Bobby Valentino, born in Jackson, is a member of the Def Jam Records family and has been working his way up through the R&B world. Starting out in the teen group Mista, Valentino and company garnered chart-topping success with their single, “Blackberry Molasses” in 1996.
Along the way Valentino, who tried out for the first season of American Idol and was rejected, has made contacts and collaborated with some giants of the R&B music industry.
Valentino has played with other big artists such as TLC, Outkast and Goodie Mob. He is touring behind his current album, Special Occassion.
Valentino’s first single in 2005, “Slow Down” got into the Top 10 of Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. In May, Valentino released his current single “Anonymous,” which features producer Timbaland, and is currently receiving video airplay on BET.
Valentino is also supposed to be featured in the upcoming 2008 film “Mama, I Want to Sing.” The film is an adaptation of the off-broadway play of the same title.