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Dewain Whitmore Jr.

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Dewain Whitmore
Birth nameDewain Whitmore Jr.
OriginKansas City, Missouri, United States
GenresPop, R&B, hip hop, house, country
Occupation(s)Songwriter, singer, vocal producer
InstrumentsVocals, piano, drums
Years active2010–present

Dewain Whitmore Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, and vocal producer based in Los Angeles, California. Signed to Disney Music Publishing,[1] he has worked with numerous popular acts, including Chris Brown, Kacey Musgraves, Nick Jonas, David Guetta, Tiësto, DNCE, Martin Garrix, Khalid, 21 Savage, Usher, Kelly Clarkson, Zara Larsson, Jason Desrouleaux, Joji, The Wanted, Mary J Blige, James Blunt, BoA, and Exo amongst others. His works have accumulated over 30 million in sales.

Early life

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Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, Whitmore was exposed to many styles of music at an early age. Growing up on a very special blend of musical influences stretching from Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Kim Burrell, and J.Moss all the way to Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins, Toto, Hall and Oates, Billy Joel, James Taylor and Steely Dan, his inspiration is one big nostalgic melting pot.[2]

Music career

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Major breakthrough

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Whitmore's big break came in 2011, after re-locating to Los Angeles. After one year of being in LA, Whitmore was introduced to Chris Brown, who recorded two of his songs, "Up To You" and "Should've Kissed You", which featured on Brown's fourth studio album FAME.[3] The album reached No. 1 in 3 countries, and sold over 2 million copies worldwide. The album earned a nomination at the 54th Grammy Awards, for Best R&B Album.[4] F.A.M.E. won in the Best R&B Album category. That same year, Whitmore vocal produced Kelly Clarkson's first single "Mr. Know It All" from her studio album Stronger,[5] The album Stronger went on to win Best Pop Vocal Album at the 55th Grammy Awards.[6] In November 2011, Whitmore collaborated with Mary J.Blige, on the song "You Want This", which was included on Bliges’ 10th studio album My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1).[7] The album was certified gold, selling over 500,000 copies.

Notable work

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On June 29, 2012, Chris Brown released his Billboard No. 1 album Fortune. Whitmore wrote three songs on the album, including "Stuck On Stupid", "Party Hard" and "Free Run".[8] The album earned a nomination at the 55th Grammy Awards, for Best Urban Contemporary Album[9] The album also reached No. 1 in 5 countries.

The next year, Whitmore reached more commercial success, with collaborations with Usher, Ciara, The Wanted and once again Chris Brown. Co-writing the single and title track "X" (#98 Billboard Hot 100),[10] from Browns' sixth studio album X, which reached No. 1 on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums and No. 2 on the US Billboard 200. The album would go on to be nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards.

In 2015, Whitmore teamed up with frequent collaborator Brown on his 7th studio album titled Royalty, co-writing three songs.[11] The album reached No. 1 on the Billboard US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart and No. 2 on the US Billboard 200 chart.[12] That same year, Whitmore collaborated with K-pop group EXO on their album EXODUS. The album topped Billboard's World Albums Chart on the issue date of April 18, 2015, and stayed in the top 10 for six consecutive weeks.[13]

On June 15, 2018, Martin Garrix released his new single "Ocean" featuring Khalid, which was co-written by Whitmore. The single reached No. 1 at US dance radio, No. 5 on Billboard US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, and Top 10 Billboard US Dance Club Songs.[14] Whitmore continued his dance success with another collaboration with Garrix and fellow Dutch DJ Justin Mylo, on the single "Burn Out". The track was co-written and features vocals from Whitmore, and reached No. 26 at Billboard US Hot Dance/Electronic Songs.[15]

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In 2018, Whitmore made his debut as a recording artist with his vocals featuring on the Martin Garrix dance hit “Burn Out”, which Whitmore also co-wrote. The song went on to chart in 13 different countries, becoming his first Billboard US Dance/Electronic song to chart Top 40 as an artist. With his vocals becoming more in demand, in 2020, he penned and featured on German DJ duo, Gamper & Dadoni's “Perfect (For Somebody Else)”,[16] and the following year, his collaborations with Country music star Kacey Musgraves, led to Whitmore co-writing and singing on Musgraves’ chart topping album, Star-Crossed.[17] Whitmore lended his vocals to “What Doesn’t Kill Me”, prominently heard on the intro and all throughout the song, becoming his first credited vocal on a #1 Country Album.[18] In April, 2022, Whitmore found himself teaming up again with Garrix for another feature on the spring single, “Find You”, included on Garrix’s album “Sentio”.[19] Whitmore continued his dance success in 2023 by collaborating with famed Dutch DJ Tiësto on his single “BOTH”, featuring Bia & 21 Savage. The track was co-written and features vocals from Whitmore, and was released on Atlantic on September 1, 2023.[20]

