Aaron Hall (singer)


Aaron Robin Hall III is an American recording artist, songwriter, and record producer. Hall rose to prominence in 1988 as a member of the R&B and new jack swing group Guy, which he founded in the late '80s along with Teddy Riley and Timmy Gatling, who was later replaced by Hall's brother Damion Hall. In 1988 Guy released their debut album, which went on to sell over a million copies and was certified platinum. Hall provided lead vocals on songs like "Groove Me," "I Like," and "Piece of My Love."

Early life

Aaron Robin Hall III was born on August 10, 1964 in Bronx, New York City and was raised in Brooklyn. He is named after his father Aaron Hall II, who is an active pastor. He is the sibling of three brothers, Damion Hall and Todd Hall. Hall began singing in a baptist church from an young age. Moreover to his traumatic approach in the future, his mother passed away in a car accident, struck at Christmas Night in the mid-80's before his music career began at Guy.
He had a very intense speech impediment to the age of 11, where he also struggled to pronounce his own name. From his childhood, he build a relationship and love between dogs which helped him to go over his vulnerability's. Later besides his career as R&B singer, he would became a professional dog trainer who claim to have trained with dogs by many celebrities. He has puerto-rican and African-American heritage.

Career

1987-1992, 1999- 2000: Guy

Later in his life, his talent was explored by an friend, Timmy Gatling, who also worked together with him in a shoe store called Abraham & Straus, in the 1980's. Gatling was known with Teddy Riley, who would later introduce him to Hall. The three have decided to form a group called Guy.
Andre Harell, former executive of Uptown Records, stated: "Aaron's voice is the most influential of this decade...". In between, Hall traditional gospel voice and erratic singing brought up major influences to further artists in the business. His voice being particular "running on inflections, heavy intonations and very little breathing" as described by himself to conclude on his musical phenomena, viewed by many as influential such artists like K-Ci Hailey and unmentioned similar on R. Kelly, Joe and Tyrese musical approach.
Following the breakup, he later signed with Silas Records, a subsidiary label of MCA Records formed by Louil Silas Jr.
Hall reunited with his brother and Riley as Guy on their 2000 reunion album, Guy III, which featured the modest hit, "Dancin'". The trio is still present on tours in later years.

As an Solo artist

The Truth (1993)

Hall started his solo career afterwards the collapse of Guy. In 1993, he worked with several producers of the Silas label on his debut album, The Truth. It included several hits such as "Don't Be Afraid", "Get a Little Freaky with Me", "Let's Make Love" and more. One of his biggest single, "I Miss You", reached #2 on the R&B chart and later peaking at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming his biggest pop hit. Later in the following years, he would create hits for movie soundtracks and be in collaborations with other artists.
Hall's hits include the #1 R&B single, "Don't Be Afraid", the original and the remix of "Don't Be Afraid" was produced Hank Shocklee from The Bomb Squad, who also produced Public Enemy's music.

Inside Of You (1998)

Hall released a second studio album in 1998, Inside Of You. After the failed Guy reunion in 1997, which only brought a track for the New York Undercover movie soundtrack, Hall announced that he would work on a another Solo album for the following year. Hall names it as a new approach in his career, revolving a message to his harsh conditional existence in the industry. The album has featuring Faith Evans and hip-hop group Terror Squad, including Fat Joe, Big Pun, Cuban Linx and Unique on a remixed track. The album scored "All The Places " as hit single, placing it on Top 10 hit on Billboard's Top Hip Hop/R&B Songs and hit the top 30 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Adults Only: The Final Album (2005)

Hall resigned in the late 2000s from MCA and started a new independent label called "Artists Only International", as music subsidiary of "Headstart Entertainment". He declared that he is "..no longer a slave anymore" in reference to his former contract with MCA. Hall experimented with different genres such mixing R&B, Reggae and Hip-Hop together, which gave this approach a distanced critique from reviewers than usual. He also defined it as his "last album" and teased in a article that he would later go under a new persona, with a new name as "E. Kane", which visions didn't exceeded with his future plans. The album released in July 2005, following singer K-Ci releasing his album "I Apologize" on the same label in 2006.

Other works

In the spring of 1994, Hall recorded the song, "Gonna Give it to Ya" with Jewell from the soundtrack to the movie Above the Rim, starring Tupac Shakur and Duane Martin.
In 1994, he also participated in Black Men United with Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, Tevin Campbell, D'Angelo, R. Kelly, Gerald Levert, as well as his brother Damion Hall in the song "U Will Know" from the Jason's Lyric soundtrack. Hall also recorded the song "Heaven's Girl" with R. Kelly, Ronald Isley & Charlie Wilson on Quincy Jones 1996 album Q's Jook Joint.
In 1995, Hall produced a song with Dalvin DeGrate for the Dangerous Minds movie soundtrack named "Curiosity". It was the second most charted song of the album along with "Gangsta's Paradise" by Coolio. The vinyl single includes a exclusive remix by Marley Marl, featuring Redman.
In 1998, he released his second studio album "Inside Of You", featuring Faith Evans, Fat Joe, Big Pun and Cuban Link. It contained a single hit, "All The Places " which reached #8 on the US R&B Charts in that year.
Hall has a son with hip hop model Gloria Velez. He was featured with 2Pac, K-Ci & JoJo and Danny Boy in the 2Pac single "Toss It Up" in his 1996 album . Hall also recorded a song with Christopher Wallace called "Why You Tryin' To Play Me", produced by "X-tra Large" and recorded somewhere between 1997 before Wallace's death. It was posthumously released on The Projects Presents "Ballhers Forever" compilation by an X-mix service label.
As of 2009, Aaron Hall has a show titled "Aaron Hall's Dog Rehab".
On June 25, 2019, The New York Times Magazine listed Aaron Hall among hundreds of artists whose material was reportedly destroyed in the 2008 Universal fire.

Discography

Albums

With Guy

With Guy

1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1999
2000