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3 years ago
United States Donell Jones is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer known for his contributions to contemporary R&B, with a career marked by hit singles and platinum-certified albums.
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Request A ShowDonell Jones signed with Eddie F's record label Untouchables Entertainment at the beginning of his career, which served as a stepping stone to his work for LaFace Records.
Donell Jones formed a partnership with LaFace Records (through Eddie F) and later with L.A. Reid and Babyface. He released several successful albums under this label, including 'My Heart', 'Where I Wanna Be', 'Life Goes On', and 'Journey of a Gemini'.
Donell Jones partnered with eOne Music for distribution and marketing of his albums, including 'Lyrics' and 'Forever', after transitioning to independent releases.
Donell Jones was born on May 22, 1973, in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Renee Byrd and gospel singer Roy Jones. He began his career in the mid-1990s after meeting record producer Eddie F of Heavy D & the Boyz. Jones signed with Untouchables Entertainment and LaFace Records, initially working as a songwriter for artists like Usher and 702. In June 1996, he released his debut studio album, “My Heart,” which featured his own production alongside contributions from Eddie Ferrell’s team. The album peaked at number 30 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and included singles “In the Hood” and a cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Knocks Me Off My Feet,” both of which became top thirty hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Jones achieved significant commercial success with his second album, “Where I Wanna Be,” released in 1999. The album’s lead single, “U Know What’s Up” featuring Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes, reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 and was a global hit, peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart. The album itself reached number six on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certified platinum by the RIAA. Further singles from the album included “Shorty (Got Her Eyes On Me)” and “Where I Wanna Be,” with the latter peaking at number two on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2000, Jones recorded “I’ll Go” for the “Love & Basketball” soundtrack, receiving a Black Reel Award nomination, and was recognized with an American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist.
His third album, “Life Goes On,” released in June 2002, debuted at number three on both the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts, becoming his highest-charting album to date and earning gold certification from the RIAA. The album’s lead single, “You Know That I Love You,” became a top twenty hit on the R&B charts. In 2006, Jones released “Journey of a Gemini,” which topped Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and entered the top 20 on the Billboard 200. Following his tenure with LaFace, which concluded with “The Best of Donell Jones” in 2007, he moved to independent releases, including “The Lost Files” (2009), “Lyrics” (2010), “Forever” (2013), and “100% Free” (2021). Throughout his career, Jones has consistently written, produced, and performed his own music, collaborating with artists such as David Banner, Jacquees, and Jon B.
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