Donell Jones

Donell Jones is an American R&B singer, songwriter and producer from Chicago, Illinois, born in 1973 and raised on the city's South Side. The son of a gospel singer, he absorbed musical influence early before pursuing a career in secular R&B. He first made his mark as a songwriter, co-writing Usher's «Think of You», before signing his own deal and releasing his debut album My Heart in 1996, whose cover of Stevie Wonder's «Knocks Me Off My Feet» introduced him as a performer in his own right.

Jones became a defining voice of late-1990s and early-2000s R&B, known for a smooth, understated vocal style and a knack for mid-tempo, hip-hop-inflected grooves. His biggest hits, including «U Know What's Up» and «Where I Wanna Be», blended sung melodies with rap-adjacent rhythms, reflecting the genre-crossing sound of the era. He also worked as a writer and producer for other artists, extending his reach beyond his own catalog.

Songs such as «Shorty (Got Her Eyes on Me)», «This Luv» and «Have You Seen Her?» cemented his reputation as a dependable hitmaker whose work bridged classic soul sensibilities with contemporary R&B production, making him a respected figure among artists and fans of the genre.