Tim & Bob

Tim & Bob
Tim Kelley (left), Bob Robinson (left)
Background information
Also known as	Tim Kelley & Bob Robinson, Funktwons
Origin	Peoria, Illinois, US
Genres	Hip-hop, R&B
Occupation(s)	Record producer, songwriter
Instruments	Piano, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Drums (Tim Kelley) Acoustic guitar, Electric guitar, Keyboards, Hammond B3 Organ (Bob Robinson)
Years active	1993–present
Labels	Funktwons Inc., DreamWorks Records, Def Jam Records, BMG Rights Management
Associated acts	Destiny's Child, Beyoncé, Will Smith, Boyz II Men, Michael Jackson, Babyface, Jennifer Lopez, 112, Nas, Tyrese, Mary J. Blige, Lionel Richie, Earth, Wind & Fire, Bobby Brown, Karen Clark Sheard, Hilary Duff, Deitrick Haddon, Monica, Jon B., Tamia, Case, Dave Hollister, Bobby Valentino, Brian McKnight, Donell Jones, Joe, Musiq Soulchild, The Isley Brothers, Tank, Tamar Braxton, Mýa, MC Lyte, Willa Ford, Soul For Real, The Game
Members	Tim Kelley Bob Robinson

Tim & Bob (Tim Kelley and Bob Robinson), also known as Funktwons, are Grammy Award-winning songwriting musicians and a Hip-hop/R&B production duo. Tim & Bob have discovered and or worked on some of the biggest artists in the music industry and has helped develop the Atlanta music scene as it is widely known for today. They have won three Grammy Awards amongst twelve nominations and have sold more than 300 million albums worldwide making them one of the most successful producer duos in music history. They are among the most consistent urban producers in the last 18 years, earning a spot on Billboard's top ten list of producers almost every year since 1998.^[1]

Biography

Growing up in Peoria, Illinois, Tim was raised on R&B through his father's band. His father was a trumpet player and multi-instrumentalist so Tim learned trumpet, piano, guitar, drums and bass at the age of 10. From elementary school through college, Tim played the trumpet and piano in school band.

Bob played in his church as an organist and piano player from the age of 9, so he brought an understanding of gospel music to the duo. Tim met Bob through a mutual friend at the local mall. The two worked together at Tim's house in the basement, recording music on equipment purchased by Tim's mother. They moved to New Orleans for a year then went to Chicago and Detroit where they established a small production company with a studio. They worked with George Clinton's backing vocalist Paul Hill to perfect demo recordings intended for producer Dallas Austin in Atlanta.^[2]

D.A.R.P. Inc. and Other Label Ventures

1993–1996

In Atlanta, Tim & Bob met Dallas Austin who signed them to his company D.A.R.P. and stamped them as "Tim & Bob". The duo began working with artists TLC, Boyz II Men, Madonna, 112 (whom they discovered) and Monica ( which they developed).^[3] Tim & Bob brought from Detroit their friends Tony Rich and Mario Winans. Tim & Bob won two Grammy Awards, including one in 1995 for Best R&B Album for Boyz II Men's II and one in 1996 for Best R&B Album for TLC's Diamond certified CrazySexyCool. Tim & Bob produced and wrote five songs on the Boyz II Men LP II which eventually became the biggest selling album in history by an R&B group. Upon winning consecutive Best R&B Album Grammy awards, the duo worked on songs for the films Def Jam's How to Be a Player, The Players Club, Poetic Justice, Wild Wild West, and Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.^[3]

Tim & Bob were frequently brought in by producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to work on some of their projects.^[3]

DreamWorks and Capitol Records

1997–1999

Tim & Bob relocated to Los Angeles and signed a publishing deal and a label deal thru executive and rock guitarist Robbie Robertson with the now defunct DreamWorks Records, soon scoring a No. 1 hit with Jon B. ("They Don't Know"), and a top 5 hit for Tamia ("So into You"). Tim & Bob were also instrumental in getting the rock group Papa Roach signed to DreamWorks^[3] while inking a production deal with Capitol Records. The duo signed Athena Cage from the group Kut Klose and produced a full album of songs, but the project only produced a single for the movie Save The Last Dance.

