CeeLo Green facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
CeeLo Green
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CeeLo Green in 2022
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Thomas DeCarlo Callaway |
| Also known as | Thomas Burton |
| Born | May 30, 1975 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1991–present |
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CeeLo Green (born Thomas DeCarlo Callaway-Burton on May 30, 1975) is an American singer, rapper, and actor. He is famous for his powerful soul voice and his hit songs. You might know him from the song "Crazy" with his group Gnarls Barkley, or his popular solo song "Forget You."
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, CeeLo started his career in 1991 with the hip-hop group Goodie Mob. After making three albums with them, he started his solo career. He became a worldwide star with Gnarls Barkley, a duo he formed with the producer Danger Mouse.
In 2010, he released the album The Lady Killer, which included his biggest solo hit. The song, called "Forget You," was a clean version of a song with a different title. It became a huge success, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the U.S. and winning a Grammy Award.
From 2011 to 2013, CeeLo was a popular judge and coach on the TV show The Voice. He has also acted in movies, like voicing Murray the Mummy in the animated film Hotel Transylvania.
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Early Life
CeeLo Green was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Both of his parents were firefighters. He began his music career singing in his church. His father passed away when CeeLo was only two years old.
When CeeLo was 16, his mother was in a serious car accident. She passed away two years later, just as his music career with the group Goodie Mob was starting. This was a very difficult time for him. He later wrote about his feelings and the loss of his parents in many of his songs. He has said that his mother's passing pushed him to focus on his career in music.
Music Career
1991–1998: Starting with Goodie Mob
CeeLo Green was a founding member of the Atlanta hip-hop group Goodie Mob, along with Big Gipp, T-Mo, and Khujo. The group was part of a larger music collective called the Dungeon Family, which also included the famous duo Outkast.
Goodie Mob released their first album, Soul Food, in 1995. The album was praised by critics for its unique Southern sound. During this time, CeeLo also sang background vocals on the hit song "Waterfalls" by the group TLC.
The group's second album, Still Standing, was released in 1998 and was also well-received. For their third album, World Party (1999), CeeLo took on a bigger creative role.
1999–2003: Becoming a Solo Artist
After the third Goodie Mob album, CeeLo left the group to start a solo career with Arista Records. His first solo album was Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections (2002). It had a soulful, funky sound similar to other music from the Dungeon Family. The album didn't sell many copies, but the single "Closet Freak" got some radio play.
2004–2008: Gnarls Barkley and "Crazy"
CeeLo's second solo album, Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine (2004), featured collaborations with famous artists like Ludacris and Pharrell Williams. The album was a success on the R&B and Hip-Hop charts.
Around this time, CeeLo teamed up with producer Danger Mouse to form the duo Gnarls Barkley. Their first album, St. Elsewhere, was released in 2006. It featured the single "Crazy", which became a massive international hit. The song reached number one in the United Kingdom based on digital downloads alone. Rolling Stone magazine later named it the best song of the 2000s.
Gnarls Barkley released a second album, The Odd Couple, in 2008.
2009–2011: The Lady Killer and Global Fame
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In 2010, CeeLo released a song that would become his biggest solo hit. The radio-friendly version was called "Forget You." It quickly went viral online, getting millions of plays in just one week. The song hit number one in the U.K. and was a top-ten hit in many other countries.
The song was on his 2010 album, The Lady Killer. The album was very successful, especially in the U.K. CeeLo received five Grammy nominations for his hit single and won for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
He toured with an all-female band and performed at major events, including the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. At the Grammys, he performed with actress Gwyneth Paltrow and puppets from The Jim Henson Company.
2012–Present: More Music and Projects
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In 2012, CeeLo performed with Madonna during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show, one of the biggest television events of the year. He also released a Christmas album, Cee Lo's Magic Moment, that same year.
He continued to release new music, including the album Heart Blanche in 2015. One of the singles, "Robin Williams," was a tribute to the late actor. In 2020, he released the album CeeLo Green Is Thomas Callaway, which was named after his birth name. He has also reunited with Goodie Mob for new albums, including Survival Kit in 2020.
Television and Film Career
CeeLo Green is not just a musician; he is also an actor. He has appeared in many TV shows and movies.
One of his most famous roles was as a coach on the singing competition show The Voice from 2011 to 2013. His fun personality made him a fan favorite.
He has also done voice acting for animated shows and movies. He was the voice of Murray the Mummy in the movie Hotel Transylvania. He has also had voice roles in shows like American Dad!, Robot Chicken, and The Boondocks.
In 2014, he starred in a reality TV series called CeeLo Green's The Good Life with his fellow Goodie Mob members. He has also appeared as himself on shows like Saturday Night Live and Parenthood.
Personal Life
CeeLo was married to Christina Johnson, and they divorced in 2005. They have a son named Kingston. CeeLo was also a stepfather to Christina's two daughters. One of his stepdaughters, Sierra, was featured on the MTV show My Super Sweet 16.
Discography
Solo Albums
- Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections (2002)
- Cee-Lo Green... Is the Soul Machine (2004)
- The Lady Killer (2010)
- Cee Lo's Magic Moment (2012)
- Heart Blanche (2015)
- CeeLo Green Is Thomas Callaway (2020)
Gnarls Barkley Albums
- St. Elsewhere (2006)
- The Odd Couple (2008)
Goodie Mob Albums
- Soul Food (1995)
- Still Standing (1998)
- World Party (1999)
- Age Against the Machine (2013)
- Survival Kit (2020)
Awards and Nominations
Images for kids
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CeeLo Green (left) during a session of Live From Daryl's House
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Green in the studio, 2017
See also
In Spanish: CeeLo Green para niños
