Keke Wyatt

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KeKe Wyatt
Birth nameKe'Tara Shavon Wyatt
Born (1982-03-10) March 10, 1982 (age 42)
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
GenresR&B, soul, gospel
Occupations
  • Singer-songwriter
  • television personality
InstrumentsVocals, drums, keyboards
Years active1990–present
Labels
Universal (2004–2006)
TVT (2006–2008)
Shanachie (2009–2013)
Aratek Entertainment/ Fontana
(2012–present)
WebsiteOfficial Twitter

Ke'Tara Shavon "KeKe" Wyatt (born March 10, 1982)

TV One's R&B Divas: Atlanta, which featured the lives of five 1990s chart-topping R&B singers.[4] She was featured in all 3 seasons of the show. She also performed with the group at events such as Essence Music Festival.[5]

In her career, Wyatt released official studio albums, including Soul Sista (2001), Who Knew? (2010), Unbelievable (2011), and her latest and recent release, Rated Love (2016). All of these albums charted prominently on Billboard, as did her first and only EP release, Ke'Ke' (2014).[6] Wyatt has also released a number of charting singles,[6] with the lead single "Sexy Song" from the album Rated Love peaking at number 29 on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[6] After getting involved with a number of non-profits, Wyatt served as a spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV).[7]

Early life and education

Wyatt was born March 10, 1982, in

African-American.[1] Wyatt grew up in Indianapolis, but also spent time in both Kentucky and Texas. She attended high school in Indianapolis, where she was a member of her high school's varsity wrestling team.[12][13] As she grew, her musical tastes were influenced by the likes of R&B greats like Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and Ella Fitzgerald.[9] Inspired by many preceding musical greats, Wyatt found herself performing with various girl groups as a teen.[2] She was often recognized for a maturity exceeding her teenage years.[1]

Career

1992–1999: Early singing and songwriting

Wyatt's professional career began at the age of ten, when she began recording a song, called "What If", which would be included on a gospel compilation album for Indianapolis-based R.H. Duncan. With growing buzz surrounding "the little girl who could sing", news of Wyatt's talent led her to encounter with these artists from the likes of Bill Woodson, Nathan Alexander, Billy Badd, Chris Kelly, and multi-platinum producer, composer Jorge Corante and Emmanuel Officer.[2] During the years of adolescence, Wyatt became as a student of a school by the Chicago-based producer and songwriter Steve "Stone" Huff.[2] Huff eventually produced and shopped a few of Wyatt's demos in hopes of landing her a record deal.[2][8] During her mid-teens, she performed demo songs for various gospel labels, earning around $1,500 per recording. During that time, Keke extended her skills by also writing music as a teenager, and while she was writing some music, Keke would experience her first coldly dealt disappointment as a music industry professional. She wrote the majority of the lyrics for a hit song but received no credit for her work.[1]

2000–2002: First hit single, Breakthrough and debut album Soul Sista

At age 15, Wyatt recorded "

A&R Randy Jackson, whom she met at age twelve,[10] and former Boyz II Men manager Quadri El Amin, Wyatt recorded her first album within two weeks time.[7]

Her first single, "

2004–2008: Label change, Emotional Rollercoaster and Ghetto Rose

By 2004, Wyatt had departed from

Bryan Michael Cox, "My Man", "Six Questions" featuring Avant, "Cheaters", "Who Knows" written by Tank, "Peace on Earth", a remake of a Rachelle Ferrell single, and the title track "Emotional Rollercoaster" featuring Ginuwine. In 2006, Wyatt was released from her contract with Cash Money Records, citing conflict with management as the reason for her departure.[10]

In 2007 Wyatt, reunited with her former manager Quadri El Amin on the TVT Records label. Work on her third solo album Ghetto Rose was completed in 2007. The title track, written by veteran songwriter Franne Golde along with Kasey Livingston and Curt Schneider, was released to urban radio outlets in the fall of that year. The album was originally set for release on October 23, 2007, but was postponed for release in early 2008. Then, in February 2008, the record label filed for bankruptcy and, for the second time in her solo career, Wyatt's album was shelved.[21]

2009–2011: Theatre debut, Who Knew? and Unbelievable

In 2009, Wyatt played a leading role in a United States-based nationally touring production entitled Love Overboard. The production also included many seasoned cast members such as actress Karen Malina White, singer Avant, actor Khalil Kain, and others.[22]

Wyatt released the single "Who Knew?" in 2010, which served as the title track for her album

R&B Albums chart.[24]

2012–2014: Appearance on reality TV series R&B Divas and Ke'Ke'

In 2012, Wyatt was cast in

Atlanta, Georgia as they work towards rebuilding their careers. The first episode aired on August 20, 2012.[4]

Throughout the show, R&B Divas singers collaborated on a charity album commemorating the life of

I Wanna Dance With Somebody' left the audience in awe even after the performance."[5] After the initial season of R&B Divas, Wyatt appeared in the two following seasons as well, when the show was renamed to R&B Divas: Atlanta
.

