Stephanie Edwards (born May 13, 1975), better known as Sparkle is
an American R&B singer. She began her career in 1998 as a protégé of
R. Kelly.
Sparkle first started singing in her family's gospel music group.
Sparkle met singer R. Kelly in while he was working on a male artist
in 1989. Sparkle was the first and only successful artist to release
an album on Kelly's Rockland label. Sparkle's debut album, the self-titled
Sparkle, was released on May 19, 1998. The album debuted at No. 3
on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B charts and was certified
Platinum very soon after the release. The album is best known for
the single "Be Careful," a 1998 duet with R. Kelly, which
made it to two of Billboard's major airplay charts, peaking at No.
3 on the Rhythmic Top 40 and charted at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot
R&B Airplay for six consecutive weeks, while also reaching No.
7 in the UK.
Despite the success of her debut album, Sparkle and R. Kelly began
to have creative differences while working on her second album, which
led to her to ask to be released from Rockland/Interscope. She then
signed with Motown Records, where she would release her second album
Told You So in 2000. However, the album was a commercial disappointment,
only making it to 121 on the Billboard 200, while scoring a minor
hit with the single "It's a Fact".
R. Kelly trial
In 2002, the Chicago Police Child Investigative Unit and a writer
for the Chicago Suntimes showed Sparkle a videotape allegedly of
her young niece, then approximately 14, and R. Kelly engaging in
sexual acts. Sparkle identified the young girl as her sister's daughter.
Sparkle testified against R. Kelly in a subsequent criminal trial
on charges of child pornography in 2008.[2] However, in the end,
the jury found Kelly not guilty in the case.
[edit] Works
Sparkle has worked with several artists, including Aaliyah on "Age
Ain't Nothing But A Number"; R. Kelly on "R"; Mary
J. Blige on "Share My World";[3] Wyclef Jean on "Loving
You Remix"; Avant feat. Kelly Rowland on "Separated Remix";
Joe on "Woman's Heart", Jimmy Sommers; and Tank.
Sparkle also has sang background vocals for Toni Braxton in her
Las Vegas stage show Toni Braxton Revealed.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
Year Title Chart positions RIAA
U.S. U.S. R&B
1998 Sparkle
Released: May 19, 1998
Label: Interscope
3 2 Platinum
2000 Told You So
Released: October 24, 2000
Label: Motown
121 31
[edit] Singles
"Be Careful" (feat. R.Kelly) (1998)
"Time To Move On" (1998)
"What About" / "Lovin' You" (1999)
"It's a Fact"
"Good Life"