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Biography
Infobox musical artist|name = Robin Thicke|image = Robin_Thicke.jpg|caption = Robin Thicke at the 2008 Democratic National Convention on August 29, 2008.|background = solo_singer|birth_name = Robin C. Thicke|alias = Thicke|Born = Birth date and age|mf=yes|1977|3|10 Los Angeles, California , United States |spouse = Paula m.Patton (1994-present)|genre = contemporary R& B|R& B , Soul music|soul , hip hop |occupation = Singer-songwriter , record producer , actor , musician |instrument = Vocals , piano , guitar and sax|years_active = 1994–present|label = Nu America, Star Trak , Interscope | associated_acts = Pharrell Williams , Lil Wayne |website = url| http://www.robinthicke.com Robin Charles Thicke (IPAc-en|icon|'|?|?|k; born March 10, 1977) is an Award -winning United States|American - Canada|Canadian R& B singer-songwriter , musician , composer , and actor . Thicke's albums, which he previously released under the moniker Thicke , are noted for their feature of a predominantly R& B sound.cite web | title=Robin Thicke Biographmagazine, p. 98.Concepcion, Mariel. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003823215 "Thicke Says World Needs 'Something Else'". Billboard (magazine)|Billboard . July 2, 2008. Robin Thicke has penned hits for popular artists such as Jennifer Hudson , Usher (entertainer)|Usher , Mary J. Blige and others. Thicke was also acknowledged for his work in popular albums such as Confessions (Usher album)|Confessions and Tha Carter III .
Early life
His mother is Days of Our Lives actress and singer Gloria Loring and his father is Canada|Canadian actor Alan Thicke . They divorced when he was seven. Throughout his childhood, he would be exposed to music by Bruce Springsteen courtesy of his father, as well as Luther Vandross and Whitney Houston courtesy of his mother.Du Lac, J Freedman. "Robin Thicke Pretty Fly for a White Guy". The Washington Post . http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/music-events/robin-thicke,1134613.html
Music
Early years
Before his days as a singer-songwriter, Thicke had written "Love Is On My Side" on Brandy Norwood|Brandy 's Brandy (album)|self-titled album and a number of songs for 3T's "Sexual Attention" and collaborated with Jordan Knight , Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis on several songs in Knight's 1999 album Jordan Knight (album)|Jordan Knight . He also co-wrote the songs "When You Put Your Hands On Me" for Christina Aguilera 's Christina Aguilera (album)|debut album and "No Tears on My Pillow" for Mýa 's sophomore release, Fear of Flying (album)|Fear of Flying . As an artist, he recorded and performed solely under his surname, Thicke. He would continue to do so until 2005.
2002–2004: Early commercial success
In 2000, Thicke, who simply went by his last name, went to work on material for his debut album, initially entitled Cherry Blue Skies . The album focused more on Soul music|soul , than his pop-offerings for other artists.
In 2002, Thicke released his debut single " When I Get You Alone ". The track samples Walter Murphy 's " A Fifth of Beethoven ", which itself is a disco rendition of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Fifth Symphony . The music video for the song features an unshaven Thicke with long, wild hair as a Bicycle messenger|courier racing through the streets of Manhattan on a bicycle. It received some rotation on MTV2 and BET 's Rated Next and was spun moderately on pop and urban radio, peaking at #49 on Radio & Records Pop chart. Globally, however, "When I Get You Alone" became a chart success when it peaked within the top 20 in Australia, Belgium, and Italy, and reached the top ten of the singles charts in New Zealand and the top three in the Netherlands. The tune was featured for the soundtrack of Agent Cody Banks .
The moderate success was enough to signal the release of the album, with its name changed to A Beautiful World . Despite the release of a second single, "Brand New Jones", the album received very little promotion, and debuted at a low number 152 on the US Billboard 200 , eventually selling 63,000 copies.cite web|url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do? model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums& model.vnuArtistId=512247& model.vnuAlbumId=575549 |title=Artist Chart History - Robin Thicke Albums |accessdate=2006-09-29 |work= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard
Runner-up Blake Lewis performed "When I Get You Alone" during the 2007 season of American Idol when the top 3 chose a song to sing. Lewis has often put Robin Thicke in his list of musical influences in interviews and on the American Idol website. The song was also performed by Blaine Anderson (played by Darren Criss) on Glee during the season 2 episode "Silly Love Songs".
