| Ginuwine  AKA Elgin Baylor Lumpkin
Born: 15-Oct-1970
Birthplace: Washington, DC
Gender: Male
Race or Ethnicity: Black
Sexual orientation: Straight
Occupation: Singer Nationality: United States
Executive summary: R&B singer, Pony Named after basketball star Elgin Baylor, Ginuwine (as he came to be known in 1996) received his inspiration to become a musician from the likes of Prince and Michael Jackson. By the age of twelve he had begun a career as a singer, forming the hip-hop group The Finesse Five with friends and (despite being underage) performing in local bars. He subsequently initiated his solo career as one of his musical heroes, putting together an act as a Michael Jackson impersonator, and no doubt moonwalking with the best of them. A period with the unfortunately-named band Physical Wonder was spent during this time as well. Hedging his bets, Ginuwine took the time to earn a degree as a paralegal just in case the music thing didn't pan out.
The year he changed his name, Ginuwine's future finally began to open up. After having attracted the attention of swingbeat purveyors Jodeci, he traveled to New York and cut the track Pony with not-yet-established producer Timbaland; the unusual character of the song generated some interest, and a deal with Sony affiliate 550 Music was arranged shortly afterwards. With Timbaland still at the controls, the debut release Ginuwine...The Bachelor was released later the same year; its lead single -- the aforementioned Pony -- reached the top of the R&B charts, and the album eventually earned multi-platinum status.
In 1998 Ginuwine kept his popularity rolling with a contribution to the soundtrack of Doctor Doolittle, and also with an appearance in an episode of the television series Martial Law (an acting career having previously been established through work on the Moesha sitcom in 1996). His collaboration with Timbaland was resumed in 1999 for the sophomore effort 100% Ginuwine, effectively repeating the success of the first release and featuring two well-received singles What's So Different and So Anxious. Cashing in on his romantic image, the singer followed up by lending his name to a line of perfumes: 100% Ginuwine and G Spot, for men and women (respectively).
2001 saw the singer juggling work on his third album (The Life Of...) with extending his acting resume into feature films (Juwanna Mann, released in 2002). A fourth album, The Senior, was completed in 2003, making its mark with the singles Hell Yeah and In Those Jeans. A second film appearance (as himself) was made in the booty bonanza Honey alongside Jessica Alba; a role as The Scarecrow in a remake of The Wiz is forthcoming. Father: James II (d. suicide)
Mother: Sandra (d. cancer)
Brother: James III
Sister: Latisha
Son: Elgin, Jr.
Wife: Solé (Tonya Michelle Johnston, musician, m. 2003)
Daughter: Story (b. 2001)
Daughter: Dream (b. 2002)
High School: Forestville High School, Forestville, MD (1989)
University: Prince George Community College (paralegal)
FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR
Honey (24-Nov-2003) · Himself
Juwanna Mann (18-Jun-2002)
Official Website:
http://www.ginuwine.com/
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