Lyfe Jennings

Lyfe Jennings (born Chester Jennings in Toledo, Ohio) is an African American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and producer. He also plays the guitar, bass, and piano which he integrates into his music. Jennings started singing a

Lyfe Jennings (born Chester Jennings in Toledo, Ohio) is an African American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and producer. He also plays the guitar, bass, and piano which he integrates into his music. Jennings started singing at a young age in a Toledo church choir. He later joined a group called The Dotsons with two of his cousins and his older brother, Jay. The group separated in the early 1990s, and Jennings rediscovered music and started a music program at an Ohio prison where he was serving a ten-year sentence on an arson related charge. He has cited Erykah Badu's 1997 album Baduizm as one of the reasons for his rediscovery. Jennings was released from prison in December of 2002 and started to pursue a solo career in music. In January of 2003, he performed in Showtime In Harlem at The Apollo. That year, he also independently released his first EP, What Is Love. To further pursue his career, Jennings moved to New York City where he performed at rapper Nelly's concert at Radio City Music Hall, at an NAACP convention where he performed an original song called "Thank God for the NAACP", and the Cafeteria in Chelsea, Manhattan during the blackout on August 14 just to name a few. He signed with Columbia Records and released his debut album Lyfe 268-192 (268-192 was his inmate number) in August of 2004. The album featured his hit song "Must Be Nice".