CeeLo Green | |
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Green performing in 2008
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Background information | |
Birth name | Thomas DeCarlo Callaway |
Born |
Atlanta, Georgia, United States |
May 30, 1974
Genres | R&B, hip hop, soul, funk |
Occupation(s) | Singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor |
Instruments | Vocals, piano |
Years active | 1994–present |
Labels | Arista, BMG, Elektra, Atlantic |
Associated acts | Gnarls Barkley, Goodie Mob, Outkast, Christina Aguilera, TLC, Jazze Pha, Lionel Richie, Ludacris, Bruno Mars |
Website | ceelogreen |
Thomas DeCarlo Callaway (born May 30, 1974), better known by his stage name CeeLo Green (sometimes rendered as Cee Lo Green or Cee-Lo Green), is an American singer, rapper, songwriter, record producer, actor, and businessman.
Green came to initial prominence as a member of the Southern hip hop group Goodie Mob and later as part of the soul duo Gnarls Barkley, with record producer Danger Mouse. Subsequently he embarked on a solo career, partially spurred by YouTube popularity.
Internationally, Green is best known for his soul work: his most popular was Gnarls Barkley's 2006 worldwide hit "Crazy", which reached number 1 in various singles charts worldwide, including the UK. In the United States, "Crazy" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Its parent album St. Elsewhere (2006), was also a hit, peaked at number 1 on the UK Albums Chart and number 4 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. Gnarls Barkley's second album, The Odd Couple (2008), charted at number 12 on the Billboard 200.
In 2010, Green took a hiatus from working with Danger Mouse, and released a solo single titled "Fuck You!", on August 19. The song became a successful single, with the radio-edit version "Forget You", reaching the top spot in the UK and the Netherlands and peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Its parent album, The Lady Killer (2010), saw similar success, peaking within the top five of the UK Albums Chart and debuting within the top 10 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, receiving a Gold certification from the BPI in the UK. His next two singles, "It's OK" and "Bright Lights Bigger City" were also hits in Europe. From 2011 to 2014, Green was a judge and coach on American reality television singing competition The Voice, appearing on four of its seasons. In 2013, Green reunited with the rest of Goodie Mob, to release their fifth studio album Age Against the Machine. In 2011 he did a concert with Prince in Madison Square Garden.