Claude Kelly is an American singer-songwriter. He has a prolific discography, well known for writing for artists such as Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Jason Derulo, Christina Aguilera, Akon, Bruno Mars, Toni Braxton, Tamia, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, Jay Sean, Adam Lambert, The Wanted, Olly Murs, Jessie J, David Cook and Charice to name a few.
Career edit:
He began playing the piano at the age of 3 and by middle school was playing the flute. He attended Riverdale Country School and then Boston's Berklee College of Music. He then returned to New York City. Through networking and word of mouth, Kelly met as many producers as he could, and by 2002 had written a song that ended up a compilation by A Bathing Ape. "It was a lucky break," he said. "It boosted my confidence."
Kelly got his big break when he wrote the song, "Daddy's Little Girl" for Frankie J's 2006 album, Priceless. Although it didn't chart well, he said, watching his song go from recording to mixing to mastering to music video was the confirmation that he needed to press on. Kelly's work so impressed Akon that in late 2007, the singer suggested Kelly write to some of his music, one of which was "Forgive Me", written for Leona Lewis' debut album and produced by Akon respectively. Another song he wrote was "Hold My Hand" which was set to feature on Akon's third album, however the song leaked and it was decided not to be included in the album. The song, which features Michael Jackson, is the first single to be released from Michael (Jackson's first posthumous studio album). He's also worked with Whitney Houston; and Christina Aguilera .
Kelly has written songs for Kelly Clarkson ("My Life Would Suck Without You")Britney Spears ("Circus") from Circus and ("Gasoline) from Femme Fatale and the K-pop girl group Wonder Girls
Kelly has also written songs for Leona Lewis ("Forgive Me"), Whitney Houston and Fantasia Barrino.
Kelly has since been tapped to write songs for R. Kelly, the Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, as well as Melanie Fiona, Adam Lambert and Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A.", which debuted at #2 on Billboard Hot 100.
Kelly co-wrote Jessie J's "Price Tag", for which he received credit as "Moonhead". He has also co-written, along with Steve Robson, three UK number 1 singles for Olly Murs - "Please Don't Let Me Go", "Dance With Me Tonight" and "Troublemaker". He makes an uncredited appearance on in the intro of the second song. He has also co-written several of Murs' tracks on all three of his albums.
Last summer, singer/songwriter Claude Kelly told Billboard he hoped to work with Kelly Clarkson in the future. Six months later, not only has he co-wr...
Producer Claude Kelly says that Jessie J's follow-up to Who You Are is "98 percent done." While he refused to speak on specifics -- yes, even those re...
