Those who know ’90s R&B, probably remember singer/producer, Jon B., very well. He was the only hit-making Caucasian R&B artist of that era and he was also Babyface’s protege.’ His slow jams, “Someone To Love” and “They Don’t Know” had the radio burning up back in the day, and his mid-tempo jam, “Don’t Talk” was also a banger.
Like we said, Jon B’s way of explaining his attraction for African American is quite interesting and here’s what he said when asked about it:
“It’s not that I prefer Black girls, but that’s who I find myself relating to as a human being. I am also attracted to really ghetto girls, straight out the hood…a thickey, a real ‘pass the hot sauce’ type girl.” -Jon B [Vibe Magazine, 1998]
Now under more normal circumstances, hearing a White guy describe his love for Black women as a “pass the hot sauce thickey” chick, would sound a little offensive, but in Jon B.’s case it’s different, know why? Because he actually has two beautiful half-African-American daughters, whom he loves more than life itself, with his African-American wife, whom he’s been with for years. So our man, Jon B., wasn’t just talking smack, he actually was just being real, and his life proves it.
Jon B. Speaks About His Wife And Kids
Jon B. has been married to his wife Danette, since 2007. They have two young daughters: L’wren; and Azure.
When Jon B. was asked how he was able to manage fatherhood and the responsibilities of having a family while being in the public eye, Jon B. said this:
“My daughter knows that daddy sings for the people, so it’s understood that it’s an honor that we have as a family to have a daddy that goes out every weekend and sings for the people. It makes her feel proud. She’s like, wow my daddy sings for the people, and she doesn’t even know who the people are! It’s cool.” [via SoulTrain]
In 2013 Jon B. was asked how important his family is to him in the midst of still being in the music industry…
“Family is everything. I wouldn’t trade my wife and my little six year old baby girl for anything (his daughter is 8 now and this interview was conducted before his second daughter was born). They are my biggest priority. Before the concert, I took my daughter to Central Park and we just hung out. I brought her along with me on the road. She’s starting to play the piano like daddy and hopefully she can take over so I can retire (laughing). I’m just blessed to have my daughter and wife in my corner.” [SingersRoom]
As for what Jon B. is up to now- he’s released several albums throughout the years and in the pre-COVID era, he was performing regularly to packed venues. He doesn’t like the lack of variety in today’s R&B and he really dislikes the business side of today’s music industry, which is why he says he enjoys the freedom of being an independent artist. Here are his thoughts on that:
“The industry changed so much throughout the years. I remember back in the days when fans used to stand for hours and hours to get your CD in stores. Now, with the internet, you’re lucky enough if fans heard one or two tracks from your album. The industry is hard and it can be a b!tch. That’s why it’s so important for fans to continue to support independent artists. Labels don’t do what they’re supposed to do; they want to charge you for the money for them for messing up your career.
Labels don’t have personal interest in what’s going on, or not necessarily artistic interests. Their interest is, you know, it’s a business, dollars and cents. It’s units out, units in. They don’t have an emotional commitment and connection to it. And if they do have a commitment to it, let’s say, they don’t exactly execute the promotion of the album properly, or they can’t get a hit from an album. At the end of the day, it’s a write off, it’s a tax off for them, so they don’t lose anything in signing an artist like myself. I put it out all on the line to sign to a label. I’m like here’s my song, here’s my year off; instead of being with my little girl, I’m hopping on the road and you’re telling me where you want me to go. It’s like they control you, but instead of being a slave for 18 years man, I said you know what, I’m gonna go a head and emancipate myself.” [SingersRoom, 2013]
It’s always good to see artists from back in the day still doing what they love and earning a living off of it. Major props to Jon B. for staying in his lane and staying true to his R&B roots. He has his Queen by his side every step of the way and their daughters – True love, his family, and the career of his dreams- it doesn’t get much better than that.
