Randevyn

Infobox musical artist
Name = Randevyn
Background = solo_singer
Legal Name = Randevyn Pierre Joyner
Born = birth date and age|1978|12|11
Origin = Hampton, Virginia, United States
Genres = Pop, Rock, Urban Alternative, Soul, Rhythms and Blues] , dn|Alternative
Occupation = Singer-Songwriter, Activist
Instrument = Vocals, Piano
Years_active = 2005-present
Associated_acts = None noted
Label = Earthtone Music, LLC (EMG)
URL = [http://www.randevyn.com www.randevyn.com] Randevyn "(ran-dev-vin)" Joyner is an American pop/urban alternative singer-songwriter, musician and composer currently best known for his 2005 independent album release titled, "SolTrain".

Early Years

Born December 11, 1978 in Hampton, Virginia, Randevyn spent his early years living on the east coast where his father, a young, pianist and singer-songwriter passionately pursued a professional music career as a gospel musician. After years of unsuccessful attempts to land a recording contract with his 7 brothers and 1 sister, Randevyn's father joined the United States Army. The family later relocated to Kileen, Texas for a short period before heading to Germany twice; once for two years and another 6-year tour of duty. After finally returning to the United States in 1992, the Joyners settled in Widefield, Colorado. While attending Widefield High School, Randevyn quickly moved from his short-lived defensive lineman position on the junior varsity football team into the spotlight on the school auditorium's center stage. Singing in a talent show with his older brother and another classmate, Randevyn performed Jodeci's "I'm Still Waiting". Days later when the footage from the show aired on the morning news, he was invited by the school's chorus instructor to join choir class. Because he could not read music, Randevyn was reluctant to accept the invitation. After making the decision to join the school's choir class, Randevyn excelled as a top-notch baritone. Later in the school year, Randevyn was unable to clear his audition for the All State Competition Choir. Although he'd learned to sing notes perfectly by ear, he could not sight-read and was paraylzed before judges. During his senior year, Randevyn learned to play the piano and was selected as the director for the school's inspirational choir.

Biography

Hailing from Colorado, Randevyn Joyner, the son of a singing preacher, first discovered his talents in Pirmasens, Germany as the lead vocalist for his father's gospel choir at the age of 10. After relocating to the United States at 13, he began playing piano and organ for his local church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. As a high school student, Joyner recorded Christian music with Verity Records' Stellar Award-winning, Colorado Mass Choir as well as EMI's Denver-based, Heritage Christian Center Choir. Years later, Randevyn impulsively packed his bags and headed south to diversify and further his music career. Shortly after his relocation to Atlanta, Georgia, Randevyn's talent was brought to the attention of platinum-selling R&B group, Jagged Edge's "581 Entertainment". Playing piano for himself, Randevyn auditioned for the small label in front of the group and their mother, "Linda Casey", who was impressed with Joyner's talents. Because of the label's full roster and other issues, the business relationship was never consummated. Later, after an unsuccessful audition with Fox's American Idol (Season 3), Randevyn decided to merge a collection of soul songs he'd written and recorded. In October 2005, Joyner teamed up with "Sincere Johnson", CEO of Atlanta-based, "Sin. J Entertainment", surfacing as as the company's flagship artist. Randevyn is also credited with background work for rapper "Chris Ludacris Bridges", and producers Jazze Pha, Rodney Jerkins, and "LaShon Daniels".

SolTrain (2005 Release)

Randevyn's 2005 compilation of songs was titled, "SolTrain" and nationally released by "Sin. J Entetainment" as a full-length, independent album on November 8th (as reported by [http://www.allmusic.com Allmusicguide] ). Though released by a small company, "SolTrain" was nominated for several independent music awards, riding radio waves from the United States, Europe and Asia on Radio One and XM Radio. Randevyn's debut album also made its mark, going for adds on Billboard's Radio & Records alongside Keyshia Cole, Pretty Ricky and Kindred in September, 2005. In March 2006, BET featured Randevyn's "SolTrain" album on its official website. In June 2006, he appeared at the BET Awards in Los Angeles, California as a result of SolTrain's media attention. "SolTrain" is now out of print, but is still licensed to itunes for digital purchase.

