Teron Beal
Encyclopedia
Teron Beal is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 singer/songwriter born in Tyler, Texas
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...

. He has also written songs for Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

, Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...

, P!nk
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....

, Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...

, Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele
Chrisette Michele Payne , known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter....

, Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...

, Jaheim
Jaheim
Jaheim Hoagland is an American R&B singer and formerly a rapper performing under the mononymous name of Jaheim. He was signed by Naughty by Nature's Kaygee to Divine Mill Records in 2000, and released his debut album Ghetto Love in 2001. His second effort, Still Ghetto, was released a year later,...

 and others.

Teron's album Liquor Store was created during what was supposed to be a short vacation in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....

 that turned into a 10-month writing and recording session.

Teron has stated that he is influenced by artists Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

, Prince
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...

, Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...

, Radiohead
Radiohead
Radiohead are an English rock band from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, formed in 1985. The band consists of Thom Yorke , Jonny Greenwood , Ed O'Brien , Colin Greenwood and Phil Selway .Radiohead released their debut single "Creep" in 1992...

, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...

, and Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

.

Early life

Teron Beal (born December 26, 1974, Los Angeles) is an American singer/songwriter. His father, Danny Bealis a preacher and business owner. His mother, Barbara Roberson is a school teacher. They are now divorced and his mother is remarried. His brothers and sisters are Jerrid, Danielle, Brandon (also a singer and artist), and his twin Brandy. Teron was born in Los Angeles and his family moved to a little town in Texas, Tyler, when he was 5.

He was born in L.A. and spent his early years in Pasadena, but his father chose to return to Texas to raise his family, before finding a passion for Jesus. Teron Beal became the preacher's son, which didn't agree with him at all: "It's probably one of the reasons I don't like Texas. Too religious. They don’t even sell alcohol where I'm from."
Once he graduated in 1991 from John Tyler High School in Tyler, he left the small town for Los Angeles. There he enrolled into a university to study marketing to please his parents, then journalism.

He eventually studied acting at the University of Southern California where he landed the lead role in one of the university's plays. The production soon evolved into a musical. This venture into the world of music sparked his passion for his now acclaimed music. Once the play was over he connected with all the songwriters, musicians, and singers that were a part of the production. He fell in love the process: their concerts, them creating in the studios, etc.

He started writing songs to avoid doing his homework. He would write these songs and sing them to girls at his college. He soon got a reputation for being able to create enjoyable music and people began introducing him to more songwriters and musicians, saying: "You should meet this guy Teron, he's a good writer." Teron would deny these claims, but continued practising tirelessly and grew better.

Music career

In 1994, Teron had an opportunity to write to some music that Ian Prince and Delroy Pearson (the youngest brother of the group Five Star) had created. He was told that the group Immature was interested in the music and needed someone to write songs on the two backing tracks they gave him. The problem with that was they needed the songs the very next day. Luckily, that's where all his practice paid off because he had become a fast writer at this point. So he stayed all night writing the songs and sang the songs to the producers the next day. They loved the songs, and Immature recorded the songs the day after (featured on the album Playtime is Over; his songs were "Constantly" and "Just a Little Bit"). The songs were co-written with the R&B singer Jessie Powell. "Constantly" was released as a single and quickly became a pop hit.

In 1995, he signed his first publishing deal with Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records
Walt Disney Records is a family music record label owned by the Walt Disney Company. Walt Disney Records was formed in 1956 as Disneyland Records. Before that time, Disney recordings were licensed out to a variety of other labels such as . It was Walt Disney’s brother Roy O...

. They began introducing him to more producers, musicians, singers, writers, and music executives. He started to make a name for himself as he continued to write songs. Unfortunately, he felt Disney was not the best place for him as an urban songwriter. In 1997, Teron signed with BMG in New York. Derrick Thompson (vice president, urban music) gave him a cut from a producer who was looking for someone to write to tracks. "I heard the track and I immediately knew what I was going to do with it. I have these friends who call and get me to turn to Jerry Springer
The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a syndicated television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries...

because they know I don't like to watch that show. They had just done that a few nights earlier and there were these two girls yelling at each other... 'I want her to leave my man alone' and the other one is screaming 'He's paging me!' When I heard this track that was fresh in my mind, and I wrote the song almost verbatim from that Jerry Springer episode."

The producer of the song was signed with a production company owned by L.A. Reid, who sent the track on to Babyface. He liked the song, asked who Teron was, and wanted to work with him on it. When Teron and Babyface met, Teron told him that he was so influenced by the producer's music that it should come as no surprise that Babyface liked the song. Babyface felt that there should be a bridge in the song so Teron started making suggestions. Realizing that he was telling a musical legend what to do with a song, Teron stopped talking. Babyface encouraged him to go on because he was interested in hearing his ideas. The song was pitched to Shanice and she loved it, Teron got the chance to work with her in the studio when she recorded it.

Teron soon created songs for Mýa
Mya
-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...

, Ray J
Ray J
William Ray Norwood Jr. , better known by his stage name Ray J, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor.-Early life:...

 and Changing Faces. He also has had a duet recorded by Kelly Price
Kelly Price
Kelly Price is an American R&B and soul singer, formerly on the Def Soul label.-Life and music career:Kelly Cherelle Price was born in Queens, New York. She was first discovered by Mariah Carey in February 1992 and subsequently introduced to Sony Columbia's then CEO Tommy Mottola...

 and Chico DeBarge
Chico DeBarge
Jonathan Arthur "Chico" DeBarge is an American R&B singer and a younger brother of the members of the Motown family act DeBarge...

.

Collaboration with Michael Jackson

In 1999, while hanging out in the corridors of a record label, Teddy Riley by chance heard Teron singing a demo he had written few days before. Riley then let Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

 hear it. Michael insisted that his producer should find the young Texan who had written and sang the original vocals of "Heaven Can Wait": "I think he understands me", Jackson said.

When Teron heard that Michael Jackson wanted to record one of his tunes, he nearly hung up the phone in disbelief. In fact, he refused to fully accept the news until he came face to face with Jackson himself several months later, when Teron was summoned by the superstar to a Miami recording studio to produce his vocal track on the ballad "Heaven Can Wait". Teron had already scored with Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...

 and Brandy
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....

, but landing the King of Pop was different.

One day in 2001, Teron Beal found himself in a studio in Los Angeles while Michael Jackson was recording one of his songs for the album Invincible. They were watching basketball and Teron saw Michael put his hand into a cup of hot chips. A childhood dream came back to him at that moment: "When I was 9 years old, I dreamed that Michael Jackson came to pick me up from school, in a limousine, and that he asked me how my day was, then offered to take me for a hamburger and fries. That day in the studio, I told him about my dream."

Continued Success

This collaboration has changed his entire career. Suddenly, all the major record labels began courting him: "There were so many (record) companies that weren't excited about working with me," Teron said. "Now, they want to get me on their projects."

The good times were just beginning for the Tyler, Texas-born son of a preacher and a high school math teacher. He soon moved into a pricey high-rise penthouse in midtown Manhattan. "This was the first summer I didn't have to share my apartment with a couple of mice," he says.

In early 2002, Teron snagged a big publishing deal with Sony ATV Music: "I feel very lucky we were able to sign him here," said Creative Director Bill Brown. "He truly is talented." Teron, who majored in acting—and business marketing, to please his father—at the University of Southern California, then won a part in the then-upcoming 20th Century Fox film Drumline. Still, the music maven, who eschews the diamonds and gold of many of his peers, is guided more by his small-town roots and family influences than the stars that currently surround him.

Then he became a songwriter for R&B heavy weights like Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...

, Mýa, Pink
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....

, and Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...

.

Recently he has stepped from behind the pen and in front of the mic to create his own work of art in the form of his album Liquor Store. Rich with influences: a cover of Manchurian rockers The Stone Roses' "I Wanna Be Adored
I Wanna Be Adored
"I Wanna Be Adored" is a song by the British rock group The Stone Roses. It was released as the third single from the band's debut album The Stone Roses in the UK, US, Germany, Japan and Canada...

", along with 10 other bittersweet tracks, while a large smile emanating from that voice is never far away. His songs, resolutely pop and close to the style of Prince, sway between notions of life and death, such as the invitation to "Dance at My Funeral", inspired by a documentary of the motorcyclist Indian Larry. On two tracks, Teron recites hard-hitting rhymes like Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...

; but his songs, like "Tomorrow May Never Come", reveal an empathy for others. Even sometimes at the risk of heartbreak. In "Magic Mushroom", he runs wild on the topic of drugs, following an encounter with a Dominican waitress in New York: "Josie liked to drink, take ecstasy, and me I was this fool who was trying to follow her."

The song for Michael Jackson allowed his song writing career to take off. His publisher sent him to work with the singer Robyn
Robyn
Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...

