Claude Kelly
| Claude Kelly | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Background information | |
| Born | 1980 (age 36–37) New York, NY |
| Genres | Pop, R&B, soul, dance, country |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 2002-present |
| Labels |
Weirdo Workshop RED Music |
| Associated acts | |
Claude Kelly (born 1980) is an American singer, songwriter and music producer. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, and has written hit songs for artists including Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Kelly Clarkson, Christina Aguilera, Bruno Mars, Jessie J, Ledisi and Olly Murs. He and Chuck Harmony make up the R&B duo Louis York, and founded the music collective Weirdo Workshop.
Kelly was born and raised in New York City. His Jamaican-born mother introduced him to a variety of music styles, including jazz, reggae, blues and R&B. Growing up, he studied piano and flute at the Third Street Music School Settlment and sung with the New York Boys Choir. Kelly attended Grace Church School, Riverdale Country School, and then Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating with a degree in music business/management in 2002.
After graduating from Berklee, Kelly worked as a session singer on the East Coast, before starting to write his own songs. He placed his first song in 2002, when "You're Taking It" was included on a CD compilation for Japanese clothing line A Bathing Ape. He wrote "Daddy's Little Girl" for Frankie J, which was released as a single in 2006, and led to a publishing contract with Warner/Chappell Music. That year, Kelly was introduced to producer RedOne, and began working with him and Lady Gaga, who was at the time working on her first album. This led to an introduction to Akon. Kelly and Akon co-wrote "Hold My Hand" with Whitney Houston in mind, but Akon liked the song so much that he decided to record it as a duet with Michael Jackson. It was one of Jackson's last recordings, and appeared on his 2010 posthumous album Michael.
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