Rockwell (musician) explained

Rockwell
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Kennedy William Gordy
Alias:Kenneth Gordy
Birth Date:15 March 1964
Birth Place:Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation:Singer
Years Active:1983–1986
Label:Motown

Kennedy William Gordy (born March 15, 1964),[1] better known by his stage name Rockwell, is an American singer. He is best known for his hit 1984 single "Somebody's Watching Me", which features Michael Jackson on chorus vocals. Gordy is the son of Motown founder Berry Gordy.[2] Other relatives include half-siblings Redfoo, Rhonda Ross Kendrick and half-nephew Sky Blu.

Early life

Kennedy William Gordy is the son of Motown founder and CEO Berry Gordy and Margaret Norton. His father named him Kennedy William after John F. Kennedy and William "Smokey" Robinson.[3]

Career

To avoid the appearance of nepotism, Gordy secured his record deal without his father's knowledge.[4] Motown proposed the name of Rockwell and Gordy agreed to the change because he believed that he "rocked well." In 1984, Rockwell released his most successful single "Somebody's Watching Me", with childhood friend Michael Jackson singing the chorus lyrics and Jermaine Jackson singing backing vocals.[4] [5] "Somebody's Watching Me" became a RIAA gold-certified[5] #2 song in the U.S. and peaked at #6 in the UK. It held #1 on Billboard's R&B chart for five weeks. Follow-up singles underperformed, and "Obscene Phone Caller" became Rockwell's only other Top 40 single. It reached #35 on the Billboard Hot 100. Rockwell released two more albums before ending his musical career with Motown.

Rockwell was not the first member of the Gordy family to hit Billboards Hot 100 as a recording artist. His uncle Robert Gordy reached the chart in 1958 with "Everyone Was There", recording under the name of Bob Kayli. In 2021, "Somebody's Watching Me" reentered the UK chart, peaking at #47.

Since the 1990s, Rockwell has left music to focus on charity work, such as the Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society, and the United Negro College Fund.[6]

Personal life

Rockwell is the son of Berry Gordy. Rockwell's paternal half-sister is actress Rhonda Ross Kendrick, the eldest child of Diana Ross. He is also closely related to the group LMFAO through his half-brother Redfoo (Stephen Kendal Gordy, son of Berry Gordy and Nancy Leiviska) and his half-nephew Sky Blu (Skyler Austen Gordy, son of his half-brother Berry Gordy IV and his wife Valerie Robeson).

In July 2010, Rockwell married Nicole Moore. In 2013, he filed for divorce.[7]

On November 29, 2018, Rockwell was arrested in Hollywood for allegedly beating an associate with a chair at the Magic Castle Hotel after she approached him and demanded payment. Rockwell was released from jail on December 1, 2018, on a $30,000 bail. On January 7, 2019, the woman, who suffered multiple injuries from the attack and had undergone surgery to repair a broken arm, filed a lawsuit against Rockwell in Los Angeles for personal injury, claiming damages exceeding $25,000.[8]

Discography

Studio albums

TitleAlbum detailsPeak chart positionsCertifications
US
[9]
US R&B
AUS
[10]
CAN
[11]
UK
Somebody's Watching Me 155993452
Captured
  • Release date: January 15, 1985
  • Label: Motown Records
12052
The Genie
  • Release date: 1986
  • Label: Motown Records
59
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Singles

TitleYearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
US
US
R&B
US

AUS
AUT
[13]
CAN
[14]
NZ
[15]
SWI
[16]
UK
[17]
198421312142536 Somebody's Watching Me
"Obscene Phone Caller"35979
"Taxman"88
"Knife"
"He's a Cobra"198510865Captured
"Peeping Tom"21
"Tokyo"
"Carmé"198646The Genie
"Grow-Up"
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.

Filmography

Year! scope="col"
TitleRole
1978BloodbrothersTyrone
2023FITUMI: Fake It til U Make ItMan at table
Year! scope="col"
TitleRoleNotes
1971The Doris Day ShowHimselfEpisode: "Whodunnit, Doris"

Notes and References

  1. Book: Mossman. Jennifer. Almanac of die People. 2000. Gale Group. 9780787647926. 1636. 7th.
  2. News: It Takes Star Quality to Share the Jackson Limelight. The New York Times. Holden. Stephen. 2018-04-02. en. April 1, 1984.
  3. Book: Gordy. Berry. To Be Loved: The Music, The Magic, The Memories of Motown.. 1994. Headline Book Publishing. New York. 0-7472-1417-4. Survival of the Fittest: 1960–1964.
  4. Web site: Artist Biography. AllMusic. Steve. Huey.
  5. How Rockwell Created Paranoid Pop Classic 'Somebody's Watching Me'. Rolling Stone. 2018-04-02. Jason. Newman.
  6. Where are they now? Rockwell. Vibe Magazine. 2023-12-12.
  7. Web site: R&B Singer Rockwell – Somebody's Watching Me ... Divorce My Wife. . June 29, 2013. TMZ.com. EHM Productions, Inc.. January 26, 2014.
  8. Web site: Berry Gordy's Son, Rockwell, Was Arrested for Allegedly Beating Woman With a Chair During Brutal Attack. Gary. Trock. Liz. Walters. January 7, 2019. The Blast. January 7, 2019.
  9. Web site: Rockwell > Charts & Awards. AllMusic. 2010-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20130224110842/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/rockwell-mn0000291235/awards. February 24, 2013.
  10. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6. 254.
  11. Web site: Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada: Top Albums/CDs. RPM. 2010-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20110907005203/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=trv6cafca8pbeqg7bgppi04re1&q1=Rockwell&q2=Top+Albums%2FCDs&interval=20. September 7, 2011. dead.
  12. Web site: RIAA – Gold & Platinum – July 25, 2010: Rockwell certified albums. https://archive.today/20120908032351/http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=Rockwell&format=ALBUM&go=Search&perPage=50. dead. 2012-09-08. Recording Industry Association of America. 2010-07-25.
  13. Web site: austriancharts.at – Austria Top 40. austriancharts.at. 2010-07-25.
  14. Web site: Results – RPM – Library and Archives Canada: Top Singles. RPM. 2010-07-25. https://web.archive.org/web/20121017213844/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-110.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=kgs59nv2cp2f4utgqkt2ffodd7&q1=Rockwell&q2=Top+Singles&interval=20. October 17, 2012. dead.
  15. Web site: charts.nz – New Zealand charts portal. charts.nz. 2010-07-25.
  16. Web site: Die Offizielle Schweizer Hitparade und Music Community. hitparade.ch. 2010-07-25.
  17. Web site: Rockwell - full Official Chart History. Official Charts Company. 2016-04-21.
  18. Web site: RIAA – Gold & Platinum – July 25, 2010: Rockwell certified singles. Recording Industry Association of America. 2010-07-25. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130225031458/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS. February 25, 2013.
  19. United Kingdom. Rockwell. November 3, 2023.