Kuya Productions
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Kuya is a multi-platinum award-winning Canadian hip hop, R&B and pop production duo from Toronto, Ontario, consisting of Samuel T. Gerongco and Robert T. Gerongco.
Early life
Samuel T. Gerongco and Robert T. Gerongco were born in Toronto, Ontario. They are the sons of Felipe and Godofreda Gerongco, and brothers of America Patman.
Sammy's first big break as an actor/singer and dancer was in the original Canadian production of the Broadway musical Miss Saigon [1] at the Princess of Wales Theatre in Toronto, which then lead to a five-year run on Broadway in New York City. It was there that Sammy met Johann Camat (originally from Montreal) after both being cast in the production. Shortly after that, the group Kuya was formed as soon as Sammy's younger brother Bobby joined after completing his program in music production. After beginning to develop their unique style and recording with producers in Los Angeles, New York City and Toronto, Kuya quickly caught the attention of internationally recognized producers (Wyclef Jean, Pharrell Williams, Timbaland), and record label executives within the North American Music Industry
It was in New York that the brothers put their work as a group on hold to begin developing their craft as songwriters and producers.
Career
In 2004, Kuya produced on two U.S. Top 10 albums including the No.1 Grammy nominated Album Suit (album) for hip hop artist Nelly, as well as Mase's Welcome Back (Mase album) album. Both would do extremely well with Nelly reaching 3 million in sales worldwide (3x platinum) and Mase hitting gold (500 000 units).Jon Platt from EMI Music Publishing signed them on in 2005.
Kuya Production's official releases include Jesse McCartney, Kandi Burruss, Big Time Rush, Jordin Sparks, Girlicious, and Slim (singer) of 112 among others. The year 2009 was devoted to the development and recording of their new R&B artist, JRDN. The next year was known as a breakout year for JRDN, achieving everything they set out to do; this included a top ten single, a number one hit on the Much Music charts, along with two Juno Award nominations.[2] JRDN's second single Like Magic (produced by Kuya) achieved a SOCAN award for the most played song on Urban Radio across the nation.[3]
In 2011, Kuya was a part of Cover Me Canada, a Canadian reality television show which aired on CBC Television. Kuya came on as producers to work with the Cover Me Canada contestants.[4]
2012-Present
In January 2012, Vancouver-native Terence (Tee) Lam (born October 27, 1987) joined Kuya as a producer and sound engineer.
2013 includes the release of JRDN's second studio album, as well as single releases for pop artist Karina Es.[5] 2015 Kuya wrote and produced for Canadian R&B singer Alessia Cara's debut album Know-It-All including her hit single Here which went #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Rhythmic, Mainstream Top 40 and peaked at #5 on the Billboard Hot 100. Other songs they wrote for her debut album "Seventeen", "Overdose", "Stars" and "Outlaws" Alessia Cara's first time recording in a studio was with Kuya Productions and Sebastian Kole.
In 2016, Kuya produced on the song F.U. on the #1 Selling album Glory Days (Little Mix album) for girl group Little Mix. The album debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart; it later became their first album to yield more than two top ten singles when the fourth single, "Power", reached number six on the UK Singles Chart. In January 2018 the album was certified triple platinum in the UK for shipments of 900,000 units.[2]
Kuya has recently worked with a diverse range of international artists including Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Delta Goodrem, ((Marco McKinnis)), Katie Kim and CNCO.
Meghan Trainor and Kaskade single hits top US top 40 in August 2019. CNCO drop new EP ((Que Quienes Somos)) that debuts at #1 on the Latin Pop Albums charts. Kuya wrote the song " De Mi". Eurovision 2019 winner Duncan Laurence releases his latest single co written by Kuya " Love Don't Hate It"
