R. Kelly

R. Kelly
Kelly performing in 2017
Born
Robert Sylvester Kelly

(1967-01-08) January 8, 1967 (age 57)
Other names
  • Pied Piper
  • Kellz
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • record producer
  • actor
Years active1989–2018
Works
Spouses
  • (m. 1994; ann. 1995)
  • (m. 1996; div. 2009)
Children3
AwardsFull list
Musical career
OriginChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • piano
  • multi-instrumentalist
Labels
Criminal information
Criminal statusImprisoned
Criminal charge
Penalty31 years imprisonment[2][3]
Websiter-kelly.com

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967), better known by his professional name R. Kelly, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and convicted felon. He achieved tremendous success in R&B, hip hop, and popular music, earning nicknames such as "the King of R&B", "the King of Pop-Soul",[4][5] and "the Pied Piper of R&B".[6] However, his illustrious career has been overshadowed by convictions involving the sexual abuse of minors, including federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges in 2021 and 2022, for which he is currently serving a 31-year prison sentence.[7]

Kelly has released 18 acclaimed studio albums highlighted by a number of hit records, including "I Believe I Can Fly", "Bump N' Grind", "Your Body's Callin'", "Fiesta (Remix)", "Ignition (Remix)", "Step in the Name of Love (Remix)", "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time", "The World's Greatest", "I'm a Flirt (Remix)", and the hip hopera Trapped in the Closet. In 1998, he was awarded three Grammy Awards for "I Believe I Can Fly".[8]

In addition to his own music, Kelly's extensive writing credits and production discography include songs for famous artists such as Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion, Justin Bieber, Snoop Dogg, The Isley Brothers, Janet Jackson, Chris Brown, The Notorious B.I.G., Lady Gaga, Aaliyah, Usher, Ciara, Toni Braxton, Luther Vandross, Mary J. Blige, Kelly Rowland, Nas, Maxwell, Chance the Rapper, Ja Rule, Billy Ocean, Trisha Yearwood, Ty Dolla $ign, Kelly Price, Jhené Aiko, and B2K. His 1998 collaboration with Dion, "I'm Your Angel", topped the Billboard Hot 100. In 1996, Kelly received a Grammy Award nomination for writing and producing "You Are Not Alone" for Michael Jackson, garnering a Guinness World Record as the first song in history to debut at number one on the Billboard Hot 100.[8]

Kelly has sold over 75 million albums and singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time[9][10]and the most successful R&B male artist of the 1990s. The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has recognized Kelly as one of the best-selling music artists in the United States with 40 million albums sold, as well as only the fifth black artist to crack the top 50 of the same list.[11] In March 2011, Kelly was named the most successful R&B artist of the last 25 years by Billboard.[12][13][14] Throughout his career, Kelly has been awarded Grammy Awards, BET Awards, Soul Train Music Awards, Billboard Music Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and American Music Awards.

Following leaked video recordings, Kelly was prosecuted on child pornography charges in 2002, leading to a controversial trial that ended with his acquittal in 2008 on all charges. Renewed interest in the allegations resulted in additional investigations by law enforcement beginning in 2019, which led to multiple convictions and Kelly's arrest. In 2021 and 2022, Kelly was convicted on multiple charges involving child sexual abuse. As of 2023, Kelly is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCI Butner Medium I.

  1. ^ "R. Kelly convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking by a federal jury in New York". CNN. September 27, 2021. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "R. Kelly, already serving 30 years for sex trafficking, sentenced to 20 years in federal child porn case". CNN. February 23, 2023.
  3. ^ "U.S. prosecutors ask for 25 more years in prison for R. Kelly". NPR. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  4. ^ Jet. Johnson Publishing Company. December 28, 1998 – January 4, 1999. p. 56. Retrieved October 27, 2014 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Holden, Stephen (December 17, 1995). "Pop Briefs". The New York Times. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
  6. ^ "Who Is The Pied Piper? The Mysterious Fairytale That Inspired R. Kelly". Oxygen Official Site. January 11, 2019. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
  7. ^ Savage, Mark (February 24, 2023). "R. Kelly: The history of his crimes and allegations against him". bbc.com. BBC. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "R. Kelly". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. March 17, 2014. Archived from the original on September 28, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  9. ^ "Spotify joins the growing chorus to #MuteRKelly". Asia Pacific Daily. May 11, 2018. Archived from the original on May 15, 2018. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  10. ^ "Top 90's R&B/Hip-Hop Artists". December 25, 1999 – January 1, 2000. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
  11. ^ "Top Selling Artists - September 10, 2012". RIAA. Retrieved September 10, 2012.
  12. ^ Date: November 18, 2010 9:19:22 PM (November 18, 2010). "Billboard Names R. Kelly The #1 R&B Artist Of Past 25 Years". Singersroom.com. Retrieved February 20, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  13. ^ "The Juice Presents Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years — The Juice". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
  14. ^ "Music — News — R Kelly named best-selling R&B artist". Digital Spy. November 19, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.