – 3:46# "Amazing Grace" – 4:31... |
|
| 2006 | "Change Me" | 94 | 18 | 1 | The Return The Return (Ruben Studdard album) The Return is the third album by R&B-pop artist Ruben Studdard and was released on October 17, 2006. The first single, "Change Me", was released on July 31, 2006.-Reception:... |
| 2007 | "Make Ya Feel Beautiful Make Ya Feel Beautiful "Make Ya Feel Beautiful" is the second single from Ruben Studdard's third album The Return. It has reached a peak of #32 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart. In addition, the single has reached a peak at #6 on the Hot Adult R&B Airplay chart.... " |
— | 32 | 6 | |
| 2008 | "Celebrate Me Home Celebrate Me Home (song) "Celebrate Me Home" is a song written by Bob James and Kenny Loggins, and recorded by Loggins as the title track of his 1976 debut solo album Celebrate Me Home.-The Song:... " |
— | — | — | single |
| 2009 | "Together" | — | 60 | — | Love Is |
| "Don't Make 'Em Like U No More" | — | 32 | 40 |
Single certifications
| Year | Title | CAN Canadian Recording Industry Association Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada... |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Flying Without Wings" | 3x Platinum |
Other albums
- American Idol Season 2: All-Time Classic American Love Songs (2003)
- "What the World Needs Now" (with Season 2 Finalists)
- "God Bless the U.S.A. (Proud to Be an American)" (with Season 2 Finalists)
- Superstar
- American Idol: The Great Holiday Classics (2003)
- "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas"
- "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town" (American Idol Ensemble)
- "This Christmas"
- Genius & FriendsGenius & FriendsGenius & Friends is a 2005 studio album by rhythm and blues musician Ray Charles, consisting of previously unreleased duets between Charles and musicians recorded during 1997 to 2005...
(2005)- "ImagineImagine (song)"Imagine" is a song written and performed by the English musician John Lennon. It is the opening track on his album Imagine, released in 1971...
" with Ray CharlesRay CharlesRay Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...
and The Harlem Gospel Singers
- "Imagine
- Ain't Misbehavin' (2009 Cast Recording)
- "Honeysuckle Rose" duet with Frenchie Davis
- "The Jitterbug Waltz" with Patrice Covington & Company
- "Lounging At The Waldorf" with Frenchie Davis, Trenyce Cobbins & Patrice Covington
- "Your Feet's Too Big"
Filmography
- Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed (2004)
- Natural Born Komics (2006) (direct-to-DVD)