Some people become artists because they seek fortune and fame. They believe that somehow, performing, writing and producing will bring them the accolades and acclaim they feel they’ve been missing. And then there are the people who have no choice in the matter - artistry has chosen them. They are compelled to write, perform and record the way the rest of us are compelled to breathe. Whether they sell five million records or just five, some folks will always create.
Jon B is one of these rare individuals. He is the consummate artist. Unlike many of the poseurs who have attempted to lay claim to his niche, he is an accomplished musician, (he plays bass, drums, guitar and piano), and he is a noted songwriter and producer. His is a richly textured body of music, a testament to one man’s love for all things soul.

Born in Rhode Island, Jonathan Buck was raised primarily in Pasadena, Calif. During his childhood, he spent many an afternoon in the record store owned by his grandparents. “I literally listened to records all day long,” he attests. “I had a very large collection, and I didn’t even understand the cultural impact of the music I was listening to; I just knew I liked certain records, everything by The Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire, Diana Ross … I didn’t know anything about genre or style; I just knew good music.” Good music quickly became an addiction - and a life path.
“The summer after I graduated from high school, I told my dad I was going to pursue music and not go to college. He just looked at me and said, ‘Well, you better get a record deal!’” Jon recalls with a laugh.
But the young artist’s commitment was no laughing matter. That very summer he wrote, produced and recorded an incredible 40 songs and began making the rounds at major record labels. Within a few months, he’d met Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds and his wife, Tracy Edmonds, who were interested in signing Jon to their label imprint, Edmonds Record Group (formerly Yab Yum). “At first, I was simply trying to secure a deal as a songwriter and producer,” Jon informs. “But Kenny was adamant about me releasing my own record.”

The relationship between Jon and Edmonds Record Group immediately bore fruit. His debut album, 1995’s platinum-certified “Bonafide”, was particularly notable for the song “Someone To Love,” a duet with Babyface. The single was a #5 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay charts. Looking back, Jon ventures: “That first album was really experimental. It was a fun project, and it helped me figure out what type of artist I wanted to be. But it was on my second album that I think I really hit it. I had focus, and I was growing as an artist.”

Platinum –certified Cool Relax album shot to the Top 5 of R&B charts upon its release in 1998, fueled by the success of “They Don’t Know,” a platinum-certified single and a #1 R&B hit. A highly melodic offering with an ultra-romantic vibe, “They Don’t Know” cemented Jon’s reputation as a balladeer with real heart. “Are You Still Down,” the B-side to “They Don’t Know,” peaked at #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks. He continued his mission with Pleasures U Like, which rose to #3 on the R&B charts in 2001. The first single, the hit love-at-first-club-sighting anthem “Don’t Talk” single-handedly pushed the album past 470,000 units sold and now yet another certified Gold album.

His fourth album “Stronger Everyday” , reaffirmed this fine tradition. Although the album was never promoted correctly and very limited funds backing the album, Stronger Everyday still managed to sell over 120,000 units. “It’s a shame that Sanctuary did not push the album the way they should have, the label had financial problems and stopped spending money on their artists. I was one of the unfortunate ones who got caught up in the Sanctuary nightmare, but I still give thanks to Matthew Knowles for giving me another album for my fans. I sold 120,000 albums based on fan base alone, no video play, limited radio play, no advertising, no publicity……..we basically were able to sell that many CD’s on website newsletters and live shows”
“Everything on this album is based on real experiences,” Jon says of the disc. “These are literal statements - I’m putting my life and soul into this music. An artist can have hot tracks, but if you’ve been through some rough times - and we all have - then I want to feel it in your music. I believe you must go deep and really tap into your emotions before you can speak the truth about anything.” Jon’s own musical roots go very deep.

“Stronger Everyday” an of-the-moment take on the music journey that has become Jon’s life. It is cinematic, a real-life soundtrack based on one man’s travels, trials and tribulations. Stronger Everyday was Jon’s first album that went “outside of the box” when it comes to classic Jon B albums, with more dance tracks and collaborations, which included: ODB (AKA Dirt McGirt R.I.P.), Scarface, Babyface, Tupac, Beenieman and Tank. And though some might argue that Jon has vintage soul singers like Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway on his mind whenever he steps into the studio, he has long been a fixture on the hip-hop scene, having worked with Tupac and Nas, among many others. “Everytime,” was produced by one of hip-hop’s hottest names, Just Blaze (Jay-Z, DMX, Fabolous). “Hip-hop has always been an important part of my life,” Jon affirms. “I came up at a time when kids were banging on tables to make beats and break dancing in the street, so it just feels completely natural to incorporate hip-hop into what I do. I don’t view it as a departure; it’s an extension.”

“Part 2” is the next cut that had to be on this album. It featured Tupac and the song exactly reflects the title. This is part 2 of the Tupac/Jon B collaboration and friendship.
Jon teamed up with yet another star in the re-mix of “Everytime” featuring reggae artist/producer Beanieman. A classic dancehall mix that makes you shake your groove thang. Most of his fans say that 2004’s “Stronger Everyday” album was Jon B’s best work to date.

“Some people may be surprised to hear I don’t think of myself as a singer first and foremost, the key to this album is more the sounds and textures we’ve created. What I want people to hear even more than the vocals is that sonic chemistry. There’s something there that’s hard to describe - a feeling, a vibe - that is the essence of this album. I’m trying to bring the good energy. In that sense, this is the most mature album I’ve ever done. I’m really proud of it, and the way people connected with it.”

Jon B’s first Christmas album will be in stores early November 2006, “Holiday Wishes From Me, To You” is Jon’s first Christmas album and it features 10 songs, which includes 7 originals and 3 covers, including a re-make of Donny Hathaway’s “This Christmas”. “After inking the deal with Arsenal/Universal, my management and I sat down and discussed recording a Christmas album. I have never done a Christmas album before and I thought it would be a hot idea, so management went to the label and they agreed to put the album out. I went into Christmas mode and began writing and producing the album. I teamed up with long-time friend and band member, Tim Kobza as well as writer Maurice Carmon, end result a great Christmas album for my fans”

Jon’s fifth album entitled “Back To Love” on the Arensal/Vibezelect/Universal label is exactly what the title says………….Jon B is going back to the love/ballad songs. The self-produced album is all Jon B, although the album will have special guest appearances, Jon wrote and produced 98% of the album, which is due out early 2007. “We are going back to the “Cool Relax” days, with the majority of the album being ballads. Although, my last album Stronger Everyday was a hot album, it was something new for me, now with “Back To Love”, I am going back to my roots and my songwriting skills. This album will be sexy, cool, hot and my fans will re-live the “Cool Relax” days. Once again this album will take you on a journey of what has been happening in my life since my last album”.

SELECTED DISCOGRAPHY
Bonafide, YabYum/550 Music, 1995.
Cool Relax, YabYum/550 Music, 1997.
Pleasures U Like, Edmonds/Epic, 2001.
Stronger Everyday , Sanctuary/E2 Music Group/Vibe Select/BMG, 2004.
Back To Love, Arsenal/Vibezelect/Fontana/Universal, 2007