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| Chuckii Booker | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1962-12-19) December 19, 1962 (age 62) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Genres | R&B, new jack swing |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, producer, bandleader |
| Instrument(s) | Vocals, bass, guitar, keyboards |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Atlantic Records |
Eugene Allen Booker, Jr. (born December 19, 1962), known professionally as Chuckii Booker, is an American producer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and bandleader.
Biography
Booker emerged in the late 1980s as a prominent urban contemporary R&B artist and producer. He began recording music after being signed by his godfather, Barry White, to his production company in 1984. Later, he played keyboards with the short-lived Epic Records band Tease for three years. Booker, known throughout the industry as a keyboard player, is considered by his music peers to be a bass player.
Booker received his recording contract in an unlikely manner. He gave his demo tape to the manager of Gerald Albright to showcase his skills as a musician, but had forgotten about the songs on the other side of the tape that contained original songs with his vocals. As a result, he was offered a recording contract with Atlantic Records.
Booker signed a recording contract with Atlantic to release his debut album Chuckii in 1989 in which he played all the instruments and sang all vocals. The album fared well on the strength of hit singles "(Don't U Know) I Love U" and the #1 R&B single "Turned Away". The follow-up final album Niice 'N Wiild was released in 1992 and yielded another chart-topping R&B hit "Games". Chuckii also wrote, performed and produced the single "Crypt Jam" from the CD soundtrack Tales from the Crypt. Booker also made a cameo in the movie House Party 3 as a piano player in the hotel lobby scenes which starred Kid N' Play, Bernie Mac and Chris Tucker.
Booker produced for several recording artists throughout the years, including Troop, which yielded two #1 singles ("All I Do Is Think of You" & "Spread My Wings"), his godfather Barry White, Janet Jackson, Vanessa Williams, Kool & the Gang and many more. He was the musical director, producer and keyboardist for Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation World Tour as well as the opening act. Booker got the gig after he was invited by Jackson to the premiere of her long-form video Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814. Although Booker went to the premiere to mingle with celebrities, he was caught off guard when Jackson asked him after the screening to be her musical director for the tour.
Booker has carved a sizeable niche for himself as a record producer for artists such as Lalah Hathaway, Troop, En Vogue, Angela Winbush, Diana Ross, Anastacia, Commissioned, Lionel Richie, and Bette Midler.
Discography
Albums
Tease (as keyboardist and songwriter):
- 1986: Tease (Epic)
As solo artist:
| Year | Title | Label | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Chuckii | Atlantic | 18 | 116 | |
| 1992 | Niice 'n Wiild | 13 | — | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | |||||
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | "That's My Honey" | — | — | ||
| "Touch" | 13 | — | |||
| "(Don't U Know) I Love U" | 4 | — | |||
| "Turned Away" | 1 | 42 | |||
| 1992 | "Games" | 1 | 68 | ||
| "I Should Have Loved You" | 38 | — | |||
| 1993 | "With All My Heart" | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes a recording that did not chart. | |||||
References
- ^ "Chuckii Booker Page". Soulwalking.co.uk. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- ^ Ruhlman, William (2003). All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul (Paperback ed.). All Media Guide. p. 69. ISBN 0-87930-744-7. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ Milward, John (August 16, 1990). "Chuckii Booker: On Janet Jackson Tour, He's Key At The Spectrum, You Can See Him Playing Keyboards And Performing. Here's What The "Turned Away" Singer Sees From The Stage". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on January 4, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2014.
- ^ "Chuckii Booker Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography". Music VF. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- Wynn, Ron. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved October 24, 2021.
- "Word of the Week: Chuckii Booker". Jet. Vol. 77, no. 25. Johnson Publishing Company. April 2, 1990. p. 40. ISSN 0021-5996.
- "R&B Trooper". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 4. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. January 25, 2003. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510.
- "Chart History - TOP R&B/HIP-HOP ALBUMS". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- "Chart History - BILLBOARD 200". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
External links
- Chuckii Booker discography at Discogs
- Chuckii Booker at IMDb