MR. CHENIER R&B Artist & Emcee Turning Heads! We caught up with the artist called “Mr. Chenier” during some of his down time. When did you first get into music? I’ve been singing since about the age of 5 but 2003 was when I first recorded professionally my song One Fantasy. My vocal coach found out I write songs and turned me on to my producer (who I still work with to this day) and the rest is history. Who or What inspired you to pursue a career in music? Michael Jackson was my greatest inspiration when I was little. I sung in choirs, talent shows, vocal lessons but once I went to college R. Kelly took the football and ran with it for me. Then Babyface, and Brian McKnight. How has your music evolved since you first began performing/songwriting? I learned to be creative with both singing, songwriting and performing. I push the envelope and do not care what people think, as long as it feels good to me. I credit that to R. Kelly. His famous words “Hit song or not, I’ll give you all of me”. I’m sure you have shared the stage with a lot of talented artists/celebrities along the way. Would you share 1 or 2 of your favorite stories with us? I was one of the opening acts for Ginuwine one year in Raleigh, NC and the promoter didn’t have a host
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for the event. I told him to let me host because I do that too, but I would need to go on first. After I did my set I started hosting. I also became the stage manager. Ginuwine’s people were working with me diligently to make sure everything was set for his performance. When it came time to introduce him, I went to let his people know, but Ginuwine was already in place and when he saw me, we greeted each other like we have known each other for years.
