Chef Tone
Tony E. Scales, Jr (born June 13, 1983), professionally known as Chef Tone, is an American songwriter and record producer. Chef found early success with his 2008 placement at Atlantic Records. Some of Chef's collaborating artists include Justin Bieber, Jamie Foxx, Trey Songz, and Flo Rida, among others. Chef Tone received a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album for his contribution to the 2009 Trey Songz album Ready. Chef is currently building a body of up-and-coming songwriters and producers through his work as CEO of Aye Girl Music Group.
Early life
Chef Tone was born and raised in a single-parent household in the south side of Chicago, IL, where he was introduced to a life of crime at a very young age. Two things kept him out of trouble: sports and songwriting. Tony spent a good deal of his time writing rap, but wasn't sure he wanted a career in music. Sports, on the other hand, were more accessible and, like many of his friends, Tony had an interest in basketball. He would often play with his cousin Sean Dockery, an All-American basketball player at Duke University. As luck would have it, Grammy Award winning R&B superstar R. Kelly was a fan of Dockery's, and the young men were invited to participate in a friendly basketball competition. Tony and R. Kelly formed an immediate bond on the court, the result of having been placed on the same team for a pick-up game. The two would continue playing for the next few years, but it was this first chance encounter that gave Tony the opportunity to share his creative talent off the court.
Mentors
Tony's relationship with R. Kelly blossomed into a serious mentorship when the R&B star first listened to the early rap Tony had written. After developing an on-court friendship, R. Kelly maintained contact with Tony, taking the young songwriter under his wing and helping to develop the signature Chef Tone style. Chef Tone acknowledges R. Kelly's influence as "a blessing" and says "being discovered and mentored by R. Kelly," whom he looks as his big brother, has made all the difference. "He kept me around so I wouldn't get into any trouble," says Chef.
Career
In 2007, Chef linked with an entertainment manager and moved to Atlanta, Ga. Within a year of relocating, Chef was taken on at Atlantic Records.[1] As a songwriter, Chef Tone's first placement was with the Atlantic Records artist Plies for "Please Excuse My Hands," featuring Jamie Foxx. This placement led to Chef's long-term deal with Atlantic Records. Lyor Cohen, North American Chairman and CEO of Warner Music Group, specifically constructed the deal to mimic the success of the Motown-era with Chef Tone at the helm. Chef Tone’s manager at the time submitted several songs to Craig Kallman, Chairman and CEO of Atlantic Records, who then passed them onto to Mike Caren, Executive Vice President of A&R for Atlantic Records. Caren immediately sent Chef Tone to LA for a meeting, offered him a deal, and matched him with R&B recording artist Trey Songz, based on Chef Tone's previous mentorship with R. Kelly. This match yielded the first #1 record for Trey Songz with “Invented Sex” on the Platinum-Certified (RIAA) Ready album, which debuted at #3 on the Billboard 200 and peaked at #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. Chef Tone also penned the singles “Bottoms Up,” “Love Faces,” “Say Aah,” “Yo Side of the Bed,” and “LOL :-),” which he wrote and produced, along with several more album tracks.
The success with Trey Songz garnered a mentorship with Dr. Dre and collaboration on 50 Cent's Animal Ambition album, as well as placements with numerous recording artists, including Ludacris “Sex Room,” Jamie Foxx “Best Night of My Life” and “Gorgeous,”[2] Flo Rida “Respirator,” Sean Paul "Entertainment" featuring Juicy J, Nicki Minaj and 2 Chainz, Maejor Ali "Lolly featuring Justin Bieber & Juicy J" and much more. Justin Bieber "Heartbreaker," topped the iTunes charts at #1 in 63 countries, and peaking at #13 on US Hot 100 chart becoming Chef's fastest rising release. The album Journals was officially released on December 23, 2013 by Island Records. It was available as a digital exclusive through online platforms such as iTunes.[1][2] Prior to its official release, one new song was released every Monday night from October 7, 2013 to December 9, 2013, as part of a ten-week digital download campaign called Music Mondays.
Chef Tone first earned his nickname on the basketball court, where he served good passes, also known as "dishes," to his teammates, his name carries through to his career in the music industry. His newest venture with Interscope A&R President, Aaron Bay-Schuck, and Aye Girl Music Group, keeps Chef Tone busy curating an impressive roster of writers, producers, and artists.
Musical/Business Influences
Along with the obvious influence of his mentor, R. Kelly, Chef Tone cites the creative and business talent of L.A Reid, Sean Combs, Dr. Dre, Michael Jackson, Berry Gordy, and Quincy Jones as having been significant influences on his own writing and business perspective.
Discography
- Songwriting and production credits
| Year | Single | Chart positions | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B |
US Rap |
US Pop |
UK | |||
| 2008 | "Please Excuse My Hands" (Plies (rapper) featuring The-Dream and Jamie Foxx) | 66 | 8 | 9 | – | – | Definition of Real |
| 2009 | "I Invented Sex" (Trey Songz) | 42 | 1 | – | – | – | Ready (Trey Songz album) |
| "Say Aah" (Trey Songz featuring Fabolous) | 9 | 3 | – | 16 | – | Ready (Trey Songz album) | |
| "Yo Side of the Bed" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Ready (Trey Songz album) | |
| "LOL :-)" (Trey Songz (featuringGucci Mane and Souljah Boy) | