User:Skiguy06880/test

Dwele was born Andwele Gardner, his first name translating as "God has brought me" in the African language of Swahili. He was raised on the west side of Detroit, Michigan. At a young age, Dwele was forced to cope with the murder of his father just outside of the family home, but not before his father had passed down a love for music to both him and his younger brother Antwon. Dwele started on piano at age 6, and later learned trumpet, guitar and bass. Growing up in the age of rap, though, he first became a hip hop MC inspired by A Tribe Called Quest. However, his ingrained respect for jazz and soul ushered him back to singing and playing.

Singer/songwriter Dwele (pronounced dweh-lay) has carved out a niche for himself in the contemporary soul game as a smooth jazz-minded crooner of introspective and innovative groove. The Detroit-based artist first made a name for himself with a demo he made in his bedroom which led to one of the hippest hip hop soul collaborations of all-time (Slum Village's "Tainted"), a major label deal. Subsequent work followed with artists that stretch from Roy Ayers (in concert), Boney James (on record) and Earth Wind & Fire (on the Grammy-nominated remake for “That’s The Way of the World”), to rappers Common’s Grammy nominated "The People," and Kanye West’s Grammy-winning single "Flashing Lights." On his own, he contributed the single gems "Find a Way" and "I Think I Luv U" to the canon of neo soul classics, but is best loved as that rare maker of fine albums.

Dwele recorded a demo called "Rize" in his bedroom that became a swift Detroit area seller, catching the astute ears of local heroes Slum Village - most notably their world-renowned producer J Dilla (James Yancey). The group invited Dwele to sing the hook of the song "Tainted" for their album Trinity (Past, Present and Future) which became an instant classic and led to further high profile work with Philadelphia female rapper Bahamadia, the all-star group Lucy Pearl (led by former Tony Toni Tone member Raphael Saadiq) and London's New Sector Movement. It was his turn and next up were his two solo albums, Subject (album)(2003) and Some Kinda...(2005.)