Kem (singer)

Kim Owens (born July 23, 1969), better known by his stage name Kem,[1][2][3] is an American R&B/Soul singer–songwriter and producer. Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Kem was raised near Detroit, Michigan.[4]

Kem
Birth nameKim Owens
Born (1969-07-23) July 23, 1969
Nashville, Tennessee, US
OriginPontiac, Michigan, US
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • instrumentalist
  • producer
Instruments
Years active1999–present
LabelsMotown
Websitemusicbykem.com

Career

Kem wrote, produced, and financed his self-released debut album, Kemistry, with his American Express card and by singing top 40 cover tunes in a wedding band and waiting tables. He was signed by Motown Records in November 2001, which re-released the album on February 25, 2003. It sold more than 500,000 copies nationwide and was certified Gold by the RIAA. The album's only official single is "Love Calls".

His second album, Album II, was released on May 17, 2005, and was certified Platinum by the RIAA. It includes the single "I Can't Stop Loving You", a #1 song at urban adult contemporary radio, and the song "You Might Win" featuring Stevie Wonder on harmonica. His third album, Intimacy: Album III, was released on August 17, 2010, and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

In 2013, Kem was featured on "My Favorite Thing", with American recording artist Ronald Isley who Kem wrote and produced for. The song is the second single from Isley's album This Song Is For You.[5]

On August 25, 2014, Kem released his fourth studio album, Promise To Love. He performed the Grammy-nominated song "Nobody" from the album on the syndicated daytime talk show Steve Harvey during the fourth season. On August 28, 2020, he released his fifth studio album, Love Always Wins, which includes the singles "Lie To Me" and "Live Out Your Love" featuring Toni Braxton.

Discography

Studio albums
Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications
US[6] US R&B[6]
2003 Kemistry
  • Released: February 25, 2003
  • Label: Motown
  • Format: CD, digital download
 90 14
2005 Album II
  • Released: May 17, 2005
  • Label: Motown
  • Format: CD, digital download
 5 1
  • RIAA: Platinum[7]
2010 Intimacy: Album III 2 2
2014 Promise To Love
  • Released: August 25, 2014
  • Label: Kemistry/Motown
  • Format: CD, digital download
 3 1
2020 Love Always Wins
  • Released: August 28, 2020
  • Label: Motown
  • Format: CD, digital download
 124 —

Holiday albums
Year Title Peak chart positions
US[6] US R&B[6]
2012 What Christmas Means
  • Released: October 16, 2012
  • Label: Kemistry/Motown
  • Format: CD, digital download
 64 9

Singles
Year Title Chart Positions Album
US[8] US R&B[9]
2003 "Love Calls" 106 25 Kemistry
2005 "I Can't Stop Loving You" 84 20 Album II
"Find Your Way (Back in My Life)" — 37
"Into You" — 79
2010 "Why Would You Stay" 102 17 Intimacy: Album III
"Share My Life" — 25
2011 "If It's Love"
(featuring Chrisette Michele)		 — 24
2012 "You're On My Mind" — 27
2013 "My Favorite Thing"
(with Ronald Isley)		 — — This Song Is For You and Promise To Love
2014 "It's You" — 49 Promise To Love
2020 "Lie To Me" — 14 Love Always Wins
"Live Out Your Love"
(featuring Toni Braxton)		 — —

Awards and nominations
  • 2005: Billboard Music Award win for Top Adult R&B Single of the Year, "I Can't Stop Loving You"
  • 2005: Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Adult R&B Artist of the Year (lost to Fantasia).
  • 2011: 53rd Grammy Awards, Best R&B Male Performance, “Why Would You Stay” (Nomination)
  • 2011: 53rd Grammy Awards, Best R&B Song, "Why Would You Stay" (Nomination)
  • 2014: 57th Grammy Awards, Best Traditional R&B Performance, "Nobody" (Nomination)[10]

References
  1. Kellman, Andy. "Kem Biography". allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  2. Johnson, Gwen B. "KEM: addicted to meth Hope". stylemagazine.com. Minority Print Media, L.L.C. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  3. Nero, Mark Edward. "Kem Biography". about.com. About Entertainment. Retrieved 2016-03-23.
  4. Kem. Billboards
  5. "Ronald Isley, 'My Favorite Thing': Exclusive Song Premiere". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. July 12, 2013.
  6. "Kem > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". allmusic.
  7. "Gold & Platinum – Kem". RIAA. Retrieved October 28, 2010.
  8. Kem. Chart history. Billboard
  9. Kem. Chart history. Billboard
  10. "GRAMMY Award Results for Kem". grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
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