Kenny Lattimore
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| Kenny Lattimore | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Kenneth Lee Lattimore |
| Born | April 10, 1967 |
| Origin | Washington, DC |
| Genre(s) | R&B, Gospel, Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals |
| Years active | 1988-present |
| Label(s) | Epic (Maniquin, 1988) Columbia (1995-2000) Arista (2000-2004) LaFace (2004-2007) |
| Associated acts | Chanté Moore, Maniquin, William Becton |
| Website | KennyLattimore.com |
Kenny Lattimore (born April 10, 1967) is an American R&B singer. Among his most popular hits were "Never Too Busy" and "For You".
Contents |
[edit] Background
[edit] Early career
Lattimore first developed his interest for music in the high school band program at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, Maryland. He often acknowledges Dr. Baker for setting him on current path. Lattimore recently spoke at the 2005 Eleanor Roosevelt High School Graduation.[1]
A stint as session vocalist for R&B group Maniquin lead to an official place in the group as lead singer. The group released a lone self-titled album for Epic Records in 1989. Its lead single "I Wanna Ride" was an answer to the hit single "Mercedes Boy" by Pebbles in both sound and lyric. Both artists' singles were produced and co-written by Charlie Wilson of Gap Band fame.[2] Lattimore soon left Maniquin to pursue a solo career, after which time the group disbanded.[3]
[edit] A solo debut
His own debut album Kenny Lattimore finally materialized on Columbia Records in 1996 to much fanfare. That set boasted a pair of Top 20 hits "Never Too Busy" and the perennial wedding favorite "For You" written by fellow Eleanor Roosevelt High School Alumni, Kenny Lerum. The huge success of the album earned Lattimore a win for Best New Artist at the NAACP Image Awards in 1996,[4] and eventually achieved Gold sales status.
He followed his debut up with another critically-acclaimed set of smouldering soul music when From the Soul of Man was released in 1998, yielding the hits "Days Like This" and "If I Lose My Woman". After a short hiatus, the singer re-emerged with a new album and a new label. Arista Records would be the new home for Weekend whose title track was a radio favorite on both sides of the Atlantic.[5]
[edit] Stage persona
In keeping with the lover man image that came to the forefront with the hits that launched his career, Lattimore is known for his dramatic stage shows, vocal agility, and romantic ambiance. The New York Times hailed him as a "modern soul man" on stage.[6] The singer has long established in interviews his personal mission to show the "strong, but sensitive and caring side of Black men."[7]
[edit] Career as a married duo
He married R&B singer Chanté Moore on January 1, 2002.[8] In 2003, he and his wife recorded a duet album entitled Things That Lovers Do consisting of classic soul songs from the 70's and 80's plus two new original songs. The standout singles were the smooth & contemporary "Loveable (From Your Head To Your Toes)" and an upbeat funky cover of René & Angela's "You Don't Have To Cry". The music video for the latter featured a very pregnant Chante Moore shortly before she gave birth to the couple's son Kenny Jr. on April 10, 2003. Lattimore & Moore continued promoting the album with a hugely successful touring stage show.
Following the success of Things That Lovers Do, Kenny released another album of duets with his wife. This time, the duo bested the previous effort with a double-CD of gospel and R&B love songs entitled Uncovered/Covered. The set will be lead off by dual singles, a slick Bryan Michael Cox production "Figure It Out", as well as "Make Me Like The Moon", a stirring gospel ballad co-written by Kenny and Chanté, and produced by Fred Hammond. Uncovered/Covered was released in stores October 10, 2006 on LaFace/Verity/Zomba Music Group and debuted at #10 on the Billboard R&B Charts and #2 on the Billboard Gospel charts its first week in stores. One reviewer called the album a "mood motivator appropriately set to ruffle the covers of the marriage bed."[9]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
| Year | Artist | Album | Label | Charts/Sales Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Maniquin | Maniquin | Epic | |
| 1996 | Kenny Lattimore | Kenny Lattimore | Columbia | Chart Peak: US Pop #92, R&B #19, Heatseekers #1. RIAA Description: Gold. |
| 1998 | Kenny Lattimore | From the Soul of Man | Columbia | Chart peak: US Pop #71, R&B #15. |
| 2001 | Kenny Lattimore | Weekend | Arista | Chart Peak: US Pop #64, R&B #25. |
| 2003 | Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore | Things That Lovers Do | Arista | Chart Peak: US Pop #31, R&B #3. Worldwide sales: 1 million copies. |
| 2006 | Kenny Lattimore & Chante Moore | Uncovered/Covered | LaFace/Verity | Chart peak: US Pop #95, R&B #10, Gospel #2. |
[edit] Compilations
| Year | Artist | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Kenny Lattimore | Days Like This: The Best Of Kenny Lattimore |
Columbia/Legacy |
| 2006 | Kenny Lattimore | For You (compilation) | Sony Music Special Products |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Artist | Title | Album | US | US R&B |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Maniquin | "I Wanna Ride" | Maniquin | ||
| Maniquin | "Funny Feeling" b/w "Why Do You Lie" | Maniquin | |||
| 1996 | Kenny Lattimore | "Never Too Busy" | Kenny Lattimore | 89 | 19 |
| Kenny Lattimore | "Just What It Takes" | Kenny Lattimore | - | 55 | |
| 1997 | Kenny Lattimore | "For You" | Kenny Lattimore | 33 | 6 |
| 1998 | Kenny Lattimore | "Days Like This" | From the Soul of Man | - | 84 |
| 1999 | Kenny Lattimore | "If I Lose My Woman" | From the Soul of Man | - | 50 |
| Kenny Lattimore | "Heaven & Earth" | From the Soul of Man | - | - | |
| Kenny Lattimore | "Love Will Find a Way" (Duet with Heather Headley) |
From the Soul of Man | - | - | |
| 2001 | Kenny Lattimore | "Weekend" | Weekend | - | 51 |
| Kenny Lattimore | "Don't Deserve" | Weekend | - | - | |
| 2003 | Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore | "Loveable (From Your Head To Your Toes)" | Things That Lovers Do | n/a | n/a |
| Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore | "You Don't Have To Cry" | Things That Lovers Do | n/a | n/a | |
| 2005 | Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore | "Tonight [2 Step]" | Uncovered/Covered | n/a | n/a |
| 2006 | Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore | "Figure It Out" | Uncovered/Covered | n/a | n/a |
| Kenny Lattimore & Chanté Moore | "Make Me Like The Moon" | Uncovered/Covered | n/a | n/a |
Discography References: [10]
[edit] References
- ^ Kenny Lattimore Career
- ^ Charlie Wilson on Discogs.com
- ^ What Men Don't Tell Biographies. MEI Productions.
- ^ Kenny Lattimore Awards. The Envelope.
- ^ Listen Out For 2002. SoulWalking.co.uk.
- ^ POP REVIEW; Two Brothers Who Are Carrying On the Family Act. New York Times (January 1, 2002).
- ^ '97 Super Bachelors - Eligible African American Bachelors. Ebony (June 1997).
- ^ Singers Chante Moore and Kenny Lattimore wed in Jamaica. Jet (February 4, 2002).
- ^ KENNY AND CHANTE PLAY MARRIAGE THERAPISTS WITH NEW ALBUM: Couple heeds their calling with "Covered/Uncovered"; God knows Christian marriages need it.. EURweb (October 13, 2006).
- ^ Kenny Lattimore Charts & Awards. All Music Guide.
