Singer/Songwriter Johnta Austin Wins First Grammy Honor

Market Wire, February, 2006

So So Def/Virgin R&B singer/songwriter Johnta Austin was the winner of his first major trophy, for the year's Best R&B Song, in the 48th Annual Grammy Awards, televised last night from Los Angeles. Austin co-wrote, along with Mariah Carey, Manuel Seal, Virgin Urban Music President Jermaine Dupri and others, the double Grammy-winning Carey hit, "We Belong Together."

"We Belong Together," a heartfelt hip-hop ballad with clever interpolated allusions to the classic R&B of Bobby Womack and L.A. Reid and Babyface, was Austin's first Billboard Hot 100 Number One achievement as a songwriter. The song spent 14 non-consecutive weeks at Number One. The song was also a Number One R&B single, and a top 5 ringtone seller. Austin previously topped the R&B singles chart with Aaliyah's 2002 single, "Miss You." Austin, Dupri and Carey also co-wrote another Grammy-nominated track, "It's Like That," the lead-off single from Carey's Number One album, "The Emancipation of Mimi," and the three collaborated on two additional tracks as writers. The album won Carey the Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album, and she was also awarded Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "We Belong Together."

Johnta Austin's first Grammy culminates more than a decade's work in the entertainment business, when he went from his southwest Atlanta church choir to a spot co-hosting a children's television show on cable network TBS at age 12. An appearance on "The Arsenio Hall Show" led directly to his first major label record deal, signed with RCA when he was only 13. Dropped by his label just a year later, Austin overcame his disappointment -- and undoubtedly built up major positive karma -- by co-writing the top 10 R&B/top 15 pop smash "Sweet Lady," while still a high-schooler. The song drove platinum-plus album sales for the artist who actually replaced him on the RCA roster, the talented singer and actor Tyrese Gibson.

In the wake of his two massive 1999 hits, "Sweet Lady," and his No. 2 R&B song for Ideal, "Get Gone," demand for Austin's writing and background vocal arrangements led to behind-the-scenes work with such A-list artists as Aaliyah (the soundtrack hit "I Don't Wanna" and the R&B No. 1 and pop No.3 "Miss You"), Mariah Carey, Toni Braxton, Ciara, Ruben Studdard, Fantasia Barrino, Ginuwine, Faith Evans, and Mario.

When a 2003 introduction to So So Def founder Jermaine Dupri led to a string of successful co-written songs, Austin's demo of "Lil More Love" convinced Dupri to sign Austin as an artist as soon as Dupri's appointment as President of Virgin Records' Urban Music Division was finalized. Austin's debut album OCEAN DRIVE is scheduled for release later in 2006.

For more information, please contact: Patti Conte, Virgin Records (212) 786-8350 Email Contact Melissa Victor, Virgin Records (212) 786-8318 Email Contact Samantha Bowman, Virgin Records (212) 786-8371 Email Contact