R. Kelly
Information available to BEATWAVES indicates that American superstar Robert Sylvester Kelly, known on the international music scene as R. Kelly, will host a major musical concert Ghana this year.
The American singer, songwriter and record producer will headline and share the stage together with some selected Ghanaian home-grown performing artistes.
The American singer is among many celebrities from the diaspora who will be coming to Ghana for the ‘Year of Return’ celebration this year to connect with their ancestry.
‘The Year of Return’ marks 400 years since some Black Africans and Ghanaians, for that matter, were shipped as slaves to foreign lands.
Kelly’s presence and live performance in Ghana will definitely rock the entire Ghanaian music scene.
The organisers have confirmed that they have “signed and sealed” a deal to have the R. Kelly perform in Ghana this year.
According to them, they will soon hold press launch of the concert to announce the full list of both local and international artistes who will be performing alongside R. Kelly at the concert, as well the venue and date.
Kelly is known for several hit songs including ‘Bump N’ Grind’, ‘Your Body’s Callin’, ‘I Believe I Can Fly’, ‘Gotham City’, ‘Ignition (Remix)’, ‘If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time’, ‘The World’s Greatest’, ‘I’m a Flirt’ (Remix), among others.
In 1996, he was nominated for a Grammy for writing Michael Jackson’s song ‘You Are Not Alone’.
In 2002 and 2004, Kelly released collaboration albums with rapper Jay-Z and has been a guest vocalist for other hip-hop artistes like Nas, Sean Combs and Notorious B.I.G.
By George Clifford Owusu