2005–2007: The Evolution of Robin Thicke
In 2005, Thicke performed as a guest on the remix of Will Smith 's song, " Switch (song)|Switch ". After being signed to The Neptunes label, Star Trak , he began working on his second album entitled The Evolution of Robin Thicke . The first single, " Wanna Love U Girl ", featured producer Pharrell and experienced chart success on urban radio in the United Kingdom. For the video, Thicke changed his appearance, cutting off his trademark long hair. In 2006, a remix version of the song was filmed with rapper Busta Rhymes . Nearly a year after the single was released, the album was released on October 3, 2006. The Evolution of Robin Thicke includes songs with Lil' Wayne and Faith Evans (on "Got 2 Be Down"), as well as Pharrell. To promote the album Thicke toured with India.Arie , and then opened for John Legend in late 2006.
His second single, the ballad " Lost Without U ", began getting a lot of radio airplay in Urban & Rhythmic stations towards the end of 2006 and early 2007. With the assistance of radio airplay the song became his breakout hit, reaching as high as number fourteen on the Billboard Hot 100 , and number one on the Billboard Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Songs , the first Caucasian male artist to top that chart since George Michael .cite web | title=Artist Chart History - Robin Thicke Singles | work= Billboard.com |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do? model.vnuArtistId=512247& model.vnuAlbumId=758945 | accessdate=2007-02-27 With album sales over 1.5 million copies sold domestically after the re-release as a Deluxe Edition (with three new bonus tracks) on February 13, 2007, The Evolution of Robin Thicke became a commercial success in the United States.
The album peaked at number five on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Billboard Top R& B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, garnering Thicke his first R& B number one album of his career. From February 24, 2007 to March 3, 2007 the single " Lost Without U " and album The Evolution of Robin Thicke simultaneously spent two consecutive weeks at number one on the R& B singles and albums charts respectively. On the March 3, 2007 issue of Billboard magazine, Thicke simultaneously topped four Billboard charts; Top R& B/Hip-Hop Albums , Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Songs , Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Airplay , and Hot Adult R& B Airplay. In March 2007, The Evolution of Robin Thicke was certified Platinum by the RIAA . Thicke and his record label Interscope soon considered potential tracks to be released as the album's next and third single. Thicke's preference was the track " Can U Believe ", which peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Songs and at number ninety-nine on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.cite web | title=Thicke Penning New Songs As Current Set Sizzles | work= Billboard.com | url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp? vnu_content_id=1003552873 | accessdate=2007-03-04 On October 2, 2007 the track " Got 2 Be Down " was released as the album's fourth official single. The single peaked at number sixty on Billboard's Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks .
Later in 2007, Thicke finished promotion for the album as the featured opening act for the North American leg of Beyoncé 's US tour, The Beyoncé Experience .cite web |url= http://ahotcelebritymess.com/2007/04/13/robin-thicke-will-tour-with-beyonce.aspx |title=Tour With Beyoncé and New Album |work=AHotCelebrityMess.com |accessdate=2006-05-23 Thicke also performed a one off UK concert in London's Koko Arena on September 24, 2007. As of February 10, 2009, the album was certified Double- Platinum by the RIAA .
2008–10: Something Else and Sex Therapy
There's so many meanings behind that title. Number one, it reflects what we're going through as a nation here in America. I just felt, with Barack Obama and the new energy he's bringing, that it is time for some fresh hope and new attitudes. Then, in terms of me as an artist, because I'd been singing all these songs about self-reflection - like '2 The Sky' and 'Angels' - I just thought it was time for me to start singing about something ELSE& #33; Also, I felt that - with my music being a little different from everything else you can get out there - the music IN ITSELF is also something different and something else!"
—Robin Thicke interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul , November 2008.http:/ / www.bluesandsoul.com/ feature/ 355/ zapp_pow_its_robin/ Robin Thicke interview by Pete Lewis, Blues & Soul , November 2008
During an interview to promote his third album, Thicke explained: cquote|I think this album was so different than my last album. The last album I did, I spoke about my personal life and the things that I was going through at that time. However, since I've been on the road, you just see how many people are either in poverty, or are not able to live the life they want to live, have just given up on their dreams, or have had it taken away from them. What I thought were problems are not problems at all, and I think when I made this record a little perspective kicked in.Widran, J. http://www.songwriteruniverse.com/robinthicke123.htm Hit Pop/Soul Writer/Artist Robin Thicke Talks About His Album, Something Else. Accessed 2 Nov. 2010.Thicke appeared on an episode of American Broadcasting Company|ABC 's The Bachelor (US TV series)|The Bachelor to perform “Magic” and “The Sweetest Love” for the remaining female contestants. Thicke wrote and produced a track for the movie Precious (film)|Precious , a film based on a novel by Sapphire (author)|Sapphire , in which his wife Paula Patton also stars.Cite news| last = Mitchell| first = Gail| title = Robin Thicke reflects on race, music and Something Else| newspaper = Reuters| date = 2008-08-29| url = http://www2.canada.com/travel/health-information/motown+50th+birthday/1168649/story.html? id=801015| format =Dead link|date=May 2010Cite news | last = Lee| first = Michael J.| title = Paula Patton on 'Push'| newspaper = Radio Free Entertainment| date = 2008-08-12| url = http://radiofree.com/profiles/paula_patton/interview05.shtml He is currentlyWhen|date=September 2010 co-headlining a U.S. tour with Jennifer Hudson , which began March 31, 2009 in Albany, New York , and wraps up 25 shows later in Biloxi, Mississippi .cite web | title=Robin Thicke Readies New Album For 2009 | work= Billboard.com |url= http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/robin-thicke-readies-new-album-for-2009-1003952127.story | accessdate=2009-04-24 At the start of the tour, Thicke released "You're My Baby" as the official third single from Something Else , despite filming and releasing a music video for the track "Dreamworld". As of April 2009, Something Else has shifted over 435,000 units in the U.S.
Seven months after the release of Something Else , Billboard.com announced that Thicke would release his fourth studio album in the fall of 2009, which would not be self-produced. The album, titled Sex Therapy (album)|Sex Therapy , had its release date postponed to winter, being released on December 15, 2009. Jay-Z is featured on the track "Meiple (Me I Play)". The first single from the album was the Sex Therapy (song)|self-titled track , produced by Polow Da Don and released in October 2009. In November 2009, Thicke premiered the second single to radio, "Shakin' It for Daddy", featuring rapper Nicki Minaj . It was also produced by Polow Da Don.
Speaking of the musical background to Sex Therapy , in March 2010 Thicke told Pete Lewis - Deputy Editor of Blues & Soul - "I'm always gonna have the influence of Marvin Gaye , Stevie Wonder and Al Green in my music. But with this album I also wanted to show my Hip-Hop|HIP HOP side. I grew up listening to Run DMC and NWA and Notorious B.I.G.|Biggie and Tupac Shakur|Pac and Jay-Z ... So I really wanted to make a record that represented how much that music has influenced me." http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/523/on_cruise_control/ Robin Thicke interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' April 2010 Earlier in 2009, on October 14, Leighton Meester 's debut single " Somebody to Love (Leighton Meester song)|Somebody to Love ", featuring Thicke, was released. Thicke told MTV he was glad to have Lil Wayne on the album. He also pointed out that he was featured on Lil Wayne's last two albums, and Lil Wayne was on his last two albums. "We're kind of good luck charms for each other", he said.
