Kandi Burruss

Kandi Burruss
Born Kandi Leniece Burruss
May 17, 1976[1]
College Park, Georgia,[1] U.S.
Occupation
  • Singer-songwriter
  • record producer
  • television personality
  • actress
Years active 1990–present
Television The Real Housewives of Atlanta
Spouse(s) Todd Tucker (m. 2014)[2]

Musical career

Genres
Labels
Associated acts Xscape, Rasheeda, Porsha Williams
Website
kandionline.com

Kandi Leniece Burruss-Tucker (born May 17, 1976)[1] is an American Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, television personality, occasional actress and record producer. She is a former member of the group Xscape. Burruss currently stars as one of six members in the Bravo reality television series The Real Housewives of Atlanta since its second season premiere on July 30, 2009. Burruss married Todd Tucker in the summer of 2014.

Early life

Burruss was born in College Park,[1] Georgia to the Reverend Titus Burruss Jr.[3] and Joyce Jones.[4] Burruss had an older brother, Patrick Riley, who died in 1991 as a result of a car crash at age 22.[3][5]

Burruss attended Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia (class of 1994).[6]

She first appeared on the BET series, Teen Summit, at age 15.

Career

Songwriting

Further information: Kandi Burruss discography

After the disbanding of Xscape, Burruss focused on production and songwriting. In 1999, Burruss teamed with bandmate Tameka "Tiny" Cottle to score the international number one hit "No Scrubs" for TLC.[7] That same year, Burruss wrote another song, "Bills, Bills, Bills."[8] Burruss would go on to work with Pink by co-writing her debut single "There You Go."[8]

Burruss was the first African-American woman to win the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers's Songwriter of the Year award in 2000.[9][10][11][12] This award, in the Rhythm & Soul category, was given for her songwriting credits such as Destiny's Child's "Bills, Bills, Bills" and TLC's "No Scrubs."[13]

Burruss rewrote and executive produced the song "Tardy for the Party" for her Real Housewives of Atlanta co-star Kim Zolciak.[14]

Kandi Koated and reality television

Burruss teamed with Atlanta female rapper Rasheeda to form the duo Peach Candy.[15]

In March 2009, Entertainment Weekly reported that Burruss would replace DeShawn Snow in the second season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta.[16]

She also announced her second album, originally titled "B.L.O.G.". Her debut EP, the Fly Above EP, was released on October 29, 2009.[17] By December 2009, Burruss announced she had signed a deal with Asylum Records after her deal with Capitol Records fell through.[18] Her second album, Kandi Koated, was released in December 2010.[19]

Burruss has made cameo appearances on series such as Single Ladies, Thicker Than Water: The Tankards, Chef Roblé & Co., and Let's Stay Together.[20] She has received several of her own spin-off series, including The Kandi Factory and Kandi's Wedding.[21][22]

Burruss also owns a sex toy company called Bedroom Kandi.[23]

Personal life

Burruss and her ex-boyfriend Russell "Block" Spencer of Block Entertainment had a daughter named Riley Burruss[24] on August 22, 2002.[25] In late 2008, Burruss began a relationship with Ashley "A.J." Jewell and after dating several months, the couple became engaged in January, 2009. However, on October 22, 2009, after sustaining head injuries in a brawl, Jewell died.[26]

Burruss and three friends started a "sex and relationship" web series on Ustream, Kandi Koated Nights. The show started on television in 2011.[27] On January 15, 2013, Burruss announced via Twitter that she was engaged to Todd Tucker, a former line producer for The Real Housewives of Atlanta, whom she had been dating since 2011 while filming the fourth season.[28] On April 4, 2014, the couple got married.[29]

