Jon B.
Jonathan David Buck (born November 11, 1974) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and record producer. His debut album Bonafide (1995), spawned the hit singles "Pretty Girl" and "Someone to Love" (featuring Babyface), the latter of which reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 and was nominated at the Grammys Awards for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. He then co-wrote the single "Say You'll Be There" for the Spice Girls. His second album Cool Relax (1997), was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Cool Relax included the hit singles "Are U Still Down" (featuring Tupac Shakur) and "They Don't Know". His third album Pleasures U Like (2001), reached the top ten on the Billboard 200 chart.
Jon B. | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Jonathan Buck |
| Also known as | Jon B |
| Born | November 11, 1974 Providence, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Origin | Pasadena, California, U.S.[1] |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | jonbworld |
Early life
Born in Providence, Rhode Island, United States and raised in Altadena, California, Buck comes from a musical family—his father, David, was a professor of music; his mother, Linda, was a concert pianist; his sister Deborah was a violinist; and his brother Kevin was a cellist.[2] His mother is Jewish and his father is of Dutch descent. In 1992, Jon B. was shopping demos when he caught the attention of Tracey Edmonds, then-president and CEO of Yab-Yum Records.[2]
Artistry
In the late 1990s, Buck noted that he was inspired by the neo soul movement, stating "There's a wave of music now that's crossing racial and cultural barriers--like Lauryn Hill, Erykah Badu, and D'Angelo-that's bringing back the classic soul sound." while adding "That's the sound that has influenced me the most in my life."[3]
Career
Jon B's early influences as a musician include: Duran Duran, INXS, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Babyface, Prince, and Sade. He spent the summer after high school writing, producing and recording 40 songs and began making his rounds to all the major record labels.
1994–97: Bonafide and Cool Relax
Before his rise to fame, Buck pursued a songwriting career, and wrote songs for After 7, Toni Braxton, Michael Jackson, Color Me Badd, the Spice Girls and others.[4][5] Buck's popularity began in the mid-1990s, after he released his debut studio album in 1995 titled Bonafide; which spawned the popular hit and Grammy-nominated single "Someone to Love", which featured Babyface. The album was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies and being certified platinum.
He released his second studio album, Cool Relax, in 1997; the album spawned the top-10 single "They Don't Know" and two other top-20 hits, including "Are U Still Down" featuring Tupac Shakur. Cool Relax received generally positive reviews from music critics, and it is his most successful album commercially; it has been certified as double platinum by the RIAA. Buck would also co-write the Brownstone hit "5 Miles to Empty" in 1997.
While on tour promoting Cool Relax, he formed a group with two of his backup singers, Dominiquinn and Silky Deluxe, collectively named Jack Herrera.[6] A full album, titled Retro Futuristo, was put together but never officially released.
Discography
Studio albums
| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | |||
| Bonafide | 79 | 24 | ||
| Cool Relax |
|
33 | 5 |
|
| Pleasures U Like | 6 | 3 | ||
| Stronger Everyday |
|
140 | 17 | |
| Holiday Wishes: From Me to You |
|
— | — | |
| Helpless Romantic |
|
109 | 11 | |
| Comfortable Swagg |
|
— | — | |
Compilations
- 1999: Love Hurts
- 2002: Are U Still Down: Greatest Hits
- 2013: B-Sides Collection
Mixtapes
- 2013: Digital Dynasty R&B 3[8]
Singles
| Title | Year | Peak chart positions | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [9][10][11] |
US R&B [9] |
UK [12] | |||
| "Someone to Love" (featuring Babyface) |
1995 | 10 | 7 | 98 | Bonafide |
| "Pretty Girl" | 25 | 21 | 78 | ||
| "Isn't It Scary" | 1996 | — | 66 | — | |
| "Simple Melody" (featuring Bootsy Collins) |
— | — | — | ||
| "Don't Say" | 1997 | 68 | 34 | — | Cool Relax |
| "Are U Still Down"[upper-alpha 1] (featuring 2Pac) |
1998 | 29 | 2 | — | |
| "They Don't Know"[upper-alpha 1] | 7 | 32 | |||
| "I Do (Whatcha Say Boo)" | 117 | 18 | — | ||
| "Cool Relax" | — | — | — | ||
| "Don't Talk" | 2001 | 58 | 21 | 29 | Pleasures U Like |
| "Now I'm With You" | — | 117 | — | ||
| "Lately" | 2004 | — | — | 68 | Stronger Everyday |
| "Everytime" | — | — | 193 | ||
| "Ooh So Sexy" (featuring Paul Wall) |
2008 | — | 98 | — | Helpless Romantic |
| "Helpless Romantic" | — | 25 | — | ||
| "Only One" | 2012 | — | — | — | Comfortable Swagg |
| "Comfortable Swagg" | — | — | — | ||
| "Understand" (featuring Donell Jones) |
2019 | — | — | — | TBA |
| "Priceless" | — | — | — | ||
Notes
- "Are U Still Down" and "They Don't Know" were issued together as a double-sided single. The two songs were listed as a single entry on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart because both were receiving substantial airplay at the publication's panel of R&B radio stations.[13] On the Hot 100, each song was listed individually at different times over a single chart run, as neither title had reached the Hot 100 Airplay component chart when the latter overtook the former in airplay.[14]
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award |
|---|---|
| 1995 | Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "Someone to Love" |
| 1998 | Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Artist |
| 1998 | Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Artists – Male |
| 1998 | Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot R&B Single for "They Don't Know/Are U Still Down" |
| 1998 | Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot R&B Singles Artists |
| 1998 | Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot R&B Singles Artists – Male |
| 1998 | Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot R&B Singles Sales for "They Don't Know/Are U Still Down" |
| 1998 | Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best Male Single for "They Don't Know/Are U Still Down" |
Other honors
On January 15, 2016, Rep. Carlos E. Tobon and Mayor Don Grebien presented Jon B. with a state citation and a key to the City of Pawtucket[15]
References
- "Jon B. | News, Music Performances and Show Video Clips". MTV.com. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
- Hunter, Karen. "JON B: 'THAT GRAMMY & ME'". New York Daily News. Retrieved May 12, 2015.
- Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. March 20, 1999.
- Color Me Badd - Now & Forever, retrieved March 20, 2023
- Color Me Badd - Sexual Capacity, retrieved March 20, 2023
- MTV News – Articles – 1430674 – 02101999. MTV.
- "Gold/Platinum: Jon B." Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 20, 2023.
- "Download: Digital Dynasty 3, Hosted By The Alchemist". Ballerstatus.com. December 20, 2008.
- Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – Jon B.. Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- allmusic ( Jon B. > Discography > Singles & EPs ). Retrieved November 6, 2007.
- "Billboard Hot 100 Singles". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 20. BPI Communications. May 16, 1998. p. 100. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 35. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- Faison, Datu (March 14, 1998). "Datu Faison's Rhythm Section". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 11. BPI Communications. p. 36. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- Sandiford-Waller, Theda (May 23, 1998). "Hot 100 Singles Spotlight". Billboard. Vol. 110, no. 21. BPI Communications. p. 93. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved August 12, 2019.
- "MEDIA ADVISORY: Rep. Tobon and Mayor Grebien to present Jon B. with citations and key to the City of Pawtucket". State of Rhode Island. January 15, 2016. Retrieved December 30, 2022.