2020 Kuya produces Chika and Benicio Bryant. Writes "Happy" for Taeyeon.
Discography
| Year | Single | Artist | Label | Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Ghosted | Benicio Bryant | Arista | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2020 | U Should | Chika | Warner Brothers | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2020 | Happy | Taeyeon | SM Entertainment | Songwriter |
| 2019 | Love Don't Hate It | Duncan Laurence | Universal Music | Songwriter |
| 2019 | De Mi | CNCO | Sony Music | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2019 | Wonderland | Christina Aguilera | RCA | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2019 | With You | Meghan Trainor Kaskade | EPIC | Songwriter |
| 2019 | That's Okay | D.O. | SM Entertainment | Songwriter/Arranger |
| 2019 | Learn | ((Marco Mckinnis)) | Republic | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2019 | Thinkin Bout You | Katie | Axis | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2019 | Love Kills | Katie | Axis | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2019 | Better Off | Katie | Axis | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2019 | Future Love | Katie | Axis | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2019 | Monologue | Taemin | S.M. Entertainment | Songwriter/Arranger |
| 2018 | Saviour | ((Daisy Gray)) | Velvet Tree/Faction/Kobalt Music Group | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2018 | Dinner | Suho | S.M. Entertainment | Songwriter |
| 2017 | Stay | EXO | S.M. Entertainment | Songwriter/Arranger |
| 2016 | "F.U." (Little Mix song) | Little Mix | Syco/Columbia | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2015 | "Here" (Alessia Cara song) | Alessia Cara | EP/Def Jam | Songwriter |
| 2015 | Seventeen | Alessia Cara | EP/Def Jam | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2015 | Outlaws | Alessia Cara | EP/Def Jam | Songwriter |
| 2015 | Stars | Alessia Cara | EP/Def Jam | Songwriter/Producer |
| 2015 | Overdose | Alessia Cara | EP/Def Jam | Songwriter |
| 2014 | So Bad | Camron Nicki Minaj | Killa Ent | Producer |
| 2013 | Under | Ahsan | EP/Interscope | Producer |
| 2013 | Can't Choose feat Kardinal Offishall | JRDN | Kuya/Fontana North | Producer |
| 2012 | Top It All | JRDN | Kuya/Fontana North | Producer |
| 2011 | Like Magic | JRDN | Kuya/Fontana North | Producer |
| 2011 | 100 | Howie Dorough | ((Howie Do It Music Inc))/Fontana North | Writer/Producer |
| 2011 | Life of the Party | Aleesia | ((A-Lista Music Inc))/EMI | Producer |
| 2011 | Bye Bye my Friend | Meisa Kuroki | Sony Music | Writer/Producer |
| 2010 | U can Have it All | JRDN | Kuya/Fontana North | Writer/Producer |
| 2010 | Count on You | Big Time Rush | Sony Music | Writer |
| 2009 | I Just Know | Kandi Burruss | Kandi Koated Ent/Asylum | Producer |
| 2009 | Why | Sean Garrett | Interscope Records | Producer |
| 2009 | Find Love | Akon | UpFront Records/Konvict | Producer |
| 2008 | Rock You | Jesse McCartney | Hollywood Records | Producer |
| 2008 | Blow | Nicole Scherzinger | Interscope Records | Producer |
| 2008 | There | Kreesha Turner | Virgin Records | Producer |
| 2008 | I Apologize | Slim | Virgin Records | Producer |
| 2007 | Ovaload | Cory Lee | Universal Records | Producer |
| 2007 | Lovers Holiday | Cory Lee | Universal Records | Producer |
| 2005 | Far Away | Ginuwine | Sony Urban Music | Producer |
| 2004 | In My Life | Nelly feat Mase | ((Fo Reel Ent))/Universal Records | Producer |
| 2004 | Together | Keshia Chante | SONY/BMG | Producer |
| 2004 | Wastin' My Time | Mase | ((Fo Reel Ent))/Universal Records | Producer |
| 2002 | Shook | Shawn Desman | SONY/BMG | Producer |
| 2002 | Get Ready | Shawn Desman | SONY/BMG | Producer |
References
- ^ http://www.ibdb.com/person.php?id=97135
- ^ http://music.cbc.ca/#/blogs/2012/3/The-2012-Juno-nominees-JRDN Archived 2016-03-01 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ http://www.socan.ca/news/23rd-annual-socan-awards-toronto
- ^ http://www.cbc.ca/live/cover-me-canada-meet-the-producers.html
- ^ http://www.muchmusic.com/artists/7689/karina-es