Jon B.

Some people become artists because they seek fortune and fame. They believe that somehow, performing, writing and producing will bring them the accolades and acclaim they feel they’ve been missing. And then there are the people who have no choice in the matter - artistry has chosen them. They are compelled to write, perform and record the way the rest of us are compelled to breathe. Whether they sell five million records or just five, some folks will always create.

Jon B is one of these rare individuals. He is the consummate artist. Unlike many of the posers who have attempted to lay claim to his niche, he is an accomplished musician, (he plays bass, drums, guitar and piano), and he is a noted songwriter and producer. His is a richly textured body of music, a testament to one man’s love for all things soul.

Born in Rhode Island, Jonathan Buck was raised primarily in Pasadena, Calif. During his childhood, he spent many an afternoon in the record store owned by his grandparents. “I literally listened to records all day long,” he attests. “I had a very large collection, and I didn’t even understand the cultural impact of the music I was listening to; I just knew I liked certain records, everything by The Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Ross ... I didn’t know anything about genre or style; I just knew good music.” Good music quickly became an addiction - and a life path. “The summer after I graduated from high school, I told my dad I was going to pursue music and not go to college. He just looked at me and said, ‘Well, you better get a record deal!’” Jon recalls with a laugh.

But the young artist’s commitment was no laughing matter. That very summer he wrote, produced and recorded 40 incredible songs and began making his rounds to all major record labels. Within a few months, he’d met Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and his wife, Tracy Edmonds, who were interested in signing Jon to their label imprint, Edmonds Record Group (formerly Yab Yum). “At first, I was simply trying to secure a deal as a songwriter and producer,” Jon informs. “But Kenny was adamant about me releasing my own record.” The relationship between Jon and Edmonds Record Group immediately bore fruit. His debut album, 1995’s platinum-certified “Bonafide”, was particularly notable for the song “Someone To Love,” a duet with Babyface. The single was a #5 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts. Looking back, Jon ventures: “That first album was really experimental. It was a fun project, and it helped me figure out what type of artist I wanted to be. But it was on my second album that I think I really hit it. I had focus, and I was growing as an artist. ”Platinum –certified Cool Relax album shot to the Top 5 of R&B charts upon its release in 1998, fueled by the success of “They Don’t Know,” a platinum-certified single and a #1 R&B hit.A highly melodic offering with an ultra-romantic vibe, “They Don’t Know” cemented Jon’s reputation as a balladeer with real heart. “Are You Still Down,” the B-side to “They Don’t Know,” peaked at #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks. He continued his mission with Pleasures U Like, which rose to #3 on the R&B charts in 2001. The first single, the hit love-at- first-club-sighting anthem “Don’t Talk” single-handedly pushed the album past 470,000 units sold and now yet another certified Gold album. His fourth album “Stronger Everyday” reaffirmed this fine tradition. Although the album was never promoted correctly and very limited funds backing the album, Stronger Everyday still managed to sell over 120,000 units. “It’s a shame that Sanctuary did not push the album the way they should have, the label had financial problems and stopped spending money on their artists. I was one of the
unfortunate ones who got caught up in the Sanctuary nightmare, but I still give thanks to Matthew Knowles for giving me another album for my fans. I sold 120,000 albums based on fan base alone, no video play, limited radio play, no advertising, no publicity...we basically were able to sell that many CD’s on website newsletters and live shows”

“Everything on this album is based on real experiences,” Jon says of the disc. “These are literal statements - I’m putting my life and soul into this music. An artist can have hot tracks, but if you’ve been through some rough times - and we all have - then I want to feel it in your music. I believe you must go deep and really tap into your emotions before you can speak the truth about anything.” Jon’s own musical roots go very deep. “Stronger Everyday” and-every-moment takes us on the musical journey that has become Jon’s life. It is cinematic, a real-life soundtrack based on one man’s travels, trials and tribulations. Stronger Everyday was Jon’s first album that went “outside of the box” when it comes to classic Jon B albums, with more dance tracks and collaborations, which included: ODB (AKA Dirt McGirt R.I.P.), Scarface, Babyface, Tupac, Beenieman and Tank. And though some might a