GRAMMY Award-winning singer, composer, producer, and actor NE-YO (born Shaffer C. Smith) is a talent sought by many artists. Not only does NE-YO have three #1 albums, over 10 million albums sold worldwide and three GRAMMY Awards of his own, he has also written and produced chart-topping hits for today’s biggest stars including Rihanna, Beyonce, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Carrie Underwood, Celine Dion and many more.
NE-YO’s breakout, platinum single “So Sick,” first set the tone for his impending success, which was continued by his first solo album In My Own Words (2006) that debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200. NE-YO continued his streak of making hit after hit with his following albums Because of You (2007), Year of the Gentleman (2008), Libra Scale (2010) and most recently R.E.D. (2012). Later this year, NE-YO is set to release his sixth full-length studio album Non-Fiction, anchored by the lead single “Money Can’t Buy” featuring Jeezy.
In addition to music, NE-YO’s budding career in film includes credits in George Lucas’s RED TAILS (2012), Stomp The Yard (2007), Battle: LA (2011), and Save the Last Dance (2006). Also, in 2007, he founded The Compound Foundation, a 501© 3 non-profit aimed at helping disadvantaged foster-care children learn life-skills.