Thicke appeared on American Broadcasting Company|ABC 's '' Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest|New Year's Rockin' Eve '' on January 1, 2010 and performed three songs in Las Vegas metropolitan area|Las Vegas , in a pre-recorded segment. Also in 2010, it was confirmed that he, along with Melanie Fiona , would feature on The Freedom Tour with Alicia Keys . As of October 2011, the album has sold 269,000 copies in the United States.Cite web | url= http://www.billboard.com/news/susan-boyle-blocks-alicia-keys-from-no-1-1004055332.story#/news/robin-thicke-joins-alicia-keys-on-freedom-1004065487.story | title=Robin Thicke Joins Alicia Keys on 'Freedom Tour'- | work= Billboard (magazine)|Billboard | publisher= Prometheus Global Media | date=February 5, 2010 | accessdate=October 8, 2011 | last=Concepcion | first=Mariel
During 2011, Thicke was confirmed to go on tour with Jennifer Hudson, with whom he toured in 2009. http://www.rttnews.com/Content/EntertainmentNews.aspx? Section=2& Id=1581251& SM=1 Later that year, Robin Thicke released his fifth studio album, Love After War , on December 6, 2011. http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.16014/title.robin-thicke-reveals-title-release-date-for-fifth-album/ The album has produced two singles. There is the title track and lead single, Love After War (song)|"Love After War" . The second single is "Pretty Lil' Heart", which features Lil Wayne. Robin Thicke appeared on American Broadcasting Company|ABC 's '' Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve with Ryan Seacrest|New Year's Rockin' Eve 2012 '' performing via remote feed from Los Angeles, California.cite web|url= http://www.kansas-city-news.pro/2012/01/new-years-eve-2012-40th-anniversary-of.html|title=Dick Clark's 40th Anniversary of Rockin' Eve|date=December 31, 2011|work=Kansas City News
Artistry
Songwriting and producing
Thicke began his songwriting career by penning hits for popular artists. The Thicke original " When I Get You Alone " was performed by Guy Sebastian , the winner of the first Australian Idol 2003 , during the competition and at the Idol Grand Final. "When I Get You Alone" was a popular song choice for Sebastian; he put the live idol performance on his four-times platinum debut single " Angels Brought Me Here "; it was the fastest selling single in Australia debuting at #1 and immediately breaking an Aria record. http://aria.com.au/pages/aria-charts-end-of-year-charts-top-100-singles-2003.htm Aria End Of Year Highest Selling Single Chart 2003. Retrieved 27th February 2009 In 2004, Thicke co-wrote with Guy Sebastian , the #1 Hit " Out With My Baby " from Sebastian's second album, Beautiful Life (Guy Sebastian album)|Beautiful Life . Thicke also produced this single for Sebastian. http://www.musicaustralia.org/apps/MA? function=showDetail& currentBibRecord=000017001586& itemSeq=7& total=85& returnFunction=searchResults& scope=scope& simpleTerm=afro& sessionId=reuseSearch18F4AD02995B3EC8FD76F891AF8C05E91240514857503 Music Australia Thicke was involved in three tracks on Beautiful Life . Other songs Thicke contributed to on the album include "Fiend for You", co-written with Sebastian, and "How", a Robin Thicke original included on the track listing. During this same year, he wrote a song with the singer and actress Raven-Symoné for the album This Is My Time (Raven-Symoné album)|This Is My Time , with the song "Set Me Free".
In April 2007, Thicke co-wrote a song with singer/songwriter Angela Via called "Wrong for You", a single from Via's forthcoming album. In 2008, Thicke was enlisted by Record producer|producer Polow da Don to play piano on the Usher track, " Love in This Club ".Janeé Bolden (April 4, 2008). http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/14462 SOHH Exclusive: Polow da Don on Beat Jacking Rumors, ''If a 10-Year-Old Can Save Usher's Career, He's a Genius Like Me . SOHH.com. Accessed April 4, 2008. At the 2009 Grammy Awards , Thicke was most recently recognized for his work on Lil Wayne’s sixth studio album Tha Carter III , as well as Jennifer Hudson ’s Jennifer Hudson (album)|self titled debut album . Thicke wrote and produced the song "Tie My Hands" on Tha Carter III , which went on to win Grammy Award for Best Rap Album|Best Rap Album . Thicke wrote and produced the song "Giving Myself" for the album Jennifer Hudson , which went on to win Grammy Award for Best R& B Album|Best R& B Album .
Collaborations
In 2007, Thicke appeared on 50 Cent 's album Curtis (50 Cent album)|Curtis , which was released on September 11, 2007, on a song called " Follow My Lead ". The following year, he worked with Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti on her fourth studio album, The Declaration , which was released on June 3, 2008. Also that year, Thicke reunited with Lil Wayne and was featured on his album Tha Carter III on a track entitled "Tie My Hands", which Thicke also produced.
