RAHEEM DEVAUGHN

DeVaughn’s story begins with music—his mother’s vinyl collection to be exact. “I always loved music so I would sneak into her record collection when she wasn’t around and play her stuff," says DeVaughn. Although his parents were not together, his father, noted jazz musician Abdul Wadud, was an influence as well. “Music was just always around me," says DeVaughn. “I can remember at a very young age, standing in my mother’s living room, listening to music and saying to myself, I’m going to be an entertainer. It was that simple for me. I think I just always knew."
The son of jazz cellist Abdul Wadud, Maryland-based R&B vocalist Raheem DeVaughn kicked his career into gear after initiating a series of independent releases, aided in part by the cash reward earned from winning a talent contest. Jive became interested, signed him, and released The Love Experience in June of 2005. The album peaked within the Top 50 of the Billboard 200 album chart, with the singles "You" and "Guess Who Loves You More" regularly spun on some of the more adventurous R&B stations across the U.S. Love Behind the Melody followed in January 2008, but not before its first single, "Woman," was announced as a 2008 Grammy nominee for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide