Raphael Saadiq
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Raphael Saadiq | |
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2012 Time 100 | |
Background information | |
Birth name | Charles Ray Wiggins |
Born | Oakland, California, U.S. | May 14, 1966
Genres | |
Occupation(s) |
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Instrument(s) |
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Years active | 1983–present |
Labels |
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Member of | Tony! Toni! Toné! |
Formerly of | |
Website | raphaelsaadiqmusic |
Raphael Saadiq (
Saadiq was also a member of
He is also co-founder of the
Early life
Saadiq was born in Oakland, California, and was the second-youngest of 14 siblings.[5] He attended Castlemont High School. He has had four siblings die at early ages.[6] Saadiq states that he does not want his music to be reflective of the tragedies he experienced, saying that "And through all of that I was makin' records, but it wasn't comin' out in the music. I did it to kinda show people you can have some real tough things happen in your life, but you don't have to wear it on your sleeve."[5]
He has been playing the bass guitar since the age of six,
Career
1987–1999: Tony! Toni! Toné! and The Ummah
As far back as his work with Tony! Toni! Toné!, Raphael Saadiq has been a singer of doubt, of psychic wounds, of romance undergoing a test.
After returning to Oakland from touring with Prince, Saadiq began his professional career as the lead vocalist and bassist in the
In 1995, Saadiq had his biggest solo hit to date, when "
Tony! Toni! Toné! would become major R&B superstars throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. However, after the 1996 album entitled House of Music failed to duplicate the group's previous success, Tony! Toni! Toné! went their separate ways in 1997.
1999–2004: Lucy Pearl and first string of solo albums
In 1999, Saadiq's next big project became the R&B supergroup Lucy Pearl. He recorded the self-titled album with Dawn Robinson (En Vogue) and Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest). The group only lasted for one album.
Also in 1999, he collaborated with rapper
His 2000 song collaboration "
In 2002, Saadiq founded his own record label, Pookie Entertainment. Among the artists on the label are
2004–2010: Expanded output and second string of albums
In 2004, Saadiq produced a remix of the song "Crooked Nigga Too" by
Saadiq's third solo album,
Touring with a nine piece band, Saadiq hit the 2009 summer music festival circuit with performances at
He produced songs for LeToya Luckett's forthcoming second album Lady Love, released August 2009. In 2009, Saadiq produced "Please Stay" and "Love Never Changes" for Ledisi's August 2009 release "Turn Me Loose". Saadiq also was the executive producer for an emerging group called Tha Boogie. Tha Boogie's first EP was released on iTunes and is titled Love Tha Boogie, Vol. 1 (Steal This Sh*t).
In 2009, Saadiq announced his video game development company called IllFonic. The first video game in development by IllFonic is titled Ghetto Golf, with an expected release late in 2010. In 2009, Saadiq teamed up Bentley Kyle Evans, Jeff Franklin, Martin Lawrence, and Trenten Gumbs to create a new sitcom called Love That Girl! starring
2011–present: Stone Rollin', Jimmy Lee and other work
In 2011, Saadiq was the guitarist/bandleader for the group backing
Saadiq's 2011 album
In fall 2011, he performed on the fourth results show of
In 2012 he signed a deal with Toyota to do a TV commercial for the Toyota Prius. In 2013 Raphael partnered with Bay Area/ Atlanta Production company EL Seven Entertainment/ Republic Records and then-new R&B singer Adrian Marcel and released his first promotional mixtape Raphael Saadiq Presents Adrian Marcel 7 Days of Weak.
Saadiq is a featured bass guitar player on Elton John's 2013 album, The Diving Board.
In 2016 he executive produced Solange Knowles' album, A Seat at the Table, which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.[25][26] He also guest starred in Luke Cage, where he performs his songs "Good Man" and "Angel" at Harlem's Paradise.
In 2017 he appeared in the award-winning documentary film The American Epic Sessions, directed by Bernard MacMahon, where he recorded the Memphis Jug Band's 1928 song "Stealin' Stealin'".[27] live on the restored first electrical sound recording system from the 1920s.[28] Of recording on the system he said, "it's amazing to just look at how it's built, you know just look at the machine itself. It just has this like magical sound the way that it's built. It's true. It's just the truest sound you could ever get".[29]
In 2017, Saadiq collaborated with Mary J. Blige as a songwriter for the movie Mudbound (2017), for which they both received Academy Award nominations for Best Original Song.[30]
In 2018, he produced the John Legend holiday themed album, A Legendary Christmas.