BLP unsourced section|date=March 2011According to the Robin Thicke website, Robin Thicke has signed on with Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox for a film that is to be out in 2011. cquote|Thicke’s wife, Paula Patton , is a staple of the movies, of course, and seen most recently in Precious , which many are calling a front-runner for a best picture nomination. Now, after years of begging off acting offers, because he didn’t feel he could handle two careers at once, Thicke has just signed on with Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox for a feature film that is due out in 2011. http://www.robinthicke.com/bio/
Personal life
Thicke began dating actress Paula Patton at the age of 16.cite journal | last = Penn | first = Charli | title = Exclusive: Robin Thicke on Loving Black Women, Interracial Dating, and Pleasing Paula | journal = Essence | date = December 21, 2011 | url = http://www.essence.com/2011/12/21/robin-thicke-on-loving-black-women-interracial-dating-and-pleasing-paula/#ixzz1hEBddYji They were married in 2005 and had a son, Julian Fuego Thicke, on April 6, 2010.cite web|url= http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20358663,00.html|title=Robin Thicke and Paula Patton Welcome a Son|last=Cruz|first=Anne Marie|date=April 7, 2010|work=People Magazine|accessdate=November 2, 2010
Thicke has said he does not like it when his music is called " blue-eyed soul ", calling the label "small-minded and stereotypical."Miller, Mitzi (November 2008), "on the record with ... ROBIN THICKE". Essence . 39 (7):66
In the fall of 2010, Robin Thicke spent several weeks in New York City recording and living in a rented SoHo apartment which he had converted into a makeshift professional studio. http://www.sonicscoop.com/2011/03/07/return-of-the-nomad-engineer-ii-the-top-nyc-studios-of-freelancer-ari-raskin-part-ii/ Return of the Nomad Engineer II: The Top NYC Studios of Freelancer Ari Raskin, Part II March 2011
Tours
The Beyoncé Experience – as an opening act for the North American leg
Jennifer Hudson and Robin Thicke – co-headline tour
The Freedom Tour – as an opening act for the tour along with Melanie Fiona
Robin Thicke with special guest Miguel (singer)|Miguel in Houston , Texas
Love After War – 3 week promotional tour in November 2011
Awards and nominations
Recording artist
Year
Category
Recording
Result
BET Awards
2007
Best Male R& B Artist
N/ A
Nominated
2007
Viewers' Choice Award
" Lost Without U "
Nominated
Soul Train Awards
2009
Best R& B/ Soul Male
N/ A
Nominated
2007
Best R& B/ Soul Album, Male
The Evolution of Robin Thicke
Won
MTV Video Music Awards
2007
Male Artist of the Year
" Can U Believe ", " Lost Without U ", " Wanna Love U Girl "
Nominated
MOBO Awards
2007
Best Song
" Lost Without U "
Nominated
American Music Awards
2007
Favorite Breakthrough Artist
N/ A
Nominated
VH1 Soul/ VIBE Awards
2007
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
N/ A
Won
Songwriting and production
Year
Category
Recording
Result
Grammy Awards
2004
Best Contemporary R& B album
Confessions ; songwriter, producer
Participant
2009
Best Rap album
Tha Carter III ; songwriter, producer
Participant
Best R& B album
Jennifer Hudson ; songwriter, producer
Participant
References
Reflist
External links
http://www.robinthicke.com/ Official website
IMDB name|id=1479027|name=Robin Thicke
myspace|robinthicke|Robin Thicke
Robin Thicke Persondata|NAME = Thicke, Robin |ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Thicke, Robin Charles |SHORT DESCRIPTION = American musician |DATE OF BIRTH = March 10, 1976 |PLACE OF BIRTH = Los Angeles |DATE OF DEATH = |PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Thicke, Robin Category:1977 births Category:Living people Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:American pop singers Category:Musicians from California Category:People from Los Angeles, California Category:Grammy Award winners Category:American people of Canadian descent Category:Blue-eyed soul singers Category:Neo soul singers Category:Interscope Records artists
