Ginuwine

Elgin Baylor Lumpkin, known professionally as Ginuwine, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and actor born on October 15, 1970, in Washington, D.C. He began his career in the early 1990s as a member of the music collective Swing Mob. His interest in music was sparked at a young age by artists like Michael Jackson and Prince. Before his music career took off, he earned a paralegal associate's degree from Prince George's Community College.

Music Career

Ginuwine's solo career launched after he was discovered by Jodeci. He signed with Epic Records and in 1996, released his debut single "Pony," which was produced by Timbaland. The song was a major success, peaking at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and becoming a number one R&B hit. This led to the release of his debut album, "Ginuwine...The Bachelor," which was certified double platinum. The album also featured other successful singles like "Tell Me Do U Wanna" and a cover of Prince's "When Doves Cry."

Continued Success

His second album, "100% Ginuwine," released in 1999, also achieved multi-platinum status. The album included the hit single "So Anxious." In 2001, Ginuwine released "The Life," which featured his highest-charting single, "Differences," peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100. This album also included the personal track "Two Reasons I Cry," written after the deaths of his parents. His subsequent albums, "The Senior" (2003) and "Back II da Basics" (2005), also performed well, with the former featuring the top ten single "In Those Jeans."

Collaborations and TGT

Throughout his career, Ginuwine has collaborated with numerous artists. He was featured on P. Diddy's number-one hit "I Need a Girl (Part II)" in 2002. In 2007, he formed the R&B supergroup TGT with Tyrese and Tank. The group signed with Atlantic Records in 2012 and released their debut album "Three Kings" in 2013.

Acting and Other Ventures

Ginuwine has also ventured into acting, appearing in films like "Juwanna Mann" and on television shows such as "Martial Law" and "Moesha." He also started his own record label, Bag Entertainment. Ginuwine has been a spokesman for the beverage Adult Chocolate Milk.

Personal Life

Ginuwine was married to rapper Tonya M. Johnston, also known as Solé, from 2003 to 2015. They have two daughters together. Ginuwine has a total of nine children from various relationships. He has been open about his struggles with grief and depression following the loss of his parents. His father died by suicide, and his mother passed away from cancer less than a year later. He and his ex-wife have been involved in philanthropy, supporting homes for mentally disabled individuals.