Chef Tone

Tony E. Scales, Jr (born June 13, 1983), professionally known as Chef Tone, is an American songwriter and record producer. Chef found early success with his 2008 placement at Atlantic Records. Some of Chef's collaborating artists include Justin Bieber, Jamie Foxx, Trey Songz, and Flo Rida, among others. Chef Tone received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album for his contribution to the 2009 Trey Songz album Ready. Chef is currently building a body of up-and-coming songwriters and producers through his work as CEO of Aye Girl Music Group.

Chef Tone was born and raised in a single-parent household in the south side of Chicago, IL, where he was introduced to a life of crime at a very young age. Two things kept him out of trouble: sports and songwriting. Tony spent a good deal of his time writing rap, but wasn't sure he wanted a career in music. Sports, on the other hand, were more accessible and, like many of his friends, Tony had an interest in basketball. He would often play with his cousin Sean Dockery, an All-American basketball player at Duke University. As luck would have it, Grammy Award winning R&B superstar R. Kelly was a fan of Dockery's, and the young men were invited to participate in a friendly basketball competition. Tony and R. Kelly formed an immediate bond on the court, the result of having been placed on the same team for a pick-up game. The two would continue playing for the next few years, but it was this first chance encounter that gave Tony the opportunity to share his creative talent off the court.

Tony's relationship with R. Kelly blossomed into a serious mentorship when the R&B star first listened to the early rap Tony had written. After developing an on-court friendship, R. Kelly maintained contact with Tony, taking the young songwriter under his wing and helping to develop the signature Chef Tone style. Chef Tone acknowledges R. Kelly's influence as "a blessing" and says "being discovered and mentored by R. Kelly," whom he looks as his big brother, has made all the difference. "He kept me around so I wouldn't get into any trouble," says Chef.

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