Focus
oribtvtò (Oheeruev
Music
June 21, 2000
W-
D o n n e ll J o n e s
a®
It’s all in Black and
White in The Focus
Black Radio Exclusive conference
a few years ago Within a month of
their meeting, he was signed to
Untouchables/LaFace Records, and
went to work on
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Like a breath o f fresh air, singer/
songwriter/producer Donell Jones
adds a certain kind o f coolness that
exemplifies where he’s at creatively
in his music career. After three years,
he explodes back on the music scene
with his sophomore album. Where
1 Wanna Be. Donnell leaves nothing
to the imagination on this 12-song
compilation, which is guaranteed
to soothe the spirit and move the
body.
The versatile Donell combines lush
musical arrangements with modem,
hip hop inspired beats to create a
rich collection o f sultry ballads and
funkafied pop tunes.The album also
showcases D onell’s talent as a
songwriter - making each song a
complete, personal story. “This
album is straight storytelling,” he
says. “Stories about situations guys
go through, and situations women
go through.” Where 1 Wanna Be is
a true testament o f Donell’s love -
lost and found.
For Where 1 Wanna Be. Donell
assembled a multi-talented group
o f musicians, including Eddie F.
(Heavy D and the Boyz) and Darren
Lighty (Next). His first single,
“Shorty (Got Her Eyes On Me),” is
a flirtatious combination o f mellow
melodies and mid-tempo grooves.
“This song is about having fun,
going out with the guys, going out
to the clubs, you know, just having
fun,” says a smiling Donell. It puts
him at the center o f attention -
where all eyes will be on him. There
is no question whether or not you'll
want to go with Donell -
all the way to the top of the
charts.
And to the top o f the
Billboard charts is where
Donell is heading, with his
second single “U Know
W h a t’s U p” (w hich
features Lisa “Left-Eye”
L o p es o f T L C ) as a
Billboard Hot Shot Debut
and consistently climbing
the R&B chart. It moved
15 slots to #13 and 21
positions on the Billboard
Hot 100 to #48 (with a
bullet). This is a sizzling
hot party track.
As a youngster, Donell
found comfort in music.
His father, who was a
gospel singer, influenced
Donell and he would try to
imitate him. As he grew
o ld er, how ever, m usic
became more than just a
passing interest. He even
credits music for “saving
his life.” Growing up on
C h ic a g o ’s
n o to rio u s
Southside, Donell found
himself caught up in the
lure o f the streets. “I was in
a g a n g ,” he e x p la in s
pensively. “You see guys
with nice things, and you
want to have those too. But
then I got into music and it
kept me inside.”
Donell hooked up with
U n to u c h a b le s
Entertainment President,
Edward “Eddie F.” Ferrell
when he sang for him at the
Page 7
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