Thomas DeCarlo Callaway-Burton, born on May 30, 1975, is a renowned American artist recognized as CeeLo Green (or Cee Lo Green or Cee-Lo). He excels as a singer, songwriter, rapper, record producer, and actor, predominantly making his mark in the hip-hop and R&B genres. Notably, his contributions include the Gnarls Barkley hit “Crazy” and his solo track “Forget You.”
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, Green first gained prominence within the Southern hip-hop ensemble Goodie Mob. Subsequently, he embarked on a solo journey, releasing two albums on Arista Records: “Cee-Lo Green and His Perfect Imperfections” (2002) and “Cee-Lo Green… Is the Soul Machine” (2004).
The next significant chapter in Green’s career emerged with Gnarls Barkley, a collaboration with DJ Danger Mouse. In 2006, their track “Crazy” became a global sensation, reaching top positions in twenty countries, including the U.S. and UK. The Gnarls Barkley project yielded two albums: “St. Elsewhere” (2006) and “The Odd Couple” (2008).
In 2010, Green’s solo journey continued with “The Lady Killer,” featuring his major hit “Forget You.” The song peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and achieved top 10 status in thirteen countries. Over time, Green released three more solo albums: “Cee Lo’s Magic Moment” (2012), “Heart Blanche” (2015), and “CeeLo Green Is Thomas Callaway” (2020), in addition to reuniting with Goodie Mob for “Age Against the Machine” (2014) and “Survival Kit” (2020).
Between 2011 and 2013, Green participated as a judge and coach on the esteemed American reality TV singing competition, “The Voice,” making appearances across four seasons. Additionally, he lent his voice to the character Murray the Mummy in the animated feature “Hotel Transylvania” (2012) and graced various television shows and films, including his own creation, “CeeLo Green’s The Good Life,” broadcast on TBS. Green’s presence extended to commercials, including brands like 7 Up, Duracell, M&M’s, and TYKU sake. His remarkable work garnered a collection of awards, including five Grammy Awards, a BET Award, a Billboard Music Award, and a Brit Award.
However, in 2014, Green pled no contest to one felony charge of furnishing ecstasy, stemming from a 2012 allegation of sexual battery.
Born on May 30, 1975, in Atlanta, Georgia, Callaway’s parents both served as firefighters, and his musical journey commenced within the church. Tragedy struck early with his father’s passing when Green was only two years old. At 16, a car accident left his mother paralyzed, and she passed away in 1993 when Green was 18.
The loss of his mother coincided with the rise of Goodie Mob, leading to Green grappling with suicidal thoughts, experiences that he later channeled into his music, notably in tracks like Goodie Mob’s “Free” and Gnarls Barkley’s “Just a Thought.”
He addressed his parents’ demise directly in songs like “She Knows” and “A Little Better” from Gnarls Barkley’s “The Odd Couple” (2008) and “Guess Who” from Goodie Mob’s “Soul Food” (1995). In a segment of “CeeLo Distilled,” a documentary co-produced by Absolut and the Fader, Green revealed how his mother’s passing became a pivotal moment propelling him toward his career.
One of the original members of Atlanta’s hip-hop group Goodie Mob, Green, alongside Big Gipp, T-Mo, and Khujo, held a unique position as the youngest member. Goodie Mob formed part of the Atlanta rap collective known as the Dungeon Family, which also included Outkast.
Notably, Goodie Mob featured in two tracks on OutKast’s debut album “Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik” (1994), with Green lending his vocals to “Call of da Wild” and “Git Up, Git Out.”
Their debut album “Soul Food” released in 1995 garnered considerable critical acclaim, hailed as a pioneering record within the emerging Southern rap scene. With production by Organized Noize, the album featured a distinctively soulful Southern sound.
During this period, Green also contributed backing vocals to TLC’s hit song “Waterfalls” (1995). Their second album, “Still Standing” (1998), continued the trend of critical acclaim, though its commercial performance was slightly below their previous effort. Green’s creative influence expanded with their subsequent album, “World Party,” released in 1999.