K-Ci — Mediated Wiki

{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2023}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = K-Ci | image = | caption = | image_size = | birth_name = Cedric Renard Hailey | alias = {{hlist|Little Cedric|K-Ci}} | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|9|2|mf=y}} | birth_place = Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|R&B|soul|pop|gospel|rock<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hayley |first1=KCi |title=Tears in Heaven (biography) |url=https://www.k-cihailey.com/ |publisher=KCi Hayley official website}}</ref>}} | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter}} | years_active = 1983–present | label = {{hlist|Atlanta International|AIR Gospel|Uptown|MCA|Epic}} | current_member_of = {{hlist|K-Ci & JoJo|Jodeci}} | past_member_of = {{hlist|The Hailey Singers}} | website = }}

'''Cedric Renard Hailey''' (born September 2, 1969), known professionally as '''K-Ci''' (formerly '''Little Cedric''' as a member of Little Cedric and the Hailey Singers), is an American singer, songwriter and member of K-Ci & JoJo and Jodeci.

Although Hailey is best known as the lead singer of Jodeci and second-lead singer of K-Ci & JoJo, he participated on different solo projects as K-Ci, most notably his 1994 cover of Bobby Womack’s "If You Think You're Lonely Now", which peaked at number 17 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

==Early life== Hailey was born in Charlotte, North Carolina, to Anita and Cliff Hailey<ref name="BB Story">{{cite magazine|title=K-Ci, JoJo Free After Tax Evasion Arrest|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/71652/k-ci-jojo-free-after-tax-evasion-arrest|author=''Billboard'' |magazine=Billboard |access-date=April 9, 2015|date=April 7, 2003}}</ref> both of whom were gospel singers. For a time, the Hailey family lived in Baltimore where they performed gospel music. The family later returned to Charlotte when Cedric was a teen. He attended Garinger High School.

==Career== Along with younger brother, Joel (known professionally as "JoJo") and his father, Hailey recorded three gospel albums as "Little Cedric and the Hailey Singers"<ref name="GE">{{cite journal|last=Carpenter|first=Bil|year=2005|title=Uncloudy Days: The Gospel Music Encyclopedia|page=253}}</ref> beginning with the 1983 release ''I'm Alright Now'' by Atlanta International Records, Gospel.<ref name="AM Disc">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/little-cedric-mn0000838147/discography|title=Little Cedric : Discography|author=AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref> Though the album failed to place on any ''Billboard'' magazine charts,<ref name="AM Awards">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/little-cedric-mn0000838147/awards|title=Little Cedric : Awards|author=''Billboard''|website=AllMusic|access-date=April 9, 2015}}</ref> the next two releases, 1984's ''Jesus Saves'' and ''God's Blessing'' in 1985,<ref name="AM Disc"/><ref name="AM Awards"/> both placed upon the ''Billboard'' Gospel Albums chart; the former at No. 4 and the latter at No. 22.<ref name="AM Awards"/>

Cedric and Joel's gospel singing eventually connected them with the DeGrate brothers, Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate and Dalvin DeGrate, with whom they formed the R&B group Jodeci. As lead vocalist for the group, Hailey and Jodeci would release three multi-platinum albums between 1991 and 1995. In 1996, the group announced a hiatus from recording and releasing music. Hailey continued to record with his brother as the duo K-Ci & JoJo, releasing five albums between 1997 and 2013.

As K-Ci, he recorded the 1992 duet "I Don’t Want to Do Anything" with Mary J. Blige on her debut album ''What's the 411?''. Also, his cover of Bobby Womack's "If You Think You're Lonely Now" was featured on the soundtrack to the 1994 film, ''Jason's Lyric''. It was released as a single and peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100.

==Personal life== Hailey dated fellow R&B singer and then label-mate Mary J. Blige from 1992 to 1997. Blige stated that they were engaged, which Hailey denied.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sullivan|first=Caroline|date=January 31, 2002|title='My boyfriend was trying to kill me. There were weapons'|url=http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2002/feb/01/shopping.artsfeatures|access-date=June 25, 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=MaGee|first=Ny|date=July 16, 2019|title=K-Ci Recalls Why He Called It Quits On Relationship with Mary J Blige|url=https://eurweb.com/2019/07/16/k-ci-recalls-why-he-called-it-quits-on-relationship-with-mary-j-blige/|access-date=June 25, 2021|website=EURweb.com}}</ref>

The two Hailey brothers are cousins of R&B singers Fantasia Barrino, Dave Hollister, Calvin Richardson, and Stephanie Mills.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://yourblackworld.net/2016/05/18/stephanie-mills-opens-up-about-who-shes-related-to/|title=Stephanie Mills Opens Up About Who She's Related To|date=May 18, 2016|website=Yourblackworld.net|access-date=December 8, 2021|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208211953/https://yourblackworld.net/2016/05/18/stephanie-mills-opens-up-about-who-shes-related-to/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Hailey's son Devin released a single in 2020 titled "Kick It 2 U".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-15 |title=Devin Hailey Releases Hot New Visual 'Kick It 2 U' {{!}} Son of K-Ci Hailey – Nephew of JoJo |url=https://urbanbridgez.com/2020/09/15/devin-hailey-releases-hot-new-visual-kick-it-2-u-son-of-k-ci-hailey-nephew-of-jojo/ |access-date=2024-06-01 |website=UrbanBridgez.com {{!}} R&B, Interviews, TV, Films |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Discography== {{Main|Jodeci discography}} {{main|K-Ci & JoJo discography}}

;with Jodeci *''Forever My Lady'' (1991) *''Diary of a Mad Band'' (1993) *''The Show, the After Party, the Hotel'' (1995) *''The Past, The Present, The Future'' (2015)

;with K-Ci & JoJo * ''Love Always'' (1997) * ''It's Real'' (1999) * ''X'' (2000) * ''Emotional'' (2002) * ''My Brother's Keeper'' (2013)

;Solo album * ''My Book'' (2006)

==References== {{Reflist}}

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:American contemporary R&B singers Category:20th-century African-American male singers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers Category:Musicians from North Carolina Category:Songwriters from North Carolina Category:African-American songwriters Category:21st-century African-American musicians Category:American male songwriters