On August 23, 2019, Saadiq released his fifth album Jimmy Lee, to critical acclaim.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, he released a song on his website called "Rony! Roni! Roné!", as a nod to his group "Tony! Toni! Toné!".[31]
In 2022, Saadiq was credited as a collaborator on multiple songs from Brent Faiyaz's album Wasteland, which debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart.[32][33] Saadiq also collaborated with Beyoncé on her seventh and eighth studio albums Renaissance, for which he received two Grammy award nominations, and 2024's Cowboy Carter.
Equipment
Through the course of his career, Saadiq has often played Fender Telecaster and Stratocaster electric guitars.[34]
Signature guitar
In 2024, Fender announced a collaboration with Saadiq to produce a signature guitar model he designed to be available for purchase.[35] The limited edition Raphael Saadiq Telecaster features a Dark Red Metallic finish, black binding, black headstock, custom acrylic pickguard, and custom Raphael Saadiq single-coil pickups. The model was designed with help from fellow musician Eric Gales, and aesthetically inspired by Saadiq's debut album, Instant Vintage.[36]
Discography
Solo albums
- Instant Vintage (2002)
- Ray Ray (2004)
- The Way I See It (2008)
- Stone Rollin' (2011)
- Jimmy Lee (2019)
With Tony! Toni! Toné!
- Who? (1988)
- The Revival (1990)
- Sons of Soul (1993)
- House of Music (1996)
With Lucy Pearl
- Lucy Pearl (2000)
Singles
- "Ask of You" (1995)
- "Can't Get Enough" (Duet with Willie Max, 1998)
- "Get Involved" (Duet with Q-Tip, 1999)
- "Be Here" (Duet with D'Angelo, 2002)
- "Still Ray" (2002)
- "Love That Girl" (2008)
- "Never Give You Up" (With Stevie Wonder & CJ Hilton, 2009)
- "100 Yard Dash" (2009)
- "Staying In Love" (2009)
- "Something Keeps Calling" (2019)
Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
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2018 | Mighty River (with Mary J. Blige & Taura Stinson) | Best Original Song | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
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2009 | Raphael Saadiq | BET Centric Award
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Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2018 | Mighty River (with Mary J. Blige) | Best Original Song | Nominated |
2021 | Tigress & Tweed (with Andra Day) | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2021 | Lovecraft Country (with Laura Karpman) | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Composition for a Series | Nominated |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
1994 | "Anniversary" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated |
Best R&B Song | Nominated | ||
2001 | "Dance Tonight" | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal
|
Nominated |
"Untitled (How Does It Feel)" (performed by D'Angelo) | Best R&B Song | Nominated | |
2003 | "Be Here" (with D'Angelo) | Best Urban/Alternative Performance | Nominated |
Best R&B Song | Nominated | ||
"Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)" (as songwriter) | Won | ||
Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media
|
Nominated | ||
Instant Vintage | Best R&B Album | Nominated | |
2005 | "Show Me the Way" (with Earth, Wind & Fire) | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated |
2007 | "I Found My Everything" (with Mary J. Blige) | Best Traditional R&B Performance | Nominated |
2009 | "Never Give You Up" (feat. Stevie Wonder and CJ Hilton) | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated |
The Way I See It | Best R&B Album | Nominated | |
"Love That Girl" | Best Traditional R&B Performance | Nominated | |
2012 | "Good Man" | Best Traditional R&B Performance | Nominated |
2021 | Donda (as producer) | Album of the Year | Nominated |
2023 | Renaissance (as producer) | Album of the Year | Nominated |
Cuff It | Best R&B Song | Won |
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
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2009 | Raphael Saadiq | Best Male R&B/Soul Artist | Nominated |
2011 | Raphael Saadiq | Centric Award | Won |
2016 | "Cranes In The Sky" | The Ashford & Simpson Songwriter's Award | Won |
References
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert (October 2008). "Raphael Saadiq: The Way I See It". Blender. Retrieved March 30, 2012.
- The Times-Picayune. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ Cochrane, Naima (March 26, 2020). "2000: A Soul Odyssey". Billboard. Retrieved January 23, 2021.
