This week's events at the Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival being lead by multiplatinum superstar Robin Thicke

This week’s events at the Aruba Soul Beach Music Festival being lead by multiplatinum superstar Robin Thicke

Courtesy of: Aruba Daily

ORANJESTAD – Hundreds of Soul Music Fans have arrived on the island to ride the waves of Soul Beach Music Festival 2014, to experience the heat in the chic island ambiance of Aruba from May 21-26 for one of the hottest R&B and Comedy festivals featuring world-renowned artists. Everyone will be enjoying a Memorial Day Weekend like none other, packed with the hottest events and music acts while taking in the cosmopolitan beauty of Aruba and its people. Join the loyal Soul Beach followers and newcomers from around the world at the sexiest beaches, turned up day and night parties, concerts and more.

THE EVOLUTION OF ROBIN THICKE

Born in Los Angeles, Robin taught himself to play piano at the age of 12 and by 16 was writing and producing songs for artists like Brandy, Color Me Badd, and Brian McKnight. By the age of 21, he had written and produced songs on over 20 gold and platinum albums, including Michael Jackson, Marc Anthony, Pink, Christina Aguilera and others.

One year later he signed with Jimmy Iovine and Interscope records. Soon after he met André Harrell (former CEO of Uptown Records and mentor to Mary J. Blige, Sean “Puffy” Combs and countless others).

It didn’t take much time for Robin to realize he found the creative partner he needed to make A Beautiful World, his critically acclaimed debut album released in 2003 under the name “Thicke.” After A Beautiful World, Thicke continued to work hard and went on to write and produce songs for Usher’s Grammy winning album Confessions, Lil’ Wayne’s The Carter 2, and Mary J Blige.

Soon after Thicke came out with his breakthrough second release, 2006’s The Evolution Of Robin Thicke.  Now on the way to double platinum status, Evolution’s mega hit “Lost Without U” became the #1 most played song in Urban Adult Contemporary BDS and topped four Billboard charts simultaneously: #1 R&B /Hip Hop album, #1 Hot R&B / Hip Hop song, #1 Hot R&B Hip Hop Airplay, and #1 Hot Adult R&B Airplay.

Robin established himself as one of the most respected singer-songwriters in soul and R&B music today. In the summer of 2007 he toured with Beyonce and appeared on Oprah twice.  The year 2007 concluded with the VH1 Soul/Vibe award for “Best Breakthrough Artist” and nominations from BET (“Best Male R&B” and “Viewer’s Choice”), Soul Train (“Best R&B Soul Album, Male”), MTV VMA (“Male Artist of the Year”), MOBO (Best Song, “Lost Without U”), the American Music Awards  (“Favorite Breakthrough Artist”) and was named ASCAP’s Song of the Year for “Lost Without You.”

The award-winning multiplatinum superstar returned to center stage in 2008 with Something Else, a joyful and modern tribute to the ‘70s soul and pop records that have inspired an extraordinary career.

Revered by critics as one of the best soul albums in years, this ‘70s-inspired album dealt with racism, poverty, and love in the hits “Dreamworld,” “Magic,” and “The Sweetest Love.” The album is aptly titled. Debuting at #3 on The Billboard 200, Something Else is Thicke’s highest charted album to date. Thicke obtained yet another top 10 hit single with “Magic” hitting #2 on the urban charts. The closing song, “Tie My Hands” was a favorite of Lil Wayne’s and he put it on his record- breaking album, The Carter 3. They performed the song together at The 2009 Grammys, soon after he toured with Mary J. Blige.

In December of 2009 Robin released Sex Therapy, an album that created a fantasy world of eroticism, while still dealing with the honest struggle a man has with seduction, loneliness and betrayal. The title song, “Sex Therapy,” was hailed by critics as “the sexiest song of the year” and went on to be #1 on the R&B/ Hip Hop charts and also won an ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award.

Robin’s fifth studio album, Love After War was released on December 6th, 2011. The first single from the album, the title track “Love After War,” quickly went to #1 on Urban AC and stayed at the top for 2 weeks. The Associated Press called Love After War a “must buy,” Billboard exclaimed “Thicke has consistently shown himself to be one of R&B’s most devoted ladies’ men” and Entertainment Weekly  called the album “ever-seductive.” The album is Thicke at his most raw and honest condition yet. It is an album born out of a desire to be the uncompromising, idealistic artist; he was as a boy, married with the weight of being a man with responsibilities and the scars of the past. Love After War and songs you’ll discover within it, like “An Angel on Each Arm,” ”I’m An Animal,” “Never Give Up,” “Cloud 9,” ”Pretty Lil’ Heart” and “Tears On My Tuxedo” need no explanation: they speak for themselves. Robin believes a song can be whatever the listener wants it to be. The reasons and decisions that lead him to write his songs are not important; what matters most is how they make the listener feel. Robin is as faithful to his fans as they are to him. His ultimate desire is to entertain the listener… to move them… to inspire them… to make them love more.

Robin was part of the first season of ABC’s debut reality singing series “Duets,” which premiered on May 24th, 2012. Robin served as a show “Superstar” alongside Kelly Clarkson, John Legend, and Jennifer Nettles. Next up for Robin is his film debut; he shot an independent film “Abby in the Summer” where he worked alongside Jaime Pressly, Joey Lauren Adams, and Frances Conroy.