Robin Thicke
2434503
225514079
2008-07-14T02:24:19Z
205.217.228.83
{{BLPsources|date=August 2007}}
{{Infobox musical artist
|Img=
|Background = solo_singer
|Birth_name = Robin Alan Thicke
|spouse = [[Paula Patton]] (2005-Present)
|Alias = Thicke
|Born = {{birth date and age|1977|3|10}} {{Fact|date=July 2008}}
[[Los Angeles, California]], [[United States]]
|Genre = [[Pop music|Pop]], [[contemporary R&B|R&B]]
|Occupation = [[Singer-songwriter]], [[actor]]
|Instruments = [[Singing]] Piano
|Years_active = 2002–present
|Label = Nu America, [[Star Trak]], [[Interscope]]
|Associated_acts = [[Pharrell Williams]], [[Busta Rhymes]], [[Lil Wayne]]
|URL = [http://www.robinthicke.com www.robinthicke.com]
}}
'''Robin Alan Thicke''' (born [[March 10]] [[1977]] {{Fact|date=July 2008}}) is an [[United States|American]] Grammy Award winning [[pop music|pop]] and [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] [[singer]], [[songwriter]], [[musician]], [[composer]], and occasional [[actor]].
==Biography==
===Early years===
{{Unreferencedsection|date=July 2008}}
Robin Alan Thicke was born to vocalist and actress [[Gloria Loring]] and entertainer [[Alan Thicke]] (best known for his role on the sitcom ''[[Growing Pains]]''). At a young age, Thicke showed an interest in music and has often cited classic soul singers like [[Marvin Gaye]] and [[Stevie Wonder]] as his influences. At the ages of 4 and 6, Thicke was a guest actor on several episodes of ''[[The Wonder Years]]'' and ''[[Growing Pains]]'' (Such as the episode "Mom of the Year". He is the kid in the classroom talking about Ben). He decided to pursue a music career at the age of sixteen, Thicke became a friend to the president of [[Uptown Records]], [[Andre Harrell]], and struck a deal with the fledgling Nu America Records, a subsidiary of [[Interscope Records]].
Thicke also penned a wide range of hits for pop artists such as [[Jordan Knight]], writing and co-producing an extensive share of his self-titled album, [[Usher Raymond|Usher]], [[Christina Aguilera]], [[Mya (singer)|Mya]], [[Brandy Norwood|Brandy]], [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Marc Anthony]]. In 2005 Thicke won his first [[Grammy award]] for his collaborations on Usher's 2004 release ''Confessions''.
As an artist, he recorded and performed solely under his surname, Thicke. He would continue to do so until 2005.
===2002–2004: Early commercial success ===
In 2000, Robin, who simply went by his last name Thicke, went to work on material for his debut album, initially entitled ''[[Cherry Blue Skies]]''. The album focused more on [[blue-eyed soul]], than his pop-offerings for other artists.
In 2002, Robin Thicke released his debut single "[[When I Get You Alone]]". The track samples [[Walter Murphy]]'s "A Fifth of Beethoven", which contains samples of a recording of [[Ludwig van Beethoven|Beethoven's]] [[Symphony No. 5 (Beethoven)|Fifth Symphony]]. The [[music video]] for the song features an unshaven Thicke, with long, grungy hair, as a night
courier racing through the streets of Manhattan on a bicycle. It received some rotation on [[MTV2]] and [[BET]]'s ''Rated Next'' and was spun moderately on urban radio. Globally, however, "When I Get You Alone" became a chart success when it peaked within the top 20 in [[Australia]], [[Belgium]], and [[Italy]], and reached the top ten of the singles charts in [[New Zealand]] and the top three in [[the Netherlands]]. The tune was featured for the soundtrack of [[Agent Cody Banks]].
The moderate success was enough to signal the release of the album, with its name changed to ''A Beautiful World''. Despite the release of a second single, "Brand New Jones", the album received very little promotion, and debuted at a low number 152 on the [[Billboard 200]], eventually selling 63,000 copies domestically.<ref name="Billboard albums">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=512247&model.vnuAlbumId=575549 |title=Artist Chart History - Robin Thicke Albums |accessdate=2006-09-29 |publisher=[[Billboard]]}}</ref>
The song "When I Get You Alone" was performed by [[Guy Sebastian]] the eventual winner of [[Australian Idol 2003]] during the competition. Runner-up [[Blake Lewis]] during the 2007 season of ''[[American Idol]]'' when the top 3 chose a song to sing. Lewis has often put Robin Thicke in his list of musical influences in interviews and on the American Idol website.
===2005–present: ''The Evolution of Robin Thicke'' ===
In 2005, Thicke married [[Paula Patton]]. Thicke also performed as a guest on the remix of [[Will Smith]]'s song, "[[Switch (song)|Switch]]". After being signed to [[The Neptunes]] label, [[Star Trak]], he began working on his second album entitled ''[[The Evolution of Robin Thicke]]''. The first single, "[[Wanna Love U Girl]]", featured producer [[Pharrell]] and experienced chart success on urban radio in the [[United Kingdom]]. For the video, Thicke changed his appearance, cutting off his trademark long hair. In 2006, a remix version of the song was filmed with rapper [[Busta Rhymes]].
Nearly a year after the single was released, the album was released on [[October 3]], [[2006]]. ''The Evolution of Robin Thicke'' includes songs with Lil Wayne and [[Faith Evans]] (on "Got 2 Be Down"), as well as Pharrell. To promote the album Thicke toured with [[India.Arie]], and then opened for [[John Legend]] in late 2006.
His second single, the ballad "[[Lost Without U]]" began getting a lot of radio airplay in Urban & Rhythmic stations towards the end of 2006 and early 2007. He also sang it on ''[[Oprah]]'' and ''[[American Idol]]''. With the assistance of radio airplay the song became his breakout hit, reaching as high as number fourteen on the [[Billboard Hot 100]], and number one on the Billboard [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]], the first caucasian artist to top that chart since [[George Michael]].<ref name="Billboard singles">{{cite web | title=Artist Chart History - Robin Thicke Singles | work=[[Billboard.com]] |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistId=512247&model.vnuAlbumId=758945 | accessdate=2007-02-27}}</ref> The singer performed this popular single on ''Good Morning America'' in June. He appears in the music video of this single with his wife, actress [[Paula Patton]]. The video is currently on Big Ten rotation on [[MTV]], where it is also a [[Discover and Download]] artist. The song has also been remixed by Boston's [[Termanology]].
With album sales over 1.4 million copies sold domestically after the re-release as a Deluxe Edition (with three new bonus tracks) on [[February 13]], [[2007]], ''The Evolution of Robin Thicke'' has become a commercial success in the United States. The album has currently peaked at number five on the ''Billboard'' 200 and number one on the ''Billboard'' [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]] chart <ref name="Billboard albums"/>, garnering Thicke his first R&B number one album of his career. From [[February 24]], [[2007]] to [[March 3]], [[2007]] the single "[[Lost Without U]]" and album ''The Evolution of Robin Thicke'' simultaneously spent two consecutive weeks at number one on the R&B singles and albums charts respectively. On the [[March 3]], [[2007]] issue of Billboard magazine, Thicke simultaneously topped four Billboard charts; [[Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums]], [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]], [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay]], and Hot Adult R&B Airplay.
In March 2007, ''The Evolution of Robin Thicke'' was certified Platinum by the [[RIAA]]. Thicke and his record label Interscope soon considered potential tracks to be released as the album's next and third single. Thicke's preference was the track "[[Can U Believe]]", which has since peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] and at number ninety-nine on the [[Billboard Hot 100]] chart. <ref name="Billboard singles"/> <ref name="New Single">{{cite web | title=Thicke Penning New Songs As Current Set Sizzles | work=[[Billboard.com]] | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003552873 | accessdate=2007-03-04}}</ref> On [[October 2]], [[2007]] the track "[[Got 2 Be Down]]" was released as the album's fourth official single. The single, to date, has peaked at number sixty on Billboard's [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks]].<ref name="Billboard singles"/>
===Future collaborations===
In April 2007, Thicke co-wrote a song with Mexican-American singer [[Angela Via]] called "Wrong for You", a single from Via's forthcoming album. He also appeared on [[50 Cent]]'s album "[[Curtis (50 Cent album)|Curtis]]" (released [[September 11]], 2007) on a song called "[[Follow My Lead]]".