- ^ Hicks, Dylan (February 20, 2020). "From Tony Toni Toné' through 'Jimmy Lee,' Raphael Saadiq has crafted a unique career". City Pages. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Batey, Angus (April 24, 2009). "One step back, two steps forward". The Guardian. London. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
- ^ "Raphael Saadiq opens up about grief, loss and his most personal project yet". September 14, 2019.
- ^ a b Jones, Soul (June 13, 2011). "Soul Jones Words: Like A Rolling Stone – Raphael Saadiq Interview (Featuring Rob Fonksta Bacon, Taura Stinson & Chuck Brungardt)". Souljoneswords.blogspot.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- ^ Perry, Clayton (November 27, 2008). "Interview: Raphael Saadiq – Singer, Songwriter and Producer". Blog Critics. Archived from the original on September 27, 2012. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
- ^ Buskin, Richard (June 2009). "Raphael Saadiq: Producing The Way I See It". Sound on Sound. Retrieved December 31, 2010.
- ^ Bianculli, David; Tucker, Ken (October 10, 2008). "Saadiq Revisits R&B Past In 'The Way I See It'". Fresh Air. NPR. WHYY-FM. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Transcript. Retrieved April 7, 2012.
- ^ Lorez, Jeff. "Raphael Saadiq 2008 Interview". SoulMusic.com. Archived from the original on September 17, 2008. Retrieved September 27, 2008.
- ^ Lewis, Pete. "This Year's Vintage – Pete Lewis Interviews Raphael Saadiq". Blues & Soul. Retrieved September 10, 2009.
- ISBN 0-89820-160-8.
- ^ "Music: Voodoo (CD) by D'Angelo (Artist), 106263815". Tower.com. January 25, 2000. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- ^ "Rocklist.net Rolling Stone (USA) End of Year Lists". Rocklistmusic.co.uk. Archived from the original on July 23, 2010. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- ^ Boylan, J. Gabriel (September 2008). "Who Will Save R&B?". The New York Observer. Retrieved September 18, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Soul (May 15, 2011). "Soul Jones Words: Innervisions – Raphael Saadiq Interview". Souljoneswords.blogspot.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. February 3, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
- ^ "The Official Raphael Saadiq Site". Raphael Saadiq. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011. Retrieved April 24, 2012.
- ^ Myers, Gina. "Motown Revival – A Review of Raphael Saadiq's Stone Rollin'". Frontier Psychiatrist. Archived from the original on May 13, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2011.
- ^ Bentley, Jason. "First Listen: Raphael Saadiq, 'Stone Rollin". NPR. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
- ^ "Concert review: Raphael Saadiq at Park West". Chicago Tribune. June 4, 2011.
- Tribune Company. Retrieved December 25, 2011.
- ^ "Album review: Raphael Saadiq, "Stone Rollin'" (Columbia)". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
- ^ Caulfield, Keith (October 9, 2016). "Solange Scores Her First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With A Seat at the Table". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Week of October 22, 2016". Billboard. Retrieved April 9, 2023.
- ^ "American Epic Sessions interviewees & performers" (PDF). Thirteen.org. 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ "American Epic: The Collection & The Soundtrack Out May 12th | Legacy Recordings". Legacy Recordings. April 28, 2017. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ Arena, B. B. C. (June 8, 2017). ""The truest sound you could ever get" - @RaphaelSaadiq performs for @AmericanEpic THE SESSIONS". @BBC_Arena. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ Aswad, Jem (February 23, 2018). "Raphael Saadiq on His Oscar-Nominated 'Mudbound' Song, Working With Mary J. Blige and Declining Prince's Record Deal". Variety. Retrieved May 21, 2018.
- ^ "Raphael Saadiq".
- ^ Gage, Dewayne (July 8, 2022). "Brent Faiyaz Believes We Are Living in a Wasteland. He Makes It Sound Damn Good". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
- ^ "Five Burning Questions: Brent Faiyaz's 'Wasteland' Debuts at No. 2 on the Billboard 200". Billboard. July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
- ^ "Watch Raphael Saadiq break down the guitar and bass of Something Keeps Calling for Fender Tracks". Guitar.com | All Things Guitar. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ "Limited Edition Raphael Saadiq Telecaster®". www.fender.com. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Matt Owen (March 12, 2024). "Fender taps multi-platinum producer Raphael Saadiq for a bold new signature Telecaster". guitarworld. Retrieved March 12, 2024.