Thong Song

In 1999 Tim & Bob produced Sisqó's hit "Thong Song". The single was awarded Song of the Year Hip Hop/Rhythmic at the 2000 Radio Music Awards. It peaked at No. 1 on the New Zealand charts, No. 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, No. 1 Billboard on Rhythmic top 40 and Rhythmic top 40 Airplay and No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 respectively.

Tim, Babyface, Bob

2000–2003

In 2001, Tim & Bob produced Case's "Missing You", which was his only number one song, and Dave Hollister's "Take Care of Home".^[3]

In 2003 Tim & Bob worked with the Isley Brothers album project Body Kiss, and with Earth, Wind And Fire on the song "Hold Me" which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional Vocal by an r&b group. Both projects were nominated for Grammy Awards.

2004–present

Tim & Bob discovered Bobby Valentino produced his self-titled album which spawned the hit songs "Tell Me" and "Slow Down" in early 2005. The latter song was No. 1 for four consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. In 2006, Tim & Bob signed a publishing deal with Dimensional Music Publishing and began working on Bobby Valentino's second album Special Occasion, on which they produced six tracks.^[4] Subsequent projects include Jennifer Lopez' Platinum certified album Rebirth ("Cherry Pie" and "I, Love"); Brian McKnight's Ten ("Used to Be My Girl", "Unhappy Without You", "Again", "Can't Leave You Alone"); Donell Jones' Journey of a Gemini ("I'm Gonna Be", "Feelin' You", "Can't Wait", "I'm Gonna Be"); Hilary Duff's Dignity ("I Wish"); Nas, Joe, Musiq Soulchild, Ron Isley, Brandy, Tyrese, Amerie, Mýa, Usher, LeToya, Slim of 112, Busta Rhymes, Jamie Foxx ("Life is Good");^[5] The Black Eyed Peas, Bobby Valentino's The Rebirth ("Make You the Only One," "3 Is the New 2," “On The Edge," “You're Not Alone," “Give Me Your Heart," and "Your Smile"); Day 26's Forever in a Day ("Think of Me" and "Reminds Me of You"); and their artists Mahagani and Chico.^[3] In 2011, Tim & Bob produced half of Bobby V's project Fly on the Wall and reunited with Boyz II Men to produce four tracks including a remake of "Motown Philly" on their album Twenty.

Key To The City

On November 18, 2011, the city of Peoria, Illinois, declared "Tim & Bob Day" and gave the producers a ceremonial key to the city.

Lottery Ticket

Tim & Bob scored music for the film in 2010: Lottery Ticket.

Discography

Awards and nominations

American Music Awards

The American Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony created by Dick Clark in 1973.

Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards

The Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards are sponsored by Billboard magazine and is held annually in December.

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

Broadcast Music Inc. Awards

Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is one of three United States performing rights organizations that holds a series of annual awards shows.

Dove Awards

Grammy Awards

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States.

Juno Awards

The Juno Awards is a Canadian awards ceremony presented annually by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.

MTV Video Music Awards

The MTV Video Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony established in 1984 by MTV.

Music of Black Origin Awards

The Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards, established in 1995 by Kanya King MBE and Andy Ruffell, are held annually in the UK to recognise artists of any race or nationality performing black music.

NAACP Image Awards

The NAACP Image Awards is an award presented annually by the American National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in film, television, music, and literature.

Radio Music Awards

The Radio Music Awards was an annual U.S. award show that honors the year's most successful songs on mainstream radio.

Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards

The Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards, first airing in 1995, celebrated top achievements by female performers.

Soul Train Music Awards

The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual award show which previously aired in national television syndication that honors the best in Black music and entertainment.

Equipment Used

• NeKo LX (Gen3)^[6]

References

External links

• Tim & Bob on Myspace
• (French) French group dedicated to Tim & Bob on SoulRnB.com