Ne-Yo is a stage name of Shaffer Chimere Smith, R&B musician from fabulous Las Vegas. He was born on October 1979 in Camden, Arkansas.
Shaffer’s father and mother were musicians, so when they divorced and he stayed with mother, decision was made to relocate to Las Vegas in order to secure his education in arts. He successfully entered Las Vegas Academy, and while there started to sing in a band called “Envy”. After it split up in early 00’s, Smith focused himself on writing songs. Among his clients were such stars as Marques Houston and Mary J. Blige. Only in 2006 he managed to release premier album called “In My Own Words”. This was classical rags to riches story, as album opened at first spot of Billboard 200 and eventually sold more than million copies. Ne-Yo repeated this pattern with second album, Grammy Award-winning “Because of You”. Album “Year of the Gentleman” was twice as successful, while fourth one “Libra Scale” sold twice as less, and is considered to be botched attempt at imitating Michael Jackson. Two following albums – “R.E.D.” and “Non-Fiction” were both mediocre in all aspects imaginable, and this fact makes Ne-Yo’s fans worry if their idol’s best years are already behind him.
