Kelly Price
A powerhouse R&B voice who shaped the sound of 90s hip-hop and soul from the background before claiming her own spotlight.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American singer·Birthday: April 4·Generation X
Biography
Kelly Price’s journey is a testament to the power of the backup singer. Born in Queens, New York, her formidable gospel-trained voice became a secret weapon for the era's biggest stars in the mid-90s. She was the soaring, soulful anchor on Mariah Carey's holiday classic and the uncredited but unforgettable hook on the Notorious B.I.G.'s celebratory anthem 'Mo Money Mo Problems,' a performance that forced the industry to see her as a frontwoman. Her 1998 debut, 'Soul of a Woman,' delivered on that promise with raw, emotionally charged R&B that earned platinum status. Price never abandoned her gospel roots, often weaving that spiritual intensity into her music, and she carved a unique lane as a plus-size artist who commanded attention purely through vocal majesty and emotional authenticity, inspiring a generation of singers who followed.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Kelly was born in 1973, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Kelly Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Kelly's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Her debut album 'Soul of a Woman' (1998) was certified platinum by the RIAA.
- Provided the iconic, uncredited vocal hook on The Notorious B.I.G.'s number-one single 'Mo Money Mo Problems.'
- Performed backing vocals on Mariah Carey's record-breaking hit 'All I Want for Christmas Is You.'
- Earned multiple Grammy Award nominations across R&B and Gospel categories.
Did You Know?
She began singing in church at the age of four.
Price is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.
She co-wrote the song 'Heartbreak Hotel' for Whitney Houston's album 'My Love Is Your Love.'
“I'm not trying to be the skinniest or the prettiest. I'm trying to be the one that when you hear me, you feel something.”
