Kelly Price
Kelly Price (born April 4 1973 in Queens, New York) is a Grammy Award-nominated American R&B and soul singer, formerly the flagship female artist on the Def Soul label.
Biography
Price first made a name for herself as a prominent background and guest vocalist, appearing on a number of hit singles such as Mariah Carey's "Fantasy", The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Mo Money Mo Problems", and Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel". She has also sung background vocals for Faith Evans, Aretha Franklin, and Brian McKnight.
She issued her debut album, Soul of a Woman, in 1998 on Island Records, which contained the hit single "Friend of Mine". A popular "Friend of Mine" remix, also included on the album, features R. Kelly and Ronald Isley. Isley takes on the role of Price's uncle "Mr. Biggs", who takes Price's husband (played by R. Kelly) to task for cheating on Price with her best friend. The "Friend of Mine" Remix was a #1 hit on the US R&B charts.
Price became one of a number of popular full-figured R&B performers of the late-1990s, and received notable attention when she lost over 100 pounds to aid her health. She issued her second album, Mirror Mirror, in 2000 on the Def Soul imprint of Def Jam Records; Island and Def Jam had merged in 1999, with Price and labelmates Dru Hill being reassigned to Def Soul. Mirror Mirror featured the singles "You Should've Told Me" and the Grammy nominated [1] "As We Lay", a cover of Shirley Murdock's 1983 hit. A remix of Mirror Mirror's "Love Sets You Free" was issued a single in 2000, produced by Teddy Riley and starring a number of fellow R&B performers, including Babyface, Tamar Braxton, Aaron Hall, Blackstreet, and Def Soul labelmates Dru Hill, Case, Montell Jordan, LovHer, and Kandice Love.
Kelly Price was featured in the 2004 film Bringing Down the House, performing a cover of the Rufus & Chaka Khan hit "Ain't Nobody".
A Christmas album, One Family, was issued in 2001. Two years later, Price returned with her third regular studio album, Priceless. In October 2005, Price recorded her first live gospel project. The This Is Who I Am album has been released on October 24, 2006 on her own label, EcclectiSounds Records, and peaked #9 on the R&B/Hip Hop album chart.
Price was inducted as an honorary member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. in July 2006.
Family
Price lives with her husband/manager, Jeffrey Rolle, and their children, Jeffrey Jr., 14, and Jonia, 12 as of 2006 on their 2 1/2-acre property and home located outside of Atlanta, Georgia.
Price grew up in the projects of Queens, New York where her family often went hungry. She never really knew her father who died when she was only 9 years old.
Her grandfather was a Pentecostal pastor, and her mother, Claudia Price, was the musical director of the church. Price began singing in the church as a 6-year-old with a big voice and a nickname of 'Little Mahalia Jackson.'[2]
Breast cancer activist
In December 2000, Price donated $250,000 to fight breast cancer. She presented a check to Tony Martell of the T.J. Martell Foundation and Denise Rich of G&P Foundation For Cancer Research to help with the ongoing fight against breast cancer. Price donated the proceeds from her hit single Love Sets You Free which she recorded in January 2000 with the help of Sisqo, Montell Jordan, Case, Playa, Kandice Love, and Lovher.[3]
In April 1999, Price volunteered to showcase her fashion designs during a special charity gala and fashion show to help the National Breast Cancer Awareness Initiative raise money for breast cancer education for minority women.[4]
In 1998 Price learned that her mother-in-law was suffering from breast cancer. Then in 1998 Price's own mother also was diagnosed with the disease, and her mother-in-law died from the disease.[5]
Claudia Price, the mother of Kelly, is a survivor of inflammatory breast cancer which is the deadliest and most deceptive type of breast cancer.[6] Claudia, who is a New York City resident, has become a breast cancer activist to educate the public about the disease. She was the chairwoman of the seventh annual Sister to Sister Fitness Festival held in Dallas, Texas which was sponsored by the Celebrating Life Foundation.
Claudia experienced pain in her breast in 1997, but the 55-year-old survivor said fear and a lack of insurance kept her from seeking immediate medical attention. Instead, she waited two years before seeing a doctor. While at work one day in 1999, her doctor called with the news: She had inflammatory breast cancer. Doctors gave her only two months to live. She underwent chemotherapy, and the disease as of October, 2006 is in remission.[7]
Discography
Albums
- 1998: Soul of a Woman #15 US (Certified: Platinum)
- 2000: Mirror Mirror #5 US (Certified: Platinum)
- 2001: One Family: A Christmas Album #176 US
- 2003: Priceless #10 US (Certified: Gold)
- 2006: This Is Who I Am #56 US
Singles
- 1998: "Friend of Mine"
- 1998: "Friend of Mine [Remix]" (featuring Ronald Isley AKA "Mr. Biggs" and R. Kelly) (US #12 Pop / #1 R&B)
- 1999: "Secret Love" (US #99 Pop / #34 R&B)
- 1999: "It's Gonna Rain" (Life Soundtrack) (US #51 R&B)
- 2000: "As We Lay" (US #64 Pop / #12 R&B)
- 2000: "Love Sets You Free [Remix]" (featuring Montell Jordan, Dru Hill, Case, LovHer, Kandice Love, and Teddy Riley) (US #91 Pop / #24 R&B)
- 2000: "You Should've Told Me" (US #64 Pop / #16 R&B)
- 2001: "Mirror, Mirror" (US #33 Dance)
- 2002: "In Love At Christmas" (US #72 R&B)
- 2002: Take It 2 The Head (featuring Keith Murray) (Promo)
- 2002: "Someday"
- 2002: "How Does It Feel (Married Your Girl)"
- 2003: "He Proposed" (US #58 R&B)
- 2006: "God’s Gift" (Jeff Majors featuring Kelly Price) (US #51 R&B)
- 2006: "Healing"
Grammy Nominations
- 2000: R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo or Group, "Heartbreak Hotel" (with Whitney Houston and Faith Evans)
- 2001: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, "As We Lay"
- 2003: Traditional R&B Vocal Performance, "He Proposed"