Musical Reformation

In early 2007, Randevyn partnered with two-time Grammy Award-winning producer, David "Mr. DJ" Sheats "(Outkast, Goodie Mobb, the Dungeon Family)" to begin working on a new album. In June 2007, Randevyn took a short hiatus touring in a background spot with Universal's Grammy Award-winning, India.Arie. During this tour, Randevyn appeared at New York City's Carnegie Hall for the first time. At the end of this stint, Randevyn was urged by India.Arie (whom he credits as his musical mentor) to began producing his own material as a pianist and singer-songwriter. By September 2007, Randevyn had taken another approach to his music, heeding Arie's advice about producing skeletons for his own songs. The decision to create music from his original piano arrangements triggered a steep turn in Randevyn's sound as he began creating more fingerprinted compositions that would mirror his musicianship. He later partnered with "Mike Phillips" of the "Drummerboyz Club" to complete the full musical production of his most recent effort, "The Randevyn Project". In September 2007, Randevyn marched in Jena, Louisiana in support of the nationally organized ralley against the jailing of the Jena 6. This experience would eventually be the premice and inspiration for "Jena Tree", a song on Randevyn's forthcoming album. In March, 2008, Randevyn parted ways with "Sin. J Entertainment" , the independent company credited for the 2005 release of his debut album, "SolTrain".

The Randevyn Project (2008 Release)

Following up his independent debut entitled, "SolTrain", Randevyn has continued his career with a pending sophomore studio album titled, "The Randevyn Project". The upcoming release will be launched by "Earthtone Music" in conjunction with an unannounced label. In a 2008 Myspace blog, Randevyn expressed his new handle on his brand of music, acting as co-producer on his upcoming album. When snippets from the album were released on Randevyn's official Myspace page in March 2008, it was clear that his song style had been re-invented:

The new cross-genre album is scheduled for release on Tuesday, September 30, 2008 and is projected to emerge as an incredible, ground-breaking, urban alternative album. [Myspace.com Blog] . With his pending release, Randevyn has been predicted (by early critics) to have created his own, remarkable stamp of pop music [Myspace.com Profile] . In May, 2008, CBS Records passed on "The Randevyn Project", and for the second time, another independent release was considered.

Earthtone Music, LLC/Writeomatic Publishing, LLC

In March 2008, Randevyn established "Earthtone Music Group" (also iconed as "EMG"), consisting of himself and various producers collaborating on "The Randevyn Project". Establishing "Writeomatic Publishing" in 2006, Randevyn also became the owner of his music publishing rights. Partnering with newly Atlanta-based production teams, "Hardwork Entertainment" and "The Drummerboyz Club", Randevyn has penned all 14 of the "The Randevyn Project"'s tracks, which is uncommon for any new artist in the music business. Singer India.Arie is credited for co-writing "Jena Tree".

Randevyn Links

[http://www.randevyn.com Official Website]

[http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll Randevyn at Allmusic.com]

[http://www.myspace.com/randevyn Randevyn on MySpace]

[http://www.honeysoul.com/randevyn/index.php?autoplay=1 Randevyn Interview on Honey Soul]

[http://www.www.giantstep.net/artists/682 Randevyn at Giant Step Records]

[http://www.hiphoprnbsoul.com/content/view/160/82/ Randevyn Chides Lionel Richie]

[http://www.soultracks.com/randevyn.htm Randevyn - Soultracks.com]

[http://www.saveoursoul.nl/aom/aomfeb2006.htm Randevyn on SaveOurSoul.nl]

Discography

SolTrain (2005)

References

www.allmusic.com, "All Music Guide, 2007"

www.soultracks.com, "Soultracks, 2005"

www.billboard.com, "Billboard, 2006"

Saveoursoul.nl, "Interview, 2006"