Tremaine Aldon Neverson, was born in Richmond, Virginia but he was raised in Petersburg, Virginia. He also spent about seven years living in Baltimore, Maryland due to his mother marrying a man in the army.
When he was a child, he did not receive any rigourous voice or piano lessons, however, his mother spotted his talent early in his childhood, and encouraged him to develop it and entered him in local talent shows, many of which he won. With these victories, he began to make a name for himself. and that name is Trey Songz
The musical journey for this rhythm and blues singer has been a long hard one. But the hard work finally paid off for the Virginia native, who after entering numerous talent competitions and working as a barber, signed a deal with Atlantic Records for the release of his debut opus Gotta Make It three years ago.
“This has been a long, hard road for me and I have put in a lot of work. I’m finally seeing all the hard work paying off. I started out when I was 15 years old, and later on I met my producer, Troy Taylor, who taught me a lot of great things. He has been one of my biggest inspirations,” Songz said in an telephone interview last week.
The singer is billed to perform along with US rappers Yung Joc and Playaz Circle at the Face to Face concert, which takes place on August 9 at the Temple Hall Estate in St Andrew. This will be the singer’s fourth time to Jamaica, but it will be his first time performing.
“I’ve been to Jamaica three times before, but this time it will be my first time as a performer. I am really excited about coming and the fans can expect a good show, and good vocals. I like getting the crowd involved in my show,” Songz said.
Songz has been enjoying a surge in popularity as a solo artiste and featured performer on several singles decorating the US Billboard R&B singles charts. Among his more familiar recordings are Wonder Woman, Gotta Go, Gotta Make It, Can’t Help But Wait, Last Time, Missin You and In Ya Phone.
With two albums released to date, namely I Gotta Make It (2005); and Trey Day (2007), Songz is eyeing the release of his next project Song Book over the next few months. “I’m now working on my third album. My last album did really well and the fans are just loving my music,” said Songz.
Influenced by the likes of Jay-Z and R Kelly, Songz said if music hadn’t worked out for him he would still be involved in the music industry in some way.
“I think I would be trying to do music or be involved in some other way. I love this so much that I wouldn’t have given up on it. I used to cut hair as a barber in high school and I was gonna get my barber’s licence. But music is what kept me going; its my life,” he said, before mentioning the recent collaboration with Jamaican artiste Buju Banton on the track Street Life.
“I just did a track with Buju Banton and we’re trying to shoot a video for that song. For a newcomer like myself to be able to work with a veteran like Buju Banton, it’s a real honour and I feel like I’ve been certified,” adding that he would also like to work with Damian Marley.
“I really loved his last album,” the singer said.
To date he has collaborated with rapper Twista (on the track Girl Tonite); soca artiste Kevin Lyttle; Trick Daddy, Gerald Levert, Juvenile, Obie Trice, Yung Buckand Yung Joc.
Source: Jamaicaobserver
Comment