Canela Cox facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Canela
|
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Canela Cox |
| Born | 1984 Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Labels | DreamWorks Records (2001) Genuine/Monopoly Records (2004 – 2005; 2007–present) |
| Associated acts | Darkchild, Tim & Bob, So Plush, Rhona, Lil' Mo, Fabolous, DJ Clue, Anastacia, Ak'Sent, Jennifer Lopez, Won G, Anything But Monday |
Canela (pronounced Kuh-NAY-luh) is an American R&B singer and songwriter. She is known for her song "Sponsor," which was remixed by DJ Clue. She also helped write the popular song "Why'd You Lie to Me" for singer Anastacia. Canela recorded an album in 2001, but it was never released because her music label closed down.
Contents
Canela's Early Life and Music Journey
Growing Up and Finding Her Voice
Canela Cox was born in Los Angeles, California, in 1984. When she was 12, she moved to Amsterdam, a city in Europe. Her mother, Rocq-E Harrell, was also an R&B singer. She used to sing backup for the famous artist Diana Ross. Living in Amsterdam, Canela continued to be around music.
When Canela was 18, she moved back to the United States. She kept working on her music. She performed with many different music groups in Los Angeles.
Starting Her Career in the Early 2000s
In 2000, Canela sang background vocals for Jennifer Lopez's hit song "Love Don't Cost a Thing." This song sold many copies. While performing with Jennifer Lopez at a concert, a music producer named Rodney Jerkins noticed Canela's talent. He helped her get signed to DreamWorks Records in 2001.
Recording Her First Album
In 2001, Canela started recording her first album. It was going to be called Canela. Famous producers like Darkchild, Tim & Bob, and DJ Clue worked on the album. DreamWorks Records planned to release it in December 2001.
Canela released a song called "Sponsor" in March 2001. A special remix of "Sponsor" by DJ Clue, featuring rapper Fabolous, became popular in underground music circles. However, neither version of the song became a big hit on the music charts.
Later, another song called "Everything" was released. A music video for "Everything" was shown on the TV show 106 & Park on BET. But "Everything" also did not become a chart success. Because her songs weren't charting, DreamWorks Records stopped the release of Canela's album.
In December 2001, just before her album was supposed to come out, DreamWorks Records was bought by Universal Music Group. This caused DreamWorks Records to close down. Because of this, Canela's first album was never officially released.
Working Behind the Scenes and New Beginnings
After leaving DreamWorks Records, Canela continued to work in music. In 2002, she helped write the song "Why'd You Lie to Me" for the singer Anastacia. This song became a top 20 hit around the world. In 2004, Canela also sang on rapper Won G's song "Caught Up in the Rapture."
In 2004, Canela signed with a new music company called Genuine Entertainment, which worked with Monopoly Records. She started recording for another album. She released two songs, "Blazed" and "Bedrock," but they did not become popular. Because there wasn't enough promotion for her music, Canela left Monopoly Records. She then focused on singing and writing songs for other artists.
New Projects and Collaborations
In 2005, Canela sang background vocals for the soundtrack of the movie Coach Carter. The next year, she was featured on rapper Ak'Sent's song "Pick Up." Even though "Pick Up" didn't chart, it became popular online.
Canela also provided vocals for several Disney Channel soundtracks. These included High School Musical 2, The Proud Family, Jump In, and Cheetah Girls 2.
In 2006, Canela joined a pop band called Anything but Monday. The group was featured in a reality TV show called "30 Days 'til I'm Famous." The band has not yet released their first album, as it has been delayed several times.
In 2007, Canela rejoined Monopoly Records. She started recording new songs for an album. She released "I'll C U Later" in 2007, and then "I Want U for Me" and "Kiss 'N Tell" in 2008.
As of 2025, Canela continues to record music for her album. She also writes songs for other artists and records demo tracks.
Canela's Music Releases
Albums
| Year | Album | Chart positions | RIAA Certification | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | U.S. R&B | |||
| 2001 | Canela | — | — | Shelved |
| TBA | Untitled Second Album | TBA | TBA | TBA |
Singles
- 2001: "Sponsor"
- 2001: "Everything"
- 2004: "Caught Up in the Rapture" (Won-G feat. Canela Cox)
- 2004: "Blazed"
- 2004: "Bedrock" 1
- 2006: "Pick Up" (Ak'Sent feat. Canela Cox)
- 2007: "I'll C U Later"
- 2008: "Kiss 'N Tell"
- 2008: "I Want U for Me"
1 later re-recorded by Ak'Sent & re-released in 2006