, in Sweden. There he took in what the country had to offer and met two musicians along the way, the guitarist Johan Ramström and Jonas Nordelius, a producer and son of a synthesizer manufacturer.

Teron was supposed to spend 10 days in Stockholm to write his songs. He stayed for 5 months, drinking beer, enjoying the northern summer, spending days in the studio playing his favorite Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...

 and Prince albums, while also discovering those of Blur
Blur (band)
Blur is an English alternative rock band. Formed in London in 1989 as Seymour, the group consists of singer Damon Albarn, guitarist Graham Coxon, bassist Alex James and drummer Dave Rowntree. Blur's debut album Leisure incorporated the sounds of Madchester and shoegazing...

, Coldplay
Coldplay
Coldplay are a British alternative rock band formed in 1996 by lead vocalist Chris Martin and lead guitarist Jonny Buckland at University College London. After they formed Pectoralz, Guy Berryman joined the group as a bassist and they changed their name to Starfish. Will Champion joined as a...

, Radiohead and so on. It is from this time that the alchemy between these two fun-loving Swedish lads and the preacher's son was born.

In November 2010, performing a few songs at the Renard Theatre in Paris, Teron Beal found his roots. In front of an audience who had come more for the drinks at the bar than musical entertainment, he converted his flock one-by-one, with an energy that shines brightest in a live setting: "I grew up in church. If there is no sound, it's okay. I'll go looking for my audience."

Musical style

Teron credits his influences as James Brown
James Brown
James Joseph Brown was an American singer, songwriter, musician, and recording artist. He is the originator of Funk and is recognized as a major figure in the 20th century popular music for both his vocals and dancing. He has been referred to as "The Godfather of Soul," "Mr...

, Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye
Marvin Pentz Gay, Jr. , better known by his stage name Marvin Gaye, was an American singer-songwriter and musician with a three-octave vocal range....

, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, Lenny Kravitz, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Blur, Coldplay, Radiohead.

Discography

  • Michael Jackson
    Michael Jackson
    Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...

     – "Heaven Can Wait
    Heaven Can Wait (Michael Jackson song)
    “Heaven Can Wait" is a song written by Michael Jackson, originally released on his 2001 studio album Invincible. The song was written by Jackson, Teddy Riley, Andreao Heard, Nate Smith, Teron Beal, Eritza Laues and Kenny Quiller.-Background:...

    " (Sony, 2001)
  • Bonnie Raitt
    Bonnie Raitt
    Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...

     – "Time of Our Lives" (Capitol)
  • Jennifer Lopez
    Jennifer Lopez
    Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...

     – "Breaking Down (Wait)" (Columbia)
  • Mýa
    Mya
    -A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...

     – "Look So Good" (Interscope)
  • Mýa – "After the Rain" (Interscope)
  • Mýa featuring Jay-Z
    Jay-Z
    Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...

     – "Best of Me
    The Best of Me (Mýa song)
    "The Best of Me" is an R&B-hip hop song by American singer-songwriter Mýa and features rapper Jadakiss. The track was produced by Swizz Beatz for Harrison's second studio album Fear of Flying...

    " (Interscope)
  • Mýa – "Fear of Flying" (Interscope)
  • Kelly Rowland
    Kelly Rowland
    Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...

     – "Past 12" (Columbia, 2003)
  • Pink
    Pink (singer)
    Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....

     – "Mama Said" (Arista)
  • Brandy
    Brandy Norwood
    Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....

     – "Blue" (Atlantic)
  • Deborah Cox
    Deborah Cox
    Deborah Cox is a Canadian R&B singer-songwriter and actress. Her 1998 song "Nobody's Supposed to Be Here" held the record for longest-running number one single on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart , a record held for nearly eight years. She has achieved ten number-one hits on...

     – "Givin' It Up" (J Records)
  • Naughty by Nature
    Naughty by Nature
    Naughty by Nature are a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop trio from East Orange, New Jersey that at the time of its formation in 1989 consisted of Treach, Vin Rock, and the DJ Kay Gee...

     featuring 3LW
    3LW
    3LW was an American hip hop soul and R&B girl group that enjoyed a number of modest hits during the early 2000s. Its founding members were Naturi Naughton, Adrienne Bailon, and Kiely Williams. Jessica Benson later replaced Naughton after she left the group in 2002...

     – "Feels Good" (TVT)
  • Jaheim
    Jaheim
    Jaheim Hoagland is an American R&B singer and formerly a rapper performing under the mononymous name of Jaheim. He was signed by Naughty by Nature's Kaygee to Divine Mill Records in 2000, and released his debut album Ghetto Love in 2001. His second effort, Still Ghetto, was released a year later,...

