Who Is Montell Jordan?

Montell Jordan is an American singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for his 1995 hit single 'This Is How We Do It'. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for seven weeks, earning him a Grammy Award nomination for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance.

Early Life & Career Beginnings

Montell Du'Sean Barnett was born on December 3, 1968 in Los Angeles, California. He began performing as a gospel singer in his teens and eventually graduated from college with a degree in music. In 1993, he released his debut album, 'This Is How We Do It', which was certified double platinum and spawned the hit single of the same name.

Success As A Recording Artist

Jordan's second album, 'More...', was released in 1996 and produced the hits 'Somethin' 4 Da Honeyz' and 'I Like'. His third album, 'Let's Ride', was released in 1998 and featured collaborations with Snoop Dogg and LL Cool J. In 2000, he released his fourth album, 'Get It On…Tonite', which featured the hit single 'Get It On Tonite' and earned him a nomination for Best R&B Male Vocal Performance at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

Later Career & Music Releases

In 2002, Jordan released his fifth studio album, 'Life After Def', which featured the singles 'I Can Do That' and 'What's On Tonight'. In 2005, he released his sixth studio album, 'Let It Rain'. He also released two independent albums in 2007 and 2014.

Acting & Other Ventures

Jordan made his acting debut in the 2001 film 'The Brothers'. He has also appeared in television shows such as 'Hollywood Squares' and '30 Rock'. In addition to music and acting, Jordan also serves as a mentor to aspiring artists through his music teaching program at The Academy of Contemporary Music at the University of Central Oklahoma. He is also involved in philanthropic work with organizations such as MusiCares and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.