Cleveland-born vocalist
Ce Ce Rogers wisely changed his name from Kenny to avoid confusion with the country/pop singer.
James Brown nicknamed him
Ce Ce as a teen, after watching the young
Rogers imitate
Chubby Checker.
Rogers later studied music in Boston, where he was a classmate of
Wynton Marsalis.
Marsalis urged him to concentrate on his vocals.
Rogers moved to New Jersey and formed
Ce Ce & Company, where he worked with vocalist
Sybil. After producer
Marshall Jefferson saw his show, he recruited
Rogers to sing the vocals on a song he'd written titled "Someday." The song did well enough for
Rogers to land his own deal. His 1989 LP Forever was well received by dance audiences, and he followed it in 1991 with
Never Give Up. ~ Ron Wynn