Anybody who knows me personally can state a simple fact: I am a big fan of Beyonce and Destiny’s Child music. Within my personal music library you can find most if not all of the music released by the group and individual members. To date, Weekly Music Commentary has featured Beyonce three times and Michelle Williams once. Now, I have the privilege of writing about a third Destiny’s Child member, Kelly Rowland.
At this point everyone knows that Beyonce Knowles-Carter has become an iconic entertainer and arguably one of the top recording artists of our time. However, the other members of Destiny’s Child have gone on to accomplish big things as solo artists and even on the small and big screens. Kelly certainly has had much success and is now poised to deliver big things next year.
For this post I hope to talk about her start and long musical career and explain why many believe 2020 will be a big year for the ex-Destiny’s Child singer.
Kelendria Trene Rowland was born on February 11, 1981, in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the daughter of Doris Rowland Garrison (December 6, 1947 – December 2, 2014) and Christopher Lovett. Kelly has an older brother named Orlando. When she was six, her mother left her father, who was an abusive alcoholic due to PTSD from Vietnam, and Rowland went with her. At the age of eight, she relocated to Houston. In 1992, Rowland joined a girl group, originally named Girl’s Tyme. Rowland’s addition made it a six-member group. West coast R&B producer, Arne Frager, flew to Houston to see them and eventually brought them to his studio, The Plant Recording Studio, in Northern California. As part of efforts to sign Girl’s Tyme to a major label record deal, Frager’s strategy was to debut them on Star Search, the biggest talent show on national TV at that time. They participated but lost the competition to Skeleton Crew.
In 1995, Rowland moved in with fellow Destiny’s Child member and best friend Beyoncé’s family. Kelly and Beyonce were always very good friends from early childhood. However, when Kelly moved in with the Knowles family she was considered another family member. She shares a special relationship that continues to date.
Taken from a passage in the Biblical Book of Isaiah, the group changed their name to Destiny’s Child in 1993. Together, they performed in local events and, after four years on the road, the group was signed to Columbia Records in late 1997. That same year, Destiny’s Child recorded their major label debut song “Killing Time”, for the soundtrack to the 1997 film, Men in Black. The following year, the group released their self-titled debut album, spawning hits such as “No, No, No”. The album established the group as a viable act in the music industry, amassing moderate sales and winning the group three Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards. The group rose to fame after releasing their multi-platinum second album The Writing’s on the Wall in 1999.
There were several lineup changes for Destiny’s Child, but the constant two members were Beyonce and Kelly. After settling on their final lineup adding Michelle Williams, the trio recorded “Independent Women Part I”, which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2000 film, Charlie’s Angels. It became their best-charting single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eleven consecutive weeks. The success cemented the new lineup and skyrocketed them to fame. After releasing their remix album This Is the Remix in 2002, the group announced their temporary break-up to pursue solo projects.
In 2002, Rowland was featured on Nelly’s single “Dilemma”, which won the pair a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The song became one of the most successful singles of the year, topping many charts worldwide, including the United States, where it became Rowland’s first number-one single as a solo artist, selling worldwide over 7,6 million copies. Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote that because of the song’s success, “Rowland is no longer a mere backing vocalist for Beyoncé.”
This was true even before the collaboration with Nelly. Kelly Rowland sang lead on the Destiny’s Child number one hit “Bootylicious”. While Destiny’s Child was completing their third album Survivor, Rowland also appeared on the remix of Avant’s single “Separated”. Yes, both Kelly and Michelle were more than just complimentary pieces of Beyonce’s lead. They were major forces of their own.
Rowland’s debut solo album, Simply Deep, was released on October 22, 2002, in the US. Featuring production contributions by Mark J. Feist, Big Bert, Rich Harrison, and singers Brandy and Solange Knowles providing background vocals, the album took Rowland’s solo work further into an alternative music mixture, which Rowland described as a “weird fusion [of] a little bit of Sade and a little bit of rock.” Simply Deep debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 and at number three on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 77,000 copies sold. It was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Rowland transitioned into acting in 2002, playing the recurring role of Carly in the fourth season of UPN sitcom The Hughleys. She continued her acting career the following year, with guest roles in UPN sitcom Eve as Cleo, and in NBC drama series American Dreams as Martha Reeves. In August 2003, Rowland made her big-screen debut playing the supporting role of Kia Waterson alongside Robert Englund and Monica Keena in the slasher film, Freddy vs. Jason, which grossed $114.5 million at the box office worldwide.
I could be said that Kelly Rowland’s had a big 2002 eighteen years ago, but certainly there was more to come. After a three-year hiatus that involved concentration on individual solo projects, Rowland rejoined Beyoncé and Michelle Williams for Destiny’s Child’s final studio album Destiny Fulfilled, released on November 15, 2004. The album hit number two on the Billboard 200 and spawned the top-five singles “Lose My Breath” and “Soldier”, which features T.I. and Lil Wayne. The following year, Destiny’s Child embarked on a worldwide concert tour, Destiny Fulfilled … And Lovin’ It. During the last stop of the European tour in Barcelona, Spain, on June 11, Rowland announced that they would disband following the North American leg of the tour.
One of the things I have always admired about Destiny’s Child, is that the group members have remained constant friends. They always support the other member’s projects and frequently work together. After Destiny’s Child Kelly Rowland went on to release three studio albums. In addition to her music, Kelly has made various movie and television appearances, as well as high profile commercials that have propelled her into iconic status.
In 2009, Rowland connected with Serve.MTV.com, MTV’s platform to connect young people with local volunteerism opportunities, for a series of on-air PSAs. From battling homelessness to beautifying impoverished neighborhoods to saving whales, Rowland was joined by the likes of Cameron Diaz, will.i.am, and Sean Kingston as they discuss causes they volunteer to support and urge young people to join with their friends in making civil service a part of their lifestyle. Also, in 2009, Rowland, along with fellow singers Alesha Dixon and Pixie Lott, created T-shirts for River Island in aid of the Prince’s Trust, profits from which help change young lives. In March 2010, Rowland launched her brand new charity, I Heart My Girlfriends. According to Rowland’s official website, the charity focuses on self-esteem, date violence prevention, community service, abstinence, sports, drug and alcohol and smoking avoidance, obesity, disabilities, education, and more. On April 26, 2010, she was at Grand Ballroom’s “City of Hope – Spirit of Life Awards” for a charity event.
Now we look ahead to 2020 with new music from Kelly Rowland in hand and the promise of something big. On May 18, 2019, Rowland published an EP entitled The Kelly Rowland Edition on streaming platforms. The hit song “Don’t You Worry” is just the type of song that should be the foundation of a major release. All three songs offer a glimpse of what should be a fine release, and possibly a very good 2020. I encourage everyone to download the EP, and wait with me for the new album. 2020 should be a great year for Kelly Rowland.