Contemporary R&B singer/songwriter Tony Rich first attracted attention as a staff writer at LaFace Records, where he authored hits for acts including Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill, TLC, and Toni Braxton. As the Tony Rich Project, he debuted in 1995 with Words, writing, performing, and producing every note of the LP himself. After scoring the Grammy-nominated hits "Like a Woman" and "Nobody Knows," he released 1998's Birdseye, also for LaFace, and then went the independent route with Resurrected (Rich Projects/Compendia, 2003), Pictures (Rich Media/IM, 2006), and Exist (Hidden Beach, 2008). He also provided the music for A New Understanding of Peace (Sefat Mustard Seed, 2006), a gospel release featuring narration from Sheila Evans. ~ Jason Ankeny, All Music Guide
Rich first attracted attention thru the production team of Tim & Bob. The duo convinced Pebbles to listen to Rich over the phone and soon after he was on a plane to Atlanta where he eventually became a staff writer at LaFace Records, where he wrote songs for recording artists including Boyz II Men, Johnny Gill, TLC, and Toni Braxton. Later, Rich mixed elements of jazz, rock and soul music into his own tracks.
The Tony Rich Project
Cover of the 1996 album Words
In February 1996 Rich released the hitsingle, "Nobody Knows" which made it to number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Under the moniker "The Tony Rich Project", he released his debut album Words in early 1996. Both the album and single went platinum and in 1997, Rich won a Grammy Award for the Best R&B Album. The song was covered by country music artist Kevin Sharp in 1997, also as his debut single. The song "Like a Woman" was also nominated for a Grammy Award.
The album was followed up in 1998 by Birdseye, which, while critically praised, failed to generate much commercial success. Rich seemingly disappeared from the music world for several years after this album's release.
In 2003, Rich returned with the album The Resurrected. Carrying a very different style, the album featured Rich rocking out on the guitar, as well as singing smooth ballads.
By 2006, Rich released a fourth album, Pictures. The album contains snapshots of a relationship, and is a return in style to his earlier works.
In 2008, he released his fifth album, Exist through Hidden Beach Recordings. Originally it was set for release on September 16, however it was pushed back to September 23, 2008. The album features download-only single, "Part The Waves".