Discography

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Kandi Burruss — Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  2. ↑ Kandi Burruss marries Todd Tucker in Atlanta wedding five years after death of last fiancé
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Thomasos, Christine (February 25, 2013). "Kandi Burruss Exclusive: Singer Talks Gospel Future Amid Backlash, Faith Aiding in Engagement". The Christian Post. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  4. ↑ Sitzer, Carly (January 29, 2014). "Real Housewives of Atlanta Star Kandi Burruss’ Mom Takes Another Dig at Her Fiancé". InTouch Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  5. ↑ Kandi Burruss and Mama Joyce Visit Her Brother’s Grave — An Emotional Sneak Peek (VIDEO)
  6. ↑ Spearman, Della (October 27, 2009). "Atlanta Housewives Star is Part of Alumni of H.S. With New Performing Arts Building". Yahoo! Voices. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  7. ↑ Leffler, Samantha (January 3, 2014). "Kandi Burruss Poses With Tiny and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in Throwback Photo". Wet Paint Entertainment. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "OK! Old School: 9 Pop Songs Co-Written by 'The Kandi Factory's Kandi Burruss". OK! Magazine. Odyssey Magazine Publishing Group Inc. April 9, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Dropping Knowledge > Playback Summer 2007". Ascap.com. June 23, 2007. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  10. ↑ "Sean `Puffy' Combs And Kandi Burruss Named ASCAP Songwriters Of The Year.(American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers Rhythm and Soul Music Awards.)(Brief Article) – Jet". Encyclopedia.com. June 26, 2000. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Interview: Kandi Burruss – Singer & Songwriter – Blogcritics Music". Blogcritics.org. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  12. ↑ ACE Title Search. The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers
  13. ↑ "Kandi Burruss Becomes First Woman to Receive ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Music Award for Songwriter of the Year; Grammy Award Winner's Debut Solo Album Due In September.". Entertainment Editors. June 23, 2000. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  14. ↑ Eggenberger, Nicole (October 16, 2013). "Kandi Burruss on Kim Zolciak "Tardy for the Party" Lawsuit: "She Really Didn't Win"". Us Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2015.
  15. ↑ Gajewski, Ryan (February 21, 2014). "Kandi Burruss and Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’s Rasheeda to Release New Music Together?". Wet Paint Entertainment. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  16. ↑ Stransky, Tanner (March 6, 2009). "Exclusive: Kandi Burruss joins 'The Real Housewives of Atlanta'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  17. ↑ Muhammad, Latifah (October 29, 2009). "REVIEW: KANDI’S ‘FLY ABOVE’ EP". Concrete Loop. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Kandi Burruss Excited Over Asylum Record Deal". Vibe. December 24, 2009. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  19. ↑ Jon Pareles; Jon Caramanica (December 27, 2010). "Neo-Soul Setting for Old-School Soul Voice". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Kandi Burruss — TV Credits". TV Guide. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  21. ↑ Ho, Rodney (September 10, 2013). "Bravo cancels 'Kandi Factory'". Access Atlanta. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  22. ↑ Kondolojy, Amanda (April 8, 2014). "Bravo Media Greenlights Most Diversified Slate Ever of New and Returning Unscripted and Scripted Series" (Press release). Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  23. ↑ Penn, Charli (November 14, 2011). "5 Questions with Kandi Burruss on Her New Sex Toy Line". Essence. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  24. ↑ Dove (November 17, 2010). "Parent Trap! Kandi Burruss Speaks on Bullying, Pre-Teen Sex and Mother-Daughter Talks!". Urban Life. Pure Urban Lifestyle, Inc. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  25. ↑ Real Housewives of Atlanta Episode 2.5, OAD August 27, 2009
  26. ↑ "Richardon Charged With Voluntary Manslaughter". People.com. October 3, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Exclusive: "Real Housewives of Atlanta's" Kandi Burruss Speaks on Death of Fiance AJ". Hellobeautiful.com. October 6, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  28. ↑ Caldwell, Sarah (January 16, 2013). "News Briefs 'Real Housewives of Atlanta' star Kandi Burruss engaged". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
  29. ↑ Nessif, Bruna (April 4, 2014). "Real Housewives of Atlanta's Kandi Burruss Marries Todd Tucker". E! News. Retrieved April 4, 2014.