Sparkle (singer)

Sparkle (born Stephanie Edwards ) in Chicago IL. Sparkle is an American R&B singer, initially a protégé of R. Kelly.

Career and Controversy

Sparkle first started singing at an early age in her family's music group. She met singer R. Kelly in 1989 while he was in the studio working with the artist Billy Ocean. Sparkle is best known for her song "Be Careful," a 1998 duet with R. Kelly. Sparkle's top hits were "Be Careful", "Time To Move On" and "What About". Sparkle sang most of the background vocals on Aaliyah's debut CD "Age Ain't Nothing But A Number" and sang background with R. Kelly on Mary J. Blige's "Share My World" cd before releasing her eponymous debut album in 1998 on Kelly's Rockland Records (with distribution through Interscope Records).

Sparkle and Rockland Records performed well which certified her debut album Platinum status; thanks to the most popular song duet with mentor R. Kelly. The conflicts between Sparkle and the label were few while Kelly didn't want Sparkle or any of his artist to have significant others. The conflicts were not many but Sparkle asked that she be released anyway and was released after R. Kelly fought to keep her on his label fell through.

Sparkle was finally released in early 2000 which would lead her to signing with Motown Records. With the help of Motown, Sparkle then released her second album "Told You So" in 2000. featuring production by Steve Huff, the album was a commercial disappointment, although scoring a moderate hit with the single, "It's A Fact" and a minor hit, with "Good Life. Sparkle never tried to team back up with former partner R. Kelly although his people reached out to her to do so in hopes to shut her up regarding the alleged sex tape which Sparkle states features her niece Reshona Landfair. Sparkle's niece allegedly appears on a widely-bootlegged sex-tape with R. Kelly; If true she would have been underage at the time the tape was made. R. Kelly and the accused niece deny it is them on the tape.

Through the rough times dealing with family turmoil, Sparkle has been modeling and acting and also helping her good friend Toni Braxton out in Las Vegas by singing with her on stage in her show "Toni Braxton - Revealed".

She is currently recording her next album, Split Decision", which will be in stores Spring 2009.

Discography

Albums

* "Sparkle" (1998)
* "Told You So" (2000)
* "Split Decision" (2009)

ingles

* "Be Careful" (feat. R.Kelly)
* "Time To Move On"
* "What About"
* "It's a Fact"
* "Good Life"