External videos
video icon Avant ft. Keke Wyatt - "You & I" Music Video (
VEVO, January 4, 2013)
video icon Keke Wyatt - "Lie Under You" Music Video (YouTube, August 3, 2015)

In 2013, she collaborated with Avant on their hit "You & I", which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's Urban A/C chart, and remained there close to two months.[7] "You & I" also reached No. 33 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[28]

In May 2014, Wyatt released her first EP titled Ke'Ke', through The NorthStar Group and her own imprint Aratek Entertainment.[29] The imprint is her birth name backwards, and is also meant as a stand-in for the word erotic.[30]

The EP featured songwriters and producers such as

R&B Albums chart, the EP peaked at No. 12 in late June 2014,[31] and it also reached No. 35 on the Independent Albums chart.[6]

In August 2014, Wyatt made a cameo in fellow R&B Divas co-star Faith Evans' music video "I Deserve It", featuring Missy Elliott and Sharaya J.[32] Later that year, Wyatt was featured as a vocalist on the track "Make Love" by Faith Evans.[33]

2015–2017: Rated Love and Keke Covers

In the fall of 2015, she signed a multi-album distribution deal for her Aratek Entertainment company[34] with INgrooves Music Group,[35] announcing then-upcoming promo singles.[34] On November 20, 2015, she released her new R&B single "Sexy Song". The track is set to be the lead single from her album Rated Love, which was released through Aratek Entertainment on April 22, 2016.[35] "Sexy Song" was at No. 26 on the Adult R&B Songs chart as of early December 2015.[6] "Love Me" was released as the album's second single on March 18, 2016.[36]

In August 2016, it was announced that she and her husband Michael Ford had joined the cast of the sixth season of Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars set for an October airdate.[37] On October 13, 2016, Wyatt announced the single "Jodeci" on her Instagram account, writing: "I think we got a new one with my new single Jodeci!!! I wanna know what ya'll think", revealing it would be released with a deluxe version of her album Rated Love on October 21, 2016.[38]

It was announced on January 31, 2017, via Wyatt's social media accounts that a covers album Keke Covers would be released on February 14, 2017, "My YouTube cover series #kekecovers comes the cover album 'Keke Covers' #COMINGSOON #FEB14 #LOVERSDAY2017".[39][40][41][42]

2017–present: Country Fried Soul, KeKe Wyatt's World, Water into Wine

On July 28, 2017, Wyatt released the single "Summertime",

WEtv network.[45] The reality series will follow Wyatt, a singer-songwriter and mother of 11 children, as she prepares to release her first new album in over six years.[46] On August 23, 2023, the trailer for Keke Wyatts World was released.[47] Wyatt announced the release of her new single "Water into Wine" on August 25, 2023, from her upcoming album reuniting with former label Shanachie via social media "Guess what?! My new Single is available NOW!!!!! Giving my SHUGAR's a summer !! feel good appetizer before my album comes out later this year!! You're going to LOVE ALL the new music"[48][49]

Advocacy

Wyatt has served as a spokesperson for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV). As spokesperson, she shares her experience as a long-term victim of domestic abuse.[7] She is also a supporter of the Saving our Daughters organization.[7]

Personal life

Wyatt was 18 years old when she married Rahmat Morton, her road manager.

still birth.[21]

She remarried in 2010 to Michael Jamar Ford, an ordained minister who went to appear with Wyatt in the reality TV show R&B Divas.[21][52] As of 2013, Wyatt was raising six children with Ford, three fathered by Wyatt's first marriage, a daughter named Mickayla from Ford's previous relationship and their two sons: Ke'Mar Von Ford (born August 16, 2010) & Wyatt Michael Ford (born May 17, 2012).[52] Wyatt had her seventh child and Ford's fourth child, a daughter named Ke'Yoshi Bella Ford on March 10, 2015.[21] Wyatt announced in April 2017 that she was pregnant with her eighth child.[21] In early September 2017, it was reported that the couple were divorcing while she was eight months pregnant.[53][54] On October 27, 2017, Wyatt gave birth to her eighth child and Ford's fifth child, a son named Kendall Miguel Ford.[55][56] Ford confirmed their divorce in August 2018.

