Rockwell (musician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kennedy William Gordy
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|---|---|
| Birth name | Kennedy William Gordy |
| Also known as | Kenneth Gordy |
| Born | March 15, 1964 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Labels | Motown |
| Parents |
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| Relatives |
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Kennedy William Gordy, born on March 15, 1964, is an American singer and songwriter. He is famous by his stage name, Rockwell. His most well-known song is "Somebody's Watching Me". This song features the famous singer Michael Jackson singing in the background. Rockwell is also the son of Berry Gordy, who started the famous Motown record company. Some of his relatives include his half-siblings Redfoo and Rhonda Ross Kendrick, and his half-nephew Sky Blu.
Contents
Rockwell's Early Life
Kennedy William Gordy is the son of Berry Gordy, who founded and led the Motown record company. His mother is Margaret Norton. Rockwell's father named him Kennedy William after two important people: John F. Kennedy and William "Smokey" Robinson.
Rockwell's Music Career
Rockwell wanted to get a record deal on his own. He did not want people to think he got special treatment because his father owned Motown. So, he got his record deal without his father knowing about it. Motown suggested the name "Rockwell" for him. He liked the name because he felt he "rocked well" when he performed.
His Biggest Hit Song
In 1983, Rockwell released his most successful song, "Somebody's Watching Me". His childhood friend Michael Jackson sang the main chorus parts. Michael's brother, Jermaine Jackson, sang backup vocals. "Somebody's Watching Me" became a huge hit. It reached number 2 on the music charts in the United States. It also became a gold-certified song, meaning it sold many copies. In the United Kingdom, it reached number 6 on the charts. The song was number 1 on Billboard's R&B chart for five weeks.
Other Songs and Albums
After "Somebody's Watching Me," Rockwell released other songs. However, they were not as popular. His song "... Phone Caller" was his only other song to reach the top 40. It got to number 35 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Rockwell released two more albums with Motown before he finished his music career with them.
In 2021, "Somebody's Watching Me" became popular again in the UK. It re-entered the UK chart and reached number 47.
Beyond Music
Besides his music, Rockwell has also helped many charities over the years. He has supported organizations like the Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society, and the United Negro College Fund.
Rockwell's Family Life
Rockwell is the son of Berry Gordy. His half-sister, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, is an actress. She is the oldest child of the famous singer Diana Ross. ..... This is through his half-brother Redfoo (whose real name is Stephen Kendal Gordy). He is also related to his half-nephew Sky Blu (whose real name is Skyler Austen Gordy).
In July 2010, Rockwell married Nicole Moore. He filed for divorce in 2013.
Rockwell's Music Albums
Here are the studio albums Rockwell released:
| Album Title | Album Details | Highest Chart Position | Awards | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B |
AUS |
CAN |
UK |
|||
| Somebody's Watching Me |
|
15 | 5 | 99 | 34 | 52 |
|
| Captured |
|
120 | 52 | — | — | — | |
| The Genie |
|
— | 59 | — | — | — | |
| "—" means the album did not appear on that chart. | |||||||
Rockwell's Singles
Here are the single songs Rockwell released:
| Song Title | Year | Highest Chart Position | Awards | Album | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US |
US R&B |
US Dance |
AUS |
AUT |
CAN |
NZ |
SWI |
UK |
||||||
| "Somebody's Watching Me" | 1983 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 12 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 6 | Somebody's Watching Me | |||
| "... Phone Caller" | 1984 | 35 | 9 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 79 | ||||
| "Taxman" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 88 | |||||
| "Knife" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| "He's a Cobra" | 1985 | 108 | 65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Captured | |||
| "Peeping Tom" | — | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| "Tokyo" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| "Carmé" | 1986 | — | 46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | The Genie | |||
| "Grow-Up!" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |||||
| "—" means the song did not appear on that chart. | ||||||||||||||
Rockwell's Acting Roles
Rockwell has also appeared in some movies and TV shows.
Movies
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Bloodbrothers | Tyrone |
| 2023 | FITUMI: Fake It til U Make It | Man at table |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | The Doris Day Show | Himself | Episode: "Whodunnit, Doris" |
See also
In Spanish: Rockwell (cantante) para niños