     – "We Ride" (Warner Bros.)
  • Jaheim featuring Nas
    Nas
    Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...

     – "Just in Case" (Warner Bros.)
  • Jamie Cullum
    Jamie Cullum
    Jamie Cullum is an English pop and jazz-pop singer-songwriter. Though he is primarily a vocalist/pianist he also accompanies himself on other instruments including guitar and drums. Since April 2010, he has been presenting a weekly jazz show on BBC Radio 2, broadcast on Tuesdays from 19:00.- Early...

     – "My Yard" (Universal)
  • Koffee Brown
    Koffee Brown
    Koffee Brown were a neo-soul duo consisting of male singer Fonz and female singer Vee. They were discovered by producer Kay Gee and were signed to Arista Records...

     – "After Party" (Arista)
  • Another Level – "Girlfriend" (RCA International)
  • Profyle
    Profyle
    Profyle was an American R&B group, best known for their one major hit, "Liar", produced by Teddy Riley. The video for "Liar" was a staple of MTV2 and BET in the fall of 2000.Signed to Motown Records they had two albums...

     – "One Night" (Motown)
  • Toya
    Toya (Singer)
    Toya Rodriguez , known professionally as Toya, is an American R&B singer from St. Louis, Missouri. She is perhaps best known for her 2001 hit, "I Do!!", which reached No. 16 on the Billboard Hot 100.-Musical career:...

     featuring Murphy Lee
    Murphy Lee
    Torhi Harper , better known by his stage name Murphy Lee, is a Grammy Award-winning American rapper, best known as a member of the hip hop group St. Lunatics. Lee is also the chief executive of his own label, U C Me Entertainment.-Career:Murphy Lee formed the St...

     – "I Do (Part 2)" (Arista)
  • Olivia
    Olivia (singer)
    Olivia Theresa Longott , professionally known as Olivia, is an American R&B singer and rapper.-Early life:Raised in New York City, Longott is of Puerto Rican, and Indian descent....

     – "Look Around" (J Records)
  • Jimmy Cozier
    Jimmy Cozier
    -Biography:Cozier was encouraged to sing as a child by his family, who would demand that he perform in group settings. He started out as a singer/songwriter for artists such as Mýa, Sinéad O'Connor, and Janet Jackson...

     – "Playing Games" (J Records)
  • Changing Faces – "Cry for Me" (Atlantic)
  • Shanice
    Shanice
    Shanice Lorraine Wilson-Knox , better known as Shanice, is a Grammy-nominated American R&B/soul singer-songwriter. She scored two Top 5 Billboard hit single's "I Love Your Smile" in 1991, and "Saving Forever for You" in 1993. In 1999, Shanice scored another top hit song, "When I Close My Eyes"...

     – "Doin' My Thang" (LaFace)
  • Rockell
    Rockell
    Rachel Alexandra Mercaldo , better known as Rockell, is an American Freestyle music, Club/Dance, Hi-NRG and Pop singer-songwriter.-Music career:...

     – "If You Don't See" (Universal)
  • Immature
    IMx
    IMx , are an American R&B group, managed by record producer Chris Stokes. Its members include Marques "Batman" Houston , Jerome "Romeo" Jones , and Kelton "LDB" Kessee , all natives of Los Angeles, California, where the group was formed...

     – "Constantly" (MCA)
  • Jhené – "No Love" (Columbia, 2003)
  • Robyn
    Robyn
    Robin Miriam Carlsson , better known by her stage name Robyn, is a Swedish recording artist, singer, and songwriter. Robyn became known in the late nineties for her worldwide dance-pop hit "Do You Know " from her debut album Robyn Is Here . She co-wrote the song "Du gör mig hel igen" for...

     – "Moonlight" (Jive)
  • Ideal
    Ideal (band)
    Ideal are an R&B quartet from Houston, Texas, United States. The group Ideal debuted in 1999 and is composed of brothers Maverick and Swab, their cousin PZ and high school friend J-Dante...

     – "She Should Be Mine" (Virgin)
  • Allure – "Cool with Me" (MCA)
  • Raine – "N-O L-O-V-E" (Arista)
  • Chrisette Michele
    Chrisette Michele
    Chrisette Michele Payne , known professionally as Chrisette Michele, is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter....

     – "All I Ever Think About" (Def Jam, 2009)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK