By: Kathy Harris

The one element that is hard to come by in the entertainment industry is star quality. It is true that with the slew of reality competition shows, everyone has a shot at their 15 minutes of fame. The desire to be famous is driven by a multitude of motivations, both good and evil. However, there are still artists who are driven strictly by the need to create great timeless work. Calvin Richardson is the definition of what it means to be a great artist. He’s gifted, humble and determined. The music of today is missing true artistry, and the artists of today rarely possess star quality—Calvin Richardson, however, has both. His sultry voice is one that keeps the hope in music alive. This self-proclaimed “soul brother” took time to talk to J’Adore about his past, his present, and his upcoming projects.

Calvin Richardson is a Grammy-nominated artist, songwriter and producer from Monroe, North Carolina. He gathers vocal inspiration from artists such as Sam Cooke, Betty Wright, Donny Hathaway, Otis Redding and Bobby Womack, just to name a few. He hails from a musical background. His mother sang in a gospel choir, The Willing Wonders, which he would later sing in. It’s also a coincidence that Calvin was good friends with Cedric “K-Ci” Hailey and Joel “JoJo” Hailey, one half of the R&B group Jodeci. When a person is surrounded by everything music, he is sure to be influenced heavily by it. With a bit of southern soul intertwined with city boy swag, Calvin is as down to earth as anyone can be. “People need real songs and music with substance in their lives,” explains Calvin.

“It definitely gets hard not being mainstream and it’s hard not getting support from the label because of it. Instead, I got involved with the attention from being an entertainer.” This is what Calvin expressed of his past and where he found the inspiration to write his single, “Sang No More” from his 2008 album, “When Love Comes.” This song expressed a lot of emotions on what it feels like to be knocked down so hard that you don’t want to get back up. His voice conveys his pain bittersweetly. “I am my music and if you know my music you know me,” says Calvin. Recently, he indirectly collaborated with another industry veteran Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds to write Charlie Wilson’s 2009 number one hit, “There Goes My Baby.” Calvin expresses, “I’ll write for anybody, but they have to have soul or I can’t do it.”

The best attribute to having celebrity status is the voice of influence a person has with people. A person could say something intellectual or small minded and people will listen. Fortunately, Calvin Richardson is using his voice for good, not evil. He conducted a concert and additional events to help find bone marrow for Organization Jasmina. Organization Jasmina is named for 6-year-old Jasmina Anema who is fighting (NK) Natural Killer Cell Leukemia, a rare and especially fatal form of cancer. She was in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. With his efforts and the tireless help of others, Jasmina found a bone marrow match and received a transplant on June 11, 2009. The transplant has since “officially” engrafted. Calvin shares, “I have a son and I love the ground he walks on. If it was my son in the same predicament I would want people to help me, and I am happy to be helping her.”

Calvin Richardson is definitely a busy man. In the midst of humanitarian efforts, fatherhood, and songwriting, he has managed to produce “Facts of Life: The Soul of Bobby Womack,” an album featuring his interpretations of songs by Bobby Womack, the legendary singer, song writer, guitarist and producer known as the “street preacher.” Revered by many and recently elected to the Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame, Bobby Womack helped define soul music. “Bobby Womack to me is a pioneer who is very important to the type of music that I do,” states Calvin. “He’s a great artist who I have great respect for, who I built my sound around and as a result I feel I have a direct connection with him. He sang about things I want to sing about. I feel like he is definitely less appreciated than he should be, although he is a Rock n’ Roll Hall of Fame inductee. It was an honor to pay tribute to him … I’ve stood on Bobby’s shoulders my whole career.”

It has been one year since the release of his last album and Calvin Richardson continues to produce strong, memorable, soulful music. He is the essence of what music is missing today. He is soul music. His presence and his mission go beyond music, and the fans are allowed to see that in him because Calvin allows that in his music and his actions. He is the definition of cool.

For more information on Calvin Richardson’s upcoming projects, please go to www.iamCalvinRichardson.com.

For more information on Calvin’s fight for Jasmina and how you can donate bone marrow, visit  www.oneforjasmina.com.

By Kathy Harris

There are several stars in the music world who consistently radiate light. They become the envy of the men and rule the hearts of women. Multi-platinum R&B crooner Elgin Baylor aka Ginuwine is one such individual. The 33-year-old heartthrob is an absolute personification of his name and has returned to win over the hearts of fans once again. His sultry sex appeal is best remembered on Billboard hits such as “Pony,” “Differences,” and “In Those Jeans.” Four years have passed since Ginuwine released his last full length project, 2005’s Back II Da Basics. His latest single “Last Chance” from his recently released new album, A Man’s Thoughts, marks the return to the familiar sound his fans have grown to love. As he confidently relays on the stellar new track, “If I only got one shot to win you, then call me Jordan, 4th quarter in ‘92,” he re-asserts that his persuasive vocals are indeed still on point. On a picturesque afternoon in Los Angeles, Ginuwine shares thoughts on his new album, the state of music today and why he needed to take a hiatus from the industry.

“Music is the key to everything,” Ginuwine says with a smile. “I saw Michael Jackson on the Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever Special in 1983 and the reaction he received inspired me to move people in the same way.” The Washington D.C. native would use that motivation to later become an impressionist of the King of Pop and perform in local talent shows with a group by the name Physical Wonder. After graduating from Forestville High School in 1993, he went on to earn a paralegal associate’s degree from Prince George’s Community College just in case his pursuits in music did not work out. However, Ginuwine was never worried; he knew he had a special gift. “I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t try,” he explains.

Shortly after graduation, Ginuwine would be discovered by Jodeci member, songwriter and producer, Devante Swing and become a part of Devante’s Swing Mob Collective. He reflects, “Devante took me in and through him, I met Missy Elliot and Timbaland (Timothy Mosely). He gave me my first opportunity and I ran with it.” Believing in the saying, “When opportunity knocks, kick down the door,” Ginuwine would take the strategy to become a megastar. Soon after meeting Timbaland and Missy, Elgin Baylor adopted the stage name “Ginuwine” and grew wings from there. As the synergy developed between Timbaland, Ginuwine would continue to belt out unforgetable R&B hits such the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles Chart number one hit “Pony” from his debut album, Ginuwine…the Bachelor. Between his mesmerizing vocals and Timbaland’s provocative, revolutionary beats, the two would immediately make an impact and become a force to be reckoned with.

In 1999, Ginuwine release his second album, 100% Ginuwine, also produced by Timbaland. The album debuted at number five on the charts, becoming his second platinum album and certifying Ginuwine as a bona fide sex symbol. 100% would also make Timbaland one of the most sought-after producers in music. Unfortunately, as a result of schedule conflicts and the natural growth of stars in the music biz, the duo would go their own ways by the release of 2001’s The Life. “We both started off when we were not the men or artists that we have become today,” Ginuwine reflects. “I am happy to be a part of his legacy.” Although the two did not collaborate on The Life, the album would still reach platinum status upon the strength of Ginuwine’s only Billboard Hot 100 Top Five single “Differences.”

Following the release of his fifth studio album Back II Da Basics in 2005, Ginuwine decided to take a hiatus from making music. For an artist who consistently topped the charts from 1995 to 2006, many questioned why he would take a break from such consistent success? He explains, “I just needed a break. After working hard for almost ten years, you deserve a break. I just wanted to do family things and spend time at home.”

Today, he remains a very happily married man and father of two young ladies. “Fatherhood is so important. Whatever it takes to be a good father you have to do it,” Ginuwine says with passion. One of the greatest traits about Ginuwine has always been his humanity. His “genuine” nature is what the public has grown to know and love about him. Through his memorable, infectious and heartfelt songs, his fans and music advocates in general understand and identify with his views on sex, dating and relationships.

Now, with his new album A Man’s Thoughts, Ginuwine’s mission is to quench the thirst of his loyal fans and develop a new fan base with his unadulterated skills and dedication to the craft. He conveys, “I want this new album to reflect me; the way I am now and how I live. It definitely reflects a more mature me and how I do things.” His new single “Last Chance” is produced by Brian Michael Cox and is certainly an ode to this notion. Thoughts features an impressive collective of industry vets from various music genres including Missy Elliott, Brandy and Bun B backed by the production from several of today’s most revered hitmakers such as the aforementioned Cox, Johnta Austin, Polow Da Don and The Runners.

At times, it’s hard for the public to differentiate the person from their profession–especially when it comes to the world of entertainment. Ginuwine makes the separation rather easy by providing the most affective vehicle for fans and the world to learn about him and his life: through music. His success and longevity is seldom heard of and truly extraordinary in an era where established artists are facing increasingly difficult obstacles to sell albums while most newcomers fail to even see the booth to record sophomore projects. Not Ginuwine, who continues to artistically express his Thoughts, and light up the stage and charts with the star power he always knew he possessed.

Images: Kenny Sweeny

Styling: Penelope Patteee