Thicke was the opening act for [[Beyoncé]]'s U.S. tour in 2007, [[The Beyoncé Experience]]. <ref name="Tour With Beyoncé and New Album">{{cite web |url=http://ahotcelebritymess.com/2007/04/13/robin-thicke-will-tour-with-beyonce.aspx |title=Tour With Beyoncé and New Album |work=AHotCelebrityMess.com |accessdate=2006-05-23}}</ref> He performed during the North American leg of the tour only. He also performed a one off UK [[concert]] in London's [[Koko Arena]] on the 24th of September in 2007. Thicke is also currently working on his third studio album, which is reportedly "almost done". He is also in the studio with [[Ashanti (entertainer)|Ashanti]] working on her new album "[[The Declaration]]" due out June 3,2008.<ref name="New Single"/><ref name="Tour With Beyoncé and New Album"/>
Thicke was enlisted by [[Record producer|producer]] [[Polow da Don]] to play piano on the [[Usher (entertainer)|Usher]] track, "[[Love in This Club]]".<ref>Janeé Bolden ([[April 4]] [[2008]]). [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/14462 SOHH Exclusive: Polow da Don on Beat Jacking Rumors, ''If a 10 Year-Old Can Save Usher's Career, He's a Genius Like Me'']. SOHH.com. Accessed [[April 4]] [[2008]].</ref> Thicke made a guest appearance on the [[Lil Wayne]] album [[Tha Carter III]]. The track is titled Tie My Hands and is also produced by Thicke himself
===''Something Else''===
Thicke plans to release his third solo album, entitled ''[[Something Else (Robin Thicke album)|Something Else]]'', in September, 2008. <ref name="Something Else">{{cite web | title=Thicke Sharpens His Soul On 'Something Else' | work=[[Billboard.com]] | url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003789792 | accessdate=2008-04-16}}</ref>. The first single from this album will be "[[Magic (Robin Thicke song)|Magic]]" a further expansion of the sultry, classic R&B sound that powered his 2006 breakthrough, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke". "Magic" also features in a television commercial in Europe for Samsung mobile phones.
==Discography==
{{main|Robin Thicke discography}}
* 2003: ''[[A Beautiful World]]''
* 2006: ''[[The Evolution of Robin Thicke]]''
* 2008: ''[[Something Else (Robin Thicke album)|Something Else]]''
== Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable"
|----- bgcolor="#ebf5ff"
!Year
!Category
!Recording
!Result
|----- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"
| colspan=5 align=center | '''[[BET Awards]]'''
|-
|2007
|Best Male R&B Artist
|N/A
|Nominated
|-Gay icon
|2007
|Viewers' Choice Award
|"[[Lost Without U]]"
|Nominated
|-
|----- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"
| colspan=5 align=center | '''[[Soul Train Awards]]'''
|-
|2007
|Best R&B/Soul Album, Male
|''[[The Evolution of Robin Thicke]]''
|Nominated
|-
|----- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"
| colspan=5 align=center | '''[[MTV Video Music Awards]]'''
|-
|2007
|Male Artist of the Year
|"[[Can U Believe]]", "[[Lost Without U]]", "[[Wanna Love U Girl]]"
|Nominated
|-
|----- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"
| colspan=5 align=center | '''[[MOBO Awards]]'''
|-
|2007
|Best Song
|"[[Lost Without U]]"
|Nominated
|-
|----- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"
| colspan=5 align=center | '''[[American Music Awards]]'''
|-
|2007
|Favorite Breakthrough Artist
|N/A
|Nominated
|-
|----- bgcolor="#bfd7ff"
| colspan=5 align=center | '''[[VH1 Soul/VIBE Awards]]'''
|-
|2007
|Breakthrough Artist of the Year
|N/A
|Winner
|-
|}
==Personal life==
In June 2005 Thicke married African-American actress [[Paula Patton]], who is pictured on the cover of ''A Beautiful World''.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.robinthicke.com/ Official Website]
*{{tvtome person|id=34632|name=Robin Thicke}}
*{{imdb name|id=1479027|name=Robin Thicke}}
*[http://www.myspace.com/robinthicke Official MySpace]
{{Robin Thicke}}
<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME = Thicke, Robin
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
|SHORT DESCRIPTION = American musician
|DATE OF BIRTH = March 10, 1977
|PLACE OF BIRTH = Los Angeles, California, United States
|DATE OF DEATH =
|PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Thicke, Robin}}
[[Category:1977 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:American pop singers]]
[[Category:California musicians]]
[[Category:People from Los Angeles, California]]
[[Category:Grammy Award winners]]
[[Category:Canadian Americans]]
[[Category:Falsettos]]
[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]
[[Category:Blue-eyed soul singers]]
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