J. R. Rotem

Infobox musical artist
Name = J.R. Rotem


Background = non_performing_personnel
Birth_name = Jonathan Reuven Rotem
Born = 1975
Origin = Johannesburg, South Africa
Instrument = Keyboard, Sampler
Genre = Reggae, Hip hop, Pop, R&B
Occupation = record producer
Years_active =
Label = Beluga Heights
Associated_acts = Vanessa Hudgens, Britney Spears, Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Fabolous, Ashley Tisdale, Sean Kingston, Zach Katz, Lindsay Lohan
URL = [http://www.jonathanrotem.com Official website]

Jonathan Reuven Rotem (born 1975 in Johannesburg, South Africa) [cite news|url=http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2736|title=Interview J.R. Rotem: Pimpin' Ain't Easy, blender.com|date=2007-07|publisher=Blender|accessdate=2007-12-16] is an American record producer. He played classical music until junior high school Fact|date=September 2008 when he became fascinated by hip hop music.

Record label

In 2006, Rotem started his own record label, Beluga Heights, along with manager Zach Katz, inking a joint deal with Epic and Koch. Sean Kingston, a young Miami-based R&B artist, was their first signing. Rotem and Katz also started a publishing company under the Beluga Heights umbrella, signing "SOS" co-writer Evan "Kidd" Bogart and UK artist writer Lolene. Beluga Heights' signed 18-year old R&B singer Auburn from St. Paul, Minnesota [cite news|url=http://www.djbooth.net/index/news/entry/twin-cities-rb-singer-auburn-inks-deal-0121081/|title=Twin Cities’ R&B singer Auburn Inks Deal With JR Rotem’s Beluga Heights via Epic/Koch|date=2008-01-22|publisher=DJBooth.net|accessdate=2008-02-03] . Beluga Heights newest artist Mann, who recently inked a deal with Mercury/Def Jam, is currently recording his new album.

Producer

J.R.'s first big break came when a CD of his beats landed in the hands of veteran Bay Area producers who planned on using J.R.'s talents for an upcoming En Vogue album. Eventually though, the CD ended up with producer Dwayne Wiggins of Tony, Toni, Tone fame who thought the beats better suited Beyonce and eventually, Destiny's Child. The song "Fancy" made it on to the "Survivor" CD and a second track, "My Song", eventually ended up on a special issue Destiny's Child CD entitled "Love Destiny". J.R.'s second break came when Dr. Dre heard one of the songs J.R. had produced.

Throughout 2007, Rotem has been spotted with pop superstar Britney Spears. Spears and Rotem first met while Rotem was producing for Spears' husband at the time, Kevin Federline. Rotem went on to produce several tracks for Spears but they didn't make the final cut for her new album "Blackout". Only "Everybody" was used as a bonus track on iTunes and the Japanese edition of the disc.

=Discography=

References

External links

* [http://www.jonathanrotem.com Official website]
*MySpace|jonathanrotem
* [http://www.djbooth.net/index/interviews/entry/jonathan-jr-rotem-interview/ The DJBooth: Jonathan 'JR' Rotem Interview] (Mar '07)
* [http://www.sohh.com/articles/article.php/12133 SOHH June 2007 Feature]