Selected discography

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Year Artist Title Album Label Credited as
2010 Jessica Mauboy "Fight For You" Get 'Em Girls Sony Writer
"Here For Me" Writer
2011 Chris Brown "Up To You" FAME Jive Writer
"Should've Kissed You" Writer
Mary J.Blige "You Want This" My Life II... The Journey Continues (Act 1) Geffen Writer
Kelly Clarkson "Mr. Know It All" Stronger RCA Vocal Producer
2012 Jackson Guthy "One Of These Days" RCA Writer/Vocal Producer
Chris Brown "Stuck On Stupid" Fortune RCA Writer
"Party Hard / Cadillac (Interlude)" Writer
"Free Run" Writer
2013 Jessica Sanchez "You've Got The Love" Me, You & The Music Interscope Writer
The Wanted "Running Out Of Reasons" Word of Mouth Island Writer
Ciara "Backseat Love" Ciara Epic Writer
TGT "Between The Lines" Three Kings Atlantic Writer
Jay Sean "Worth It All" Neon Republic Writer
"Guns and Roses" Writer
2014 Chris Brown "X" X RCA Writer
"Stereotype" Writer
TVXQ "Smoky Heart" Spellbound S.M. Entertainment Writer
Usher "Clueless" RCA Writer
2015 Tamar Braxton "Coming Home" Calling All Lovers Epic Writer
Jordin Sparks "Tell Him That I Love Him" Right Here Right Now 19 Recordings Writer
BoA "Home" Kiss My Lips S.M. Entertainment Writer
Exo "What If..." Exodus S.M. Entertainment Writer
Chris Brown "No Filter" Royalty CBE, RCA Writer
"Discover" Writer/Vocals
"The 80's" (International) Writer
Chris Brown "Counterfeit" feat. Rihanna, Wiz Khalifa Before the Party CBE, RCA Writer/Vocals
"Second Hand Love" Writer/Vocals
"The Breakup" Writer/Vocals
"Roses Turn Blue" Writer/Vocals
Shinee "Love Sick" Odd S.M. Entertainment Writer
TVXQ "Apology" Rise as God S.M. Entertainment Writer
2016 Nick Jonas "Voodoo" Last Year Was Complicated Island, Safehouse Writer[21]
"The Difference" Writer/Vocals
DNCE "Almost" DNCE Republic Writer
"Unsweet" Writer
Shinee "Tell Me What To Do" 1 of 1 S.M. Entertainment Writer
Taeyeon "Hands On Me" Why S.M. Entertainment Writer
Kevin Hart "Sunday Morning" Kevin Hart: What Now? (The Mixtape Presents Chocolate Droppa) Motown Writer
Jordan Fisher "Lookin' Like That" Jordan Fisher Hollywood Records Writer[22]
Rockie Fresh feat. Chris Brown "Call Me When It's Over" The Night I Went To... Los Angeles Maybach Music Group Writer
2017 James Blunt "Heartbeat" The Afterlove Atlantic UK Writer[23]
Jordan Fisher "Alway's Summer" Non-album single Hollywood Records Writer
Jordan Fisher "Mess" Non-album single Hollywood Records Writer[24]
Daley "Second To None" The Spectrum BMG Writer
Sevyn Streeter "Peace Sign" Girl Disrupted Atlantic Writer[25]
NCT 127 "Limitless" Limitless S.M. Entertainment Writer
Exo "Diamond" The War S.M. Entertainment Writer[26]
Natasha Bedingfield "More Of Me" Walt Disney Records Writer[27]
2018 Exo-CBX "Vroom Vroom" Blooming Days S.M. Entertainment Writer
Martin Garrix ft. Khalid "Ocean" Stmpd, Sony Writer
Vindata ft. R.LUM.R "Emotion" Non-album single PRMD Writer
NCT 127 "Limitless" Chain Avex Trax Writer
Gospellers "In This Room" What The World Needs Now Ki/oon Music, Sony Writer[28]
Daughtry "Gravity" Cage to Rattle RCA Writer
Martin Garrix & Justin Mylo "Burn Out" Stmpd Writer/Vocals[29]
New Hope Club "Crazy" Welcome to the Club Pt.2 EP Hollywood Records Writer
Martin Garrix "Breach (Walk Alone)"
(with Blinders)
Stmpd Writer[30]
Exo "Sign" Don't Mess Up My Tempo S.M. Entertainment Writer
Red Velvet "Butterflies" RBB S.M. Entertainment Writer
2019 Backstreet Boys "Said I Love You" DNA RCA Writer
Jorge Blanco "Beautiful Mistake" Conmigo Hollywood Records Writer[31]
Jordan McGraw ft. T-Pain "Flexible" Non-album single Empire Distribution Writer[32]
Chris Brown "Troubled Waters" Indigo RCA Writer[30]
Mika Setzer "Shook" Non-album single RCA Writer
Mario (Devon version) "Cruise" Empire (Season 6, Stronger Than My Rival) (Music from the TV Series) Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation Writer[33]
2020 NCT 127 "Sit Down" Neo Zone S.M. Entertainment Writer
"White Night" Writer
Gamper & Dadoni ft. Dewain Whitmore "Perfect (For Somebody Else)" Non-album single Big Top Records Writer/Vocals
Georgia Ku "Lighthouse" Real Atlantic Records Writer
"Real" Writer
"Big Plans" Writer
THEY. "Count Me In" "The Amanda Tape" Avant Garden, Island Records Writer/Vocals
"Play Fight" ft. Tinashe Writer/Vocals
"All Mine" Writer/Vocals
"STCU" ft. Juicy J Vocals
"Losing Focus" ft. Wale Vocals
"FWM" Writer/Vocals
"Mood Swings" Writer/Vocals
"Conclude" Vocals
Syn Cole "Crawl" ft. Sarah Close Non-album single Ultra Music Writer
2021 Zara Larsson "Talk About Love"
(featuring Young Thug)
Poster Girl Epic Records Writer [34]
THEY. "Count Me In" ft. Kiana Lede Non-album single Avant Garden, Island Records Writer/Vocals
Tedashii "Light's in the City" "Summer 21" Reach Records Writer
Red Velvet "Hello, Sunset" Queendom S.M. Entertainment Writer
Kacey Musgraves "What Doesn't Kill Me" Star-Crossed MCA Nashville/Interscope Writer/Vocals
NCT 127 "Magic Carpet Ride Sticker S.M. Entertainment Writer
Eric Bellinger "Goin' Dutch" "New Light" Empire Records Writer
Nadine Lustre & CAREFREE "Wait for Me" Non-album single Hyphen Music Writer
2022 Martin Garrix & Justin Mylo "Find You" Sentio Stmpd Writer/Vocals
Joji "Die For You" Smithereens (2022) 88rising, Warner Writer
THEY. "Lonely" ft. Bino Rideaux Non-album single Nü Religion, AWAL Writer/Vocals
Sam Feldt with Monsta X "Late Night Feels" Non-album single Liquid State Writer
Chris Brown "Hate Me Tomorrow" Breezy RCA Records, CBE Writer/Vocals
"In The City" Writer/Vocals
Jaehyun "Forever Only" NCT Lab S.M. Entertainment Writer
Jay B "The Way You Are" Be Yourself CDNZA Records Writer
Sam Derosa "Sorry For Asking" "The Good Parts" EP Preach Records Writer
2023 Ive "Cherish" I've Ive Starship Entertainment Writer
Jason Derulo with David Guetta "Saturday/Sunday" Non-album single Atlantic Writer
Tiësto with 21 Savage & Bia "Both" Non-album single Atlantic Writer
Zara Larsson and David Guetta On My Love Venus Sommer House, Epic Writer
Key "CoolAs" Good & Great SM Writer
THEY. feat. Kacey Musgraves "Wait On Me" "Nü Moon Avant Garden, Island Writer
Jihyo "Closer" Zone JYP, Republic Writer
NCT 127 "Home Alone" Be There For Me SM Writer
James Blunt "Confetti and Roses" Who We Used to Be Atlantic Writer
2024 Robin Thicke & Stevie Matthew "Hotel" Non-album single Snafu Records Writer
Chris Brown "Residuals" 11:11 RCA Records, CBE Writer/Vocals
Riize "Impossible" Riizing SM Writer
Jae Stephens "Wet" Non-album single Def Jam Recordings Writer
NCT 127 "Pricey" Walk SM Entertainment Writer

