Calvin Richardson

A Former Member Of The Group Undacova Calvin Richardson's Sound Is Mellow Soul With A Gospel Singing Style Not Copied By Many Of His Peers. Calvin Is Also Known As C-Rich To His Fans. His Debut Solo Album Was 1999's 'Country Boy'. In 2003 He Released His Sophomore Effort '2 35PM'. Calvin's Third Album When Love Comes Was Released In 2008. North Carolina Native Calvin Richardson Is A Gritty Gospel-Minded Urban Contemporary/neo-Soul Vocalist And Songwriter Whose Influences Have Ranged From Sam Cooke Bobby Womack Donny Hathaway And Marvin Gaye To Jodeci K-Ci & JoJo And R. Kelly. Like Other Neo-Soulsters Who Emerged In The '90s And 2000s Richardson Looks To Different R&B Eras For Inspiration. The Classic Soul Of The '60s And '70s Has Had An Impact On His Singing And Writing But So Have The Urban Contemporary And Hip-Hop Of The '80s '90s And 2000s. At Times Richardson Can Be Flat-Out Retro Some Of His Material Would Have Been Right At Home On An Old Stax Or Motown LP From R&B's Pre-'80s Pre-Urban Contemporary Pre-Hip-Hop Era. But Other Times He Has A More Modern Hip-Hop-Influenced Outlook. In Other Words The Southerner Has Some Songs That Are Quite Friendly To Urban Radio And Others That Would Be Too Old-School For Urban Radio. Born And Raised In Monroe NC Where He Was The Fifth Of Nine Children Richardson Had A Very Musical Upbringing -- One That Included A Steady Diet Of R&B And African-American Gospel. Richardson's Mother Led A Local Gospel Group Called The Willing Wonders And He Sang With Them Consistently. When He Wasn't Listening To Gospel Richardson Listened To Secular Soul And Funk -- And His Favorites Included Bobby Womack Sam Cooke Otis Redding Donny Hathaway And The Gap Band. Richardson In Fact Has Cited All Of Those Artists As Early Influences. North Carolina's Gospel Circuit Is Where As A Kid Richardson Met Longtime Friends Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey And His Brother Joel "JoJo" Hailey Who Went On To Achieve Urban Contemporary Stardom In The Early '90s As Members Of The Vocal Group Jodeci Subsequently The Siblings Recorded For MCA As The Duo K-Ci & JoJo. When Jodeci Hit Big Their Success Inspired Richardson To Form His Own Urban Contemporary Vocal Group Undacova Whose Song "Love Slave" Appeared On The New Jersey Drive Soundtrack In 1995 . Undacova As Opposed To Undacover Didn't Last Long And Richardson Went On To Become A Full-Time Solo Artist. His First Solo Album Country Boy Was Released On Uptown/Universal In 1999 After That He Switched To Hollywood Records And Recorded His Second Solo Album 2 35 PM Which Came Out In 2003. Richardson Switched To Shanachie Records For His Next Three Albums 2003's When Love Comes The 2009 Tribute Album Facts Of Life The Soul Of Bobby Womack And His 2010 Effort America's Most Wanted. ~ Alex Henderson Rovi read less