Raphael Saadiq

Infobox musical artist


Name = Raphael Saadiq
Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Charlie Ray Wiggins
Born = birth date and age|1966|5|14
Died =
Origin = Oakland, California, United States
Instrument = Vocals, Bass Guitar, Guitar, Keyboards
Genre = R&B/Neo Soul/Soul/Hip hop
Occupation = Singer-songwriter/Producer
Years_active = 1988-present
Label = Pookie Entertainment/Columbia Records, Sony BMG
Associated_acts = Tony! Toni! Toné!,Lucy Pearl
URL =

Raphael Saadiq (born Charlie Ray Wiggins on May 14 1966 in Oakland, California) is an acclaimed American music artist. He is a singer, songwriter and record producer associated with the neo soul music movement.

Saadiq has been playing music since the age of six. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, he played bass at church and school. He also enjoyed his onstage moments at various local events of his hometown.

Musical Career

Tony! Toni! Toné!

Saadiq made a name for himself as the lead vocalist in the rhythm and blues and dance trio Tony! Toni! Toné!. He used the name Raphael Wiggins while in Tony! Toni! Toné!, where he was joined by his brother Dwayne Wiggins, and his cousin Timothy Christian. He adopted the name of Raphael Saadiq in the mid-1990s. [cite web |url=http://www.soulmusic.com/rasa20in.html |title=Raphael Saadiq 2008 Interview |accessdate=2008-09-27 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |first=Jeff |last=Lorez |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |year= |month= |format= |work=SoulMusic.com |publisher= |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

After the 1996 Tony! Toni! Toné! album, he released "House of Music" as Raphael Saadiq and thus started his solo career. His biggest solo success was his 1995 single "Ask of You", which peaked at #19 in the U.S. Saadiq also hooked up with EPMD for 1998's Da Joint.

Lucy Pearl

He produced a few solo tracks, but Saadiq's next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He recorded the self-titled album with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). This group only lasted for one album.

He released his second solo album "Instant Vintage" in 2002 and earned 5 Grammy nominations.

Musical Producer

Saadiq also has helped produce songs for various other artists.

He collaborated in songwriting and production for D'Angelo's albums.

His 2000 song collaboration "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" won D'Angelo a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance; it was also nominated for Grammy Award for Best R&B Song [ [http://www.tower.com/voodoo-dangelo-cd/wapi/106263815 Tower.com: Voodoo (EXPLICIT) (CD) by D'Angelo (Artist) Music] . Tower.com. Retrieved on 2008-08-08.] . The song was also ranked #4 on "Rolling Stone" "End of Year Critics & Readers Poll" of the top singles of 2000 [ [http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/rolling.htm#2000 Rolling Stone End of year Critic & Readers lists] . www.rocklist.net. Retrieved on 2008-08-08.] . The "Voodoo (album)" also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Album at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

Other artists he has collaborated with include Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, The Isley Brothers, Teedra Moses, The Roots, Macy Gray, Snoop Dogg, Devin the Dude, Kelis, Q-Tip, Lil' Skeeter, Ludacris, The Bee Gees, Nappy Roots, T-Boz from TLC, Joss Stone, Young Bellz, Earth, Wind & Fire as well as many others.

In 2002, Saadiq founded his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. Among the artists on the label are Joi (singer), ex-Lucy Pearl member Rashon Graves, and Truth Hurts

In 2007, Saadiq was called on to produce the whole third album from UK Soul singer Joss Stone.

His official website currently reveals that he is working on a new album for Columbia Records.

Saadiq released his 4th Solo Album, The Way I See It, on September 16th 2008. The Album features collaborations with Stevie Wonder and Joss Stone.

Discography

*"Instant Vintage" (2002)
*"All Hits at the House of Blues" (2003)
*"Ray Ray" (2004)
*"The Way I See It" (2008)

ingles

* 1995: "Ask of You" (US #19)
* 1999: "Get Involved" (featuring Q-Tip)
* 2002: "Be Here" (featuring D'Angelo)
* 2002: "Still Ray"
* 2004: "Rifle Love" (featuring Lucy Pearl & Tony! Toni! Toné!)
* 2004: "Chic Like You" (featuring Alliebaba)
* 2005: "I Want You Back" (featuring Teedra Moses)
* 2008: "Love That Girl"

ee also

*Neo soul
*Tony! Toni! Toné!
*Lucy Pearl
*Teedra Moses
*The Ummah
*Joss Stone
*Snoop Dogg

References

External Links

* [http://www.raphaelsaadiq.com/ Official Page]
* [http://www.go-entertainment.com/gowebsite_033.htm Raphael Saadiq profile]
* [http://www.pookieentertainment.com/ Pookie Entertainment website]