Grammy Awards

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Year Nominee / work Award Result
2011 Chris Brown – F.A.M.E Best R&B Album Won[35]
2012 Kelly Clarkson – Stronger Best Pop Vocal Album Won[36]
2012 Chris Brown – Fortune Best Urban Contemporary Album Nominated[35]
2013 TGT – Three Kings Best R&B Album Nominated[37]
2014 Chris Brown – X Best Urban Contemporary Album Nominated[35]

References

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  1. ^ "Disney Music Publishing". Disneymusicpublishing.com.
  2. ^ "Dewain Whitmore Biography". Disneymusicpublishing.com.
  3. ^ "FAME Discogs Credits". discogs.
  4. ^ "Nominees And Winners". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010.
  5. ^ "Mr. Know It All Discogs Credits". discogs.
  6. ^ "Kelly Clarkson Grammy awards and nominations". The Recording Academy. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
  7. ^ "My Life II The Journey Continues Act 1 Discogs Credits". discogs.
  8. ^ "Fortune Discogs Credits". discogs.
  9. ^ "55th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on December 4, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2012.
  10. ^ "Chris Brown Chart History". Charts.
  11. ^ "Royalty Discogs Credits". discogs.
  12. ^ "Chris Brown Scores Sixth No. 1 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums With 'Royalty'". Billboard. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  13. ^ "EXO Chart History". Charts.
  14. ^ "Martin Garrix & Khalid top dance radio". headline planet.
  15. ^ "Martin Garrix Chart History". Charts.
  16. ^ "Perfect (For Somebody Else)". Spotify. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "Kacey Musgraves - Star Crossed". Discogs. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  18. ^ "Kacey Musgraves - Star Crossed - No.1". Billboard. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  19. ^ "Martin Garrix - Sentio". weraveyou. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  20. ^ "Tiesto unites with Bia & 21 Savage for Both". Genius. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Nick Jonas premieres music video for new single "Voodoo"". Hamadamania.com. October 19, 2016. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  22. ^ "Songs written by Dewain Whitmore | SecondHandSongs". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  23. ^ "Search Results for "dewain whitmore"". Hamadamania.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  24. ^ Longeretta, Emily (October 6, 2017). "Jordan Fisher Drops New Single 'Mess' & Reveals Emotional Meaning Behind It — Listen". Hollywoodlife.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  25. ^ "Sevyn Streeter delivers debut album "Girl Disrupted"". Hamadamania.com. July 7, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  26. ^ "EXO - The War Album Songwriters, Producers". Onehallyu.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  27. ^ ""Rapunzel's Tangled Adventure" Painter's Block (TV Episode 2017) - IMDb". IMDb.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  28. ^ "In This Room by The Gospellers - RYM/Sonemic". Rateyourmusic.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  29. ^ "Burn Out (feat. Dewain Whitmore) - Single by Martin Garrix & Justin Mylo". Music.apple.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  30. ^ a b "Login • Instagram". Instagram.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021. {{cite web}}: Cite uses generic title (help)
  31. ^ "Conmigo - Jorge Blanco | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  32. ^ Atad, Corey (April 3, 2019). "Dr. Phil's Son Jordan McGraw Releases Cameo-Filled Music Video For Song 'Flexible'". Etcanada.com. Archived from the original on November 27, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  33. ^ "Dewain Whitmore, a playlist by Disney Music Publishing on Spotify". Open.spotify.com. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  34. ^ @zaralarsson (January 5, 2021). "TALK ABOUT LOVE OUT FRIDAY" (Tweet). Retrieved January 6, 2021 – via Twitter.
  35. ^ a b c "Chris Brown". Grammy.com. December 15, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  36. ^ "Kelly Clarkson". Grammy.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  37. ^ "TGT". Grammy.com. November 23, 2020. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
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