gemini072
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 Posted: Wed 21 Nov 2007 14:28 Post subject: |
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http://www.kekewyattmusic.com/
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Lorna Wyatt, a vocalist, and Keever Wyatt II, an organist/vocalist, Ketara Wyatt (who goes by her nickname Keke) hails from a musical family rooted in church music.[1][3] Despite the family's religious background, the singer's parents exposed her to R&B at home encouraging her to pursue secular music. [4] This musical household cultivated a singer with the ability to perform several genres of music that include gospel, R&B, pop, country and opera. Subsequently, Keke can write music equally as well. The singer has two younger brothers - Keever Wyatt, III, an R&B/Hip-Hop artist working on his first record deal; and Kendall Wyatt, a writer for the Christian Music industry.[1]
Wyatt began singing at the tender age of two. Belonging to a family of regular church musicians, by age five Keke made her first performance in front of a live audience. The song she performed, entitled "Beautiful"[5], was taught to her by her mother. The young singer later performed a song she learned from her father, entitled "How Beautiful".[4] Growing up in Indianapolis, spending time in both Kentucky and Texas, Wyatt became influenced by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway and Ella Fitzgerald.[4] Inspired by many preceding musical greats, Wyatt would sing with various girl groups as a teen.[2] She attended high school in Indianapolis and was she was a member of her high school's varsity wrestling team.[6]
As a young girl and teen Keke was often recognized for possessing a level of maturity that exceeded her in age.[1] At eighteen she married a man eight years her senior - Rahmat Morton, a former athlete. Morton is also her long-time road manager and they have children together.
[edit] The Early Years
Wyatt's professional career began at age ten, recording the song "What If" 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 would lead to a long line of encounters with people like Bill Woodson, Nathan Alexander, Billy Badd, Chris Kelly, and Emmanuel Officer.[2]
Wyatt started her musical performing career at age eleven auditioning among several other hopefuls for a slot in a Texas based all girl R&B ensemble The Dollz. The group would later evolve into Destiny's Child. Wyatt received a call back for her audition, attended a few practices, but eventually opted not to join the group.[1]
During adolescence Wyatt became a student of Chicago-based producer/songwriter Steve "Stone" Huff [2], famous for his work with the Isley Brothers, the artist Joe of "Things Your Man Won't Do" fame, Avant, and other successful R&B artists. Huff eventually produced and shopped a few demos for Wyatt in hopes of landing her a record deal. [2][3] During her mid-teens Wyatt performed demo songs for various gospel labels, earning $1,500 per recording. She wrote the majority of the lyrics for a hit song of which the title, recording label and name of the performing artist is unknown. As a minor, she would not receive credit for work.[1]
[edit] Worldwide
At age sixteen Wyatt recorded the song My First Love with Avant, which eventually turned into a single, on the MCA Records label for his album entitled My Thoughts. Wyatt gained much notoriety for the remake of the lush 1980s ballad by Rene & Angela. The single was released two years after being recorded. Its success, remaining on the Top 10 for several weeks, resulted in a solo album contract with MCA Records. With the help of the late MCA Record executive Louil Silas, her friend and A&R Randy Jackson (of American Idol fame who she met at age twelve[5]) and former Boyz II Men manager Quadri El Amin, Wyatt recorded her first album in only two weeks time.
Unfortunately, her first single, Used to Love went virtually unnoticed. However the follow-up Nothing in This World, her second duet with Avant, became a huge smash single. Incidentally, controversy surrounding accusations in a domestic dispute between Wyatt and her husband/manager helped propel her debut album Soul Sista into gold-certified status. The album held the Top 5 position for several weeks and sold more than one million copies reaching audiences in Japan, Korea and Europe.[1] The video for her third single, I Don't Wanna, features her real-life spouse, Rahmat Morton, playing her husband as well as their son in the beginning intro.
By 2004, Keke Wyatt departed from MCA Records and signed with Cash Money Records/Universal Motown Records under the management of Cassandra Ware. Rahmat Morton, Wyatt's spouse and long-time road manager, negotiated contract.[5] Her second album Emotional Rollercoaster was originally set for release on May 31, 2005, but the release date was later pushed back to early 2006. The set's first single, Put Your Hands on Me became the #1 most added urban track to radio in April 2005. However, the single failed to chart or gain radio airplay and her album was subsequently shelved.
Songs slated to appear on her second album included the first single Put Your Hands On Me, Look at What You Made Me Do, Insecurity (written by Bryan Michael Cox), My Man, Six Questions (featuring Avant), Cheaters, Who Knows (written by R&B singer Tank), Peace On Earth (remake of a Rachelle Ferrell single), and the title track (featuring Ginuwine).
Late 2006 saw the release of Wyatt from her contract with Cash Money Records, the singer citing that management as the reason for her departure.[5] She has since signed with TVT Records, reuniting with former manager Quadri El Amin. Work for her third album Ghetto Rose is complete, and is set to be released on October 23rd, 2007. The title track is the set's lead single, which was released to Urban radio outlets late August/early September. Ghetto Rose was written especially for Wyatt by veteran song writer Frannie Golde. Golde is known for her work with The Commodores; she also wrote Stickwitu for the Pussycat Dolls.
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