Toni Estes

 

Singer/songwriter Toni Estes' credits include a Best R&B Grammy nomination
for Whitney Houston's million-selling single "It's Not Right, but It's OK" (co-written
with Fred and Rodney Jerkins). Other Estes-related songs on Houston's multi-
platinum My Love Is Your Love album are "Get It Back" and "If I Told You That."
Estes can be heard on "Hot" from the movie soundtrack Next Friday, Immature's
The Journey, Jon B.'s single "I Do," and Laurnea's Top 20 R&B hit "Can't Let Go"
from Betta Listen. A fan of the old skool, she lists Frankie Beverly and Maze and
Bobby Womack as her favorites. Estes' own album Two Eleven was issued by
Priority Records on October 10, 2000.
The Tulsa, OK, native grew up in a home filled with music, honing her vocal skills
around the house and in church. Her music roots run deep in her family tree; her
mother had a good singing voice, her father was a drummer who later became her
manager, and her brother was an aspiring producer. Estes began appearing in TV
commercials when she was six, and in her teens she was the opening act for Natalie
Cole and Gladys Knight. After high school graduation, Estes knew she wanted to
be a professional singer.
Through a friend, Estes met producer Jon Jon who had worked with Babyface, and
she trekked to Los Angeles to began recording demos. While there she worked on
various projects, which earned her a solid reputation. At 17, she was signed to a
major label. Citing "politics," Estes got a release from her contract and began looking
for a new recording deal. Desmarie Guyton whom Estes had met at her former label
passed a tape of the singer/songwriter to Mark Brown of Priority Records, which led
to Estes appearing on the Next Friday soundtrack.
Estes described her Two Eleven CD as "hardcore R&B with some real singing on
top." She co-wrote eight of the album's 12 songs while collaborating with producers
Teddy Riley ("Hot," a lovely remake of Guy's "Let's Chill"), Warryn Campbell
(Dru Hill, Mary Mary), Jon Jon, Bryan Micheal-Cox (Mariah Carey), and Teddy
Bishop (Toni Braxton, Profyle). The album sports such inviting slow jams as "
I Adore," "Let Me Know," "She's Already," and the wise "Stupid (I Believe)."

 

Year of release Album title
2000 Two Eleven