- Rockwell (musician)
Infobox Musical artist
Img_size = 150
Name = Rockwell
Background = khaki
|Birth_name = Kennedy William Gordy
Alias = Kenneth Gordy
Born = birth date|1964|3|15|mf=y
Origin =Detroit, Michigan , U.S.
Occupation = Singer
Genre = Pop
Years_active = 1983 - 1991
Instrument =Vocals /Keyboards
Label =Motown Rockwell (born Kennedy William Gordy on
March 15 ,1964 in Detroit,Michigan ) is a formerR&B performer who was signed to theMotown label.Life and career
Rockwell is the son of Motown founder and
CEO Berry Gordy and Margaret Norton. To avoid charges ofnepotism , Rockwell secured his record deal without his father's knowledge. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:i2ja7i6jg75r Rockwell] st All Music Guide] Motown came up with the name Rockwell. Rockwell changed his name because he believed he "rocked well."In 1984, Rockwell released his only hit single, "
Somebody's Watching Me ", featuring childhood friends Michael andJermaine Jackson on guest vocals (notably in the chorus lyrics). Rockwell's sister, Hazel, was married toJermaine Jackson . When Michael was at the height of his pop stardom, Rockwell knew he could get his song released if he could persuade Michael to sing on it."Somebody's Watching Me" became a Top Ten pop hit in both the US and UK, and a #1 R&B hit. Follow-up singles underperformed, however, and Rockwell soon ended his musical career with Motown.
Rockwell was not the first member of the Gordy family to hit Billboard's Hot 100 as a recording artist. His uncle,
Robert Gordy , reached the longer reaches of the chart in 1958 with "Everyone Was There," recording under the name of Bob Kayli.Rockwell's half-sister is actress
Rhonda Ross Kendrick , the eldest child ofDiana Ross .References
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.