The Evolution of Eric Benet

Look back on the crooner's rise.

Class Acts: Eric Benet - Eric Benet is a neo-soul classic. The singer-songwriter has been behind smash R&B hits of the early 2000s, and channeled his talent into six released studio albums. Set to perform at this year's UNCF: An Evening of Stars, take a look back through the crooner's career and experience his rise to success. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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The Evolution of Eric Benet - Eric Benet is a neo-soul classic. The singer-songwriter has been behind smash R&B hits of the early 2000s, and channeled his talent into six released studio albums. Take a look back through the crooner's career and experience his rise to success. (Photo: Roger Kisby/Getty Images)

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Alabama Baby - Born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Wisconsin, Benet began his life surrounded by family and with a Midwestern upbringing. He is the baby of five siblings. (Photo: EPA/PAUL BUCK /LANDOV) 

Early Musical Families - The soul singer got his start singing with a Top 100-style group named Gerard in the late '80s. A few years later, he teamed up with his sister, Lisa, and cousin George Nash to form a band called Benet. The family group would go on to release a self-titled album, which sold over 100,000 copies. (Photo: D Dipasupil/Getty Images for BET)

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Early Musical Families - The soul singer got his start singing with a Top 100-style group named Gerard in the late '80s. A few years later, he teamed up with his sister, Lisa, and cousin George Nash to form a band called Benet. The family group would go on to release a self-titled album, which sold over 100,000 copies. (Photo: D Dipasupil/Getty Images for BET)

Going Solo - In 1994, Benet went solo and signed with Warner Bros. Records. He released his solo debut, True to Myself, which included several top-10 hits like "Femininity" and "Let's Stay Together." The latter was even added to the movie soundtrack for A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. (Photo: Kat Goduco/WENN.com)

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Going Solo - In 1994, Benet went solo and signed with Warner Bros. Records. He released his solo debut, True to Myself, which included several top-10 hits like "Femininity" and "Let's Stay Together." The latter was even added to the movie soundtrack for A Thin Line Between Love and Hate. (Photo: Kat Goduco/WENN.com)

His First Smash Hit - The R&B man released his sophomore album, A Day in the Life, in 1999, which featured his hit love single, "Spend My Life With You" featuring Tamia. The song peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B charts for three weeks and was certified gold. The album also received the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male. (Photo: Moses Robinson/WireImage)

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His First Smash Hit - The R&B man released his sophomore album, A Day in the Life, in 1999, which featured his hit love single, "Spend My Life With You" featuring Tamia. The song peaked at #1 on the U.S. Billboard R&B charts for three weeks and was certified gold. The album also received the Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Album, Male. (Photo: Moses Robinson/WireImage)

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The Grammys - "Spend My Life With You" would become the singer's first Grammy nomination, falling in the category "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group." He would go on to receive three more individual nominations over the years for his singles "You're the Only One" and "Sometimes I Cry," along with his album Love & Life.  (Photo: Bennett Raglin/WireImage)

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The Grammys - "Spend My Life With You" would become the singer's first Grammy nomination, falling in the category "Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group." He would go on to receive three more individual nominations over the years for his singles "You're the Only One" and "Sometimes I Cry," along with his album Love & Life.  (Photo: Bennett Raglin/WireImage)

Love's Ups and Downs - In 2001, Benet married actress Halle Berry, a union that would last four years before ending in divorce. He would take a break and date a bit, before finding current wife, Manuela Testolini, whom he married in 2011. The two have a daughter together, Lucia Bella. Benet also has a daughter, India, from a previous relationship. (Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

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Love's Ups and Downs - In 2001, Benet married actress Halle Berry, a union that would last four years before ending in divorce. He would take a break and date a bit, before finding current wife, Manuela Testolini, whom he married in 2011. The two have a daughter together, Lucia Bella. Benet also has a daughter, India, from a previous relationship. (Photo: Michael Underwood/PictureGroup)

Eric Benet: October 15 - The R&B singer turns 41. (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images)

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Change Is Good - As Benet prepared to release his third studio album, Better and Better, he battled with Warner Bros. over extending his music beyond the R&B genre. In turn, the album was never released and the artist left the label. He would sign with Friday Records to pursue his artistic freedom. (Photo: Moses Robinson/Getty Images)

Moving Forward - Eric's next album, Hurricane, would experience moderate success with the single "I Wanna Be Loved" as the song that would receive the most acclaim. The single peaked at #2 on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

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Moving Forward - Eric's next album, Hurricane, would experience moderate success with the single "I Wanna Be Loved" as the song that would receive the most acclaim. The single peaked at #2 on the Urban Adult Contemporary chart. (Photo: Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

Rebounding - In 2008 Benet made a comeback with his album Love & Life, which was nominated for a Grammy award. It debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, his highest peak since 1999. (Photo: Warner Bros Records)

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Rebounding - In 2008 Benet made a comeback with his album Love & Life, which was nominated for a Grammy award. It debuted at #11 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, his highest peak since 1999. (Photo: Warner Bros Records)

Giving Us More - 2010's Lost in Time would become the celeb's fifth studio album, bringing the single "Sometimes I Cry" to #1 on the Hot Adult R&B Songs chart. This year, Benet released his latest effort, The One. With a '70s soul style, he'll hit the stage at the UNCF: An Evening of Stars for fans. (Photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images)

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Giving Us More - 2010's Lost in Time would become the celeb's fifth studio album, bringing the single "Sometimes I Cry" to #1 on the Hot Adult R&B Songs chart. This year, Benet released his latest effort, The One. With a '70s soul style, he'll hit the stage at the Apollo Live this week! (Photo: Bryan Steffy/Getty Images)