In October 2018, Wyatt married her childhood ex-boyfriend, Zackariah Darring. On November 8, 2018, she announced she was pregnant with her ninth child with Zackariah.[57] She gave birth to her tenth child on January 6, 2020; a son named Ke'Riah David Darring.[58] She gave birth to her eleventh child in 2022.[59]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Nominated work Category Result
2002
Soul Train Lady
of Soul Awards
"Nothing in This World"
(Keke Wyatt ft. Avant)
Best New R&B/Soul/Rap Artist[3] Nominated

Discography

Filmography and theater

Selected roles and cameos by Keke Wyatt [12]
Year Title Format Publisher Role
2009 Love Overboard Touring theater production Je'Caryous Johnson Leading role
2012-14 R&B Divas: Atlanta Reality TV series
TV One
Central character
2014 "I Deserve It" Faith Evans music video BMG Cameo[32]
2016 Marriage Boot Camp: Reality Stars season six Reality TV series
WE tv
Central character
2023 Keke Wyatt's World Reality TV series
WE tv
Central character

Further reading

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "No More Drama: Keke Wyatt on Her Music and Marriage". Essence. December 16, 2009. Retrieved August 4, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Henderson, Alex (2001), Keke Wyatt, Billboard and All Music Guide
  3. ^ a b c "2002 Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards Nominees". Billboard. July 24, 2002. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Exclusive: 'R&B' Divas' With Faith Evans, Nicci Gilbert, Syleena Johnson To Premiere on TV One". Billboard. June 25, 2012. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  5. ^ a b Ramirez, Erika (July 9, 2012). "Essence Festival 2012: The 10 Best Performances". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "Keke Wyatt Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g "About Keke Wyatt". thekekewyatt.com. Archived from the original on November 18, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  8. ^ a b Sanders, J. Victoria (2001), Pop Matters Music Review: Keke Wyatt, Soul Sista - PopMatters
  9. ^ a b c d Ison, Jason (December 2, 2001), KeKe's talkin' 'bout love, archived from the original on March 3, 2008, retrieved September 23, 2007
  10. ^ a b c d e Terrell, Calvin (October 2007), "Giving it to ya straight, no chaser: Keke Wyatt", Sister2Sister Magazine, Washington, DC, archived from the original on March 3, 2008 .
  11. ^ Lee, Bailey (September 25, 2007), LISTEN TO THE KEKE WYATT EURCAST: Hear the singer denounce article on her at Essence.com, Los Angeles, CA: EURweb.com (narrated by Cherie Saunders)
  12. ^ a b "Biography for Keke Wyatt". IMDb. 2008. Retrieved March 14, 2008.
  13. ^ Wyatt, Keke (September 10, 2007), 9/10/2007 Blog Entry, New York, NY: TVT Records
  14. ^ "Soul Sista". Billboard. November 17, 2001. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  15. ^ a b "Keke Wyatt Awards".
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  16. ^ "Keke Wyatt". vh1.com. April 1, 2002. Archived from the original on August 26, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  17. ^ a b Book, Ryan (June 13, 2014). "Keke Wyatt Brings Friends for Help on EP 'Ke'Ke". Music Times. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  18. ^ Bush, John (November 13, 2001). "Soul Sista Review".
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  19. ^ a b "Keke Wyatt Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  20. ^ "Hot Wire >> The Soul of Keke Wyatt". Archived from the original on June 9, 2002. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  21. ^ a b c d e f Richburg, Chris (December 15, 2009), "Nee Kee Wyatt Song Strikes Personal Chord: Divorce looming as singer prepares to release 1st new album after eight year absence.", Eurweb.com, Los Angeles
  22. ^ "Avant Gone 'Overboard' With Keke Wyatt, 'World' Duo Reunites For Album/Play". singersroom.com. February 11, 2009. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  23. ^ "Who Knew?". AllMusic. February 23, 2010. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  24. ^ a b Kellman, Andy (June 14, 2011). "Unbelievable! Review".
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  25. ^ "Saturday Love (feat. Ruben Studdard) - Single pple.com/us/album/saturday-love-feat.-ruben/id440684430". Shanachie Ent. Corp. May 24, 2011.
  26. ^ "Keke Wyatt - Saturday Love (Featuring Ruben Studdard)". Shenachie Records. April 2011. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  27. TVone.tv. August 18, 2012. Archived from the original
    on August 23, 2012. Retrieved September 19, 2012.
  28. ^ "Avant Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Ke'Ke' - EP". iTunes. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  30. ^ Cue Slow Wind To Keke Wyatt's "Sexy Song Archived December 22, 2015, at the Wayback Machine (Centric, November 23, 2015)
  31. ^ "Ke' Ke' (EP)". Billboard. July 21, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  32. ^ a b Pearson, Joi (August 8, 2014). "Faith Evans' 'I Deserve' BTS Atlanta video shoot". rollingout.com. Retrieved August 31, 2014.
  33. ^ "Faith Evans: Incomparable". iTunes.com. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
  34. ^ a b Breezy, Elle (October 14, 2015). "Get It, Girl! KeKe Wyatt Preps New Body And New Album". Singersroom. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  35. ^ a b "New Music: Keke Wyatt Releases Single "Sexy Song"". youknowigotsoul.com. November 20, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  36. ^ "Keke Wyatt - Love Me (Audio)". YouTube. Archived from the original on December 13, 2021. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  37. ^ "'Marriage Boot Camp' Cast Revealed — Including Jade and Tanner!". August 12, 2016. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved 2016-08-15.
  38. ^ "I think we got one with my new single "Jodeci"!!! I wanna know what y'all think??? #RATEDLOVEDELUXE #OCT21 #JODECI". Keke Wyatt. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved October 18, 2016 – via Instagram.
  39. ^ "My YouTube cover series #kekecovers comes the cover album 'Keke Covers' #COMINGSOON #FEB14 #LOVERSDAY2017". Twitter. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  40. ^ "Keke Wyatt's #KekeCovers The Album *COMING SOON*". YouTube. Archived from the original on February 8, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  41. ^ "From my YouTube cover series #kekecovers comes the remarkable and unprecedented cover album 'Keke Covers' #COMINGSOON #FEB14 #LOVERSDAY2017". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  42. ^ "From my YouTube cover series #kekecovers comes the remarkable and unprecedented cover album 'Keke Covers' #COMINGSOON #FEB14 #LOVERSDAY2017". Facebook. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  43. ^ "Summertime - Single by KeKe Wyatt on Apple Music". Apple Music (U.S. Store). July 28, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  44. ^ "KeKe Wyatt Releases Country-Tinged Single, 'Summertime'". Singersroom. July 28, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2017.
  45. ^ "Keke Wyatt lands her own WE tv reality series". Upi. October 17, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  46. ^ "We tv Gives Viewers a Front Row Seat To Keke Wyatt's World". AMC Networks. October 17, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  47. ^ "Keke Wyatt on Instagram". Instagram. October 17, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2023.
  48. ^ "Keke Wyatt on Instagram "Water into Wine Announcement"". Instagram. October 17, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  49. ^ "Keke Wyatt on Facebook "Water into Wine Announcement"". Facebook. October 17, 2023. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  50. ^ a b "Keke Wyatt Tells Why She Stabbed Ex-Husband on Upcoming 'R&B Divas' (Video)". Electronic Urban Report. eurweb.com. August 31, 2012. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  51. ^ Blogger, Futuristic. "R&B Diva Keke Wyatt Talks About Stabbing Her Ex-Husband in New Interview With Essense [sic] Magazine!! – Details Inside". Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  52. ^ a b "KeKe Wyatt Expecting a Baby". BET.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved March 11, 2015.
  53. ^ "R&B Singer Keke Wyatt Has Public Meltdown After Husband Leaves Her 8 Months Pregnant". TMZ. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  54. ^ Bennett, Jessica (September 5, 2017). "At 8 Months Pregnant, Keke Wyatt Tearfully Reveals Husband Asked for Divorce". EBONY. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  55. ^ Bennett, Jessica (October 30, 2017). "Keke Wyatt Gives Birth to Ninth Child". EBONY. Retrieved July 3, 2019.
  56. ^ "Keke Wyatt on Instagram: "#kendallmiguel 💋💋💋"". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved July 9, 2019.
  57. ^ "R&B Singer Keke Wyatt Has a New Husband and Her Child is Cancer-Free". TMZ. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  58. ^ "Keke Wyatt Welcomes 10th Child, Son Ke'Riah: We 'Are Blessed'". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  59. ^ Elitou, Tweety (June 2, 2022). "Keke Wyatt Gives Birth To A Healthy Baby Boy: 'My Husband Zackariah & I Are Grateful To GOD'". BET.

External links