K-Ci (singer)

Cedric Renard Hailey (born September 2, 1971), who goes by the stage name K-Ci (formerly Little Cedric as a member of Little Cedric and the Hailey Singers), is an American singer, songwriter and member of K-Ci & JoJo and Jodeci. He started his music career as Little Cedric, in 1983, with the release of, I'm Alright Now, by Atlanta International Records. The next two albums, 1984's Jesus Saves and 1985's God's Blessing, were released by AIR Gospel, and they both achieved placements upon the Billboard Gospel Albums chart.

Although Hailey is best known as the lead singer of Jodeci and second-lead singer of K-Ci & JoJo, he participated on different solo projects as K-Ci, most notably his cover of Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" in 1994.

Early life

Hailey was born on September 2, 1969 in Monroe, North Carolina as Cedric Renard Hailey to parent Cliff and Anita Hailey,^[1] whose younger brother, Joel Lamont "JoJo" Hailey was born on June 10, 1971 in Monroe, North Carolina.^[2] They grew up with the two DeGrate brothers, Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate and Dalvin DeGrate, whose father was a preacher in a Pentecostal church, and they frequently made the rounds throughout the Southeastern United States singing gospel music.^[2] Cedric and Dalvin had their eyes set on one particular woman, which they were both dating at the time, and they almost come to fisticuffs over the situation.^[2] Their saving grace was their love of music, and their dream of becoming stars, which almost got thrown away.^[2] When DeVante bolted for Minneapolis, Minnesota, for a position at Prince's Paisley's Park that he was denied the opportunity.^[2] He came back home, and the quartet settled in Charlotte, North Carolina.^[2] They went on a trip to New York City in order to procure a record deal, and they stopped by Uptown Records that at the time the president of the label was Andre Harrell, yet he did not care about the group in particular.^[2] So, Heavy D eavesdropped on a playing of their demo cassette tape, and enjoyed their tunes, which he urged Harrell to take a listen and he did.^[2] The group, known as Jodeci, were signed shortly after, releasing three multi-platinum albums between 1991 and 1995. Around 1997, the group split and the Hailey Brothers would continue to perform as K-Ci & JoJo, until reuniting with the DeGrates in 2014.

Music career

Little Cedric's gospel music recording career was short lived, with the 1983 release of I'm Alright Now by Atlanta International Records, Gospel,^[3] yet this release failed to place on any Billboard magazine charts.^[4] His next two releases, 1984's Jesus Saves and God's Blessing in 1985,^[3][4] both placed upon the Billboard Gospel Albums chart, with the first at No. 4, while the second at No. 22.^[4]

As K-Ci, his cover of Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" was featured on the soundtrack to the 1994 film, Jason's Lyric. It was released as a single and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Personal life

Hailey dated fellow R&B singer and then label-mate Mary J. Blige on and off during the 1990s.

The two Hailey brothers are cousins of R&B singer Dave Hollister

The two Hailey brothers are the step-brother of Dru Hill lead singer Sisqo.

The two Hailey brothers were arrested for tax evasion in April 2003.^[1]

Discography

References