Jazze Pha
Jazze Pha | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Phalon Anton Alexander |
| Born | 1974 (age 49–50) Memphis, Tennessee, United States |
| Origin | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Genres | Hip hop, R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Record producer |
| Instrument(s) | Keyboards, Vocals, Sampler, Percussion |
| Years active | 1995-present |
| Labels | Sho'nuff Records, Atlantic Records |
Phalon Anton Alexander (born 1974), also known as Jazze Pha (/[invalid input: 'icon']ˌdʒæzi ˈfeɪ/ JAZ-ee FAY), is an American record producer. He is the son of James Alexander, a bassist for the R&B musical group The Bar-Kays.
Early life
Pha was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. His father is James Alexander, bassist for the Bar-Kays, an influential group on the Memphis soul scene in the 1960s. His mother is a singer named Denise Williams, though she is not chart-topping R&B and gospel singer, Deniece "Niecy" Williams.[1][2][3] Pha was named after the late Phalon Jones, another member of the Bar-Kays, who, along with three other Bar-Kays members, was killed in a 1967 plane crash.
Career
Pha is known for announcing "Ladies and gentlemen" both at the beginning and, occasionally, at the end of songs on which he is featured.
One of Jazze Pha's first musical appearances was on Erick Sermon's 1995 album Double or Nothing. On the album, Pha acts in a skit and raps in a collaboration with Sermon called "Man Above".
Jazze Pha reached his first commercial hit as a producer in 1996, with Tela's club anthem "Sho Nuff." Pha also played synthesizer on the track. Pha later produced supergroup LSG's first album, "Let a Playa Get his Freak On," in 1997. LSG consisted of Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, and Johnny Gill.
Pha has collaborated with a large number of other artists. These include Aaliyah, Big Boi, Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, Ciara, Eightball & MJG, Girlicious, Lil Wayne, Lisa "Left-Eye" Lopes, Ludacris, Nate Dogg, Nelly, Young Buck , Notorious B.I.G, Petey Pablo, Ras Kass, T.I., Trick Daddy, Sonji Mickey and U.G.K..
Pha helped Ciara begin her career as a performer. He produced her hit 2004 single "1, 2 Step" featuring Missy Elliott. Jazze Pha also produced Ciara's tracks "Thug Style", "Pick Up the Phone", and "Lookin' at You". In 2006, Pha produced her hit single "Get Up", featuring Chamillionaire. The two have not worked together since 2006.
Discography
- TBA: Ladies And Gentlemen
References
- ^ (2007, April 14) Let's Hear It For The Girl, Billboard
"Deniece Williams is not Jazze Pha's mom. While chatting about the pending release of her first R&B album in more than 10 years, the Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter wants to clear up a misconception she has been hearing and reading the past two years.
'I applaud him and his success,' Williams says of Pha, who has produced hits by Ciara and others. 'But he is not my son.'
For the record — confirmed by Pha's dad, Bar-Kays member James Alexander — the confusion surfaced because his son's mother shares the same name as the singing Williams." - ^ Tolliver, Vincent. "Jazze Pha: Behind The Music", bet.com, Music section
"Jazze Pha has been surrounded by music all his life. His father is James Alexander, bass guitarist for the Bar Kays. His mother, Denise Williams, is an accomplished singer, having worked with everyone from Earth, Wind, and Fire to Barbra Streisand. But she is not the same Deniece Williams that R&B fanatics have come to know and love. 'Yea man straighten that out,' he says, referring to the belief that his mother is the legendary singer." - ^ Galloway, A. Scott. "Love & Lunch... Niecy Style", Urban Network, Interviews section
"Jazze Pha has a mother named Denise Williams that people keep mistaking for me."