Meet Rodney Jerkins
Find out more about Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins.
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The Life Of Rodney\r - Rodney Jerkins’ love for music started as a young child when his parents enrolled him in classical piano lessons. “You had no choice or you couldn’t live in the house. I started classical piano lessons at 5,” Jerkins said.\r\r \r(Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
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The Life Of Rodney\r - Which "New Jack Swing" singer helped Rodney Jerkins get into the business? “I would say Teddy Riley. He was the mentor for me in terms of a person that really took the time to help me and my craft,” Jerkins said. Jerkins’ advice for getting a mentor? Internships.\r \r(Photo: Matthew Peyton/Getty Images)
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The Life Of Rodney\r - At the age of 15, Rodney Jerkins wrote and produced his first gospel rap album with his brother, Fred Jerkins III.\r \r(Photo: Ronna Gradus/Getty Images)
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The Life Of Rodney\r - At the tender age of 17, Jerkins wrote and produced five songs on Mary J. Blige’s album “Share My World.” The album would go on to sell more than 3 million units.\r \r(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
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The Life Of Rodney\r - During his career, Rodney Jerkins has worked with the likes of Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Aaliyah, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Patti Labelle and The Black Eyed Peas.\r \r(Photo: Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
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The Life Of Rodney - Rodney Jerkins spent this past season of American Idol serving as a mentor to the contestants. “Helping those contestants each week and seeing the fruits of your labor in them going to the next level. It was an experience. It was a lot of work in a little bit of time.” (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images
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The Life Of Rodney - In 2006, Rodney Jerkins was appointed vice president of A&R at the Island Def Jam Group. As part of the deal, Darkchild Records was distributed as an imprint under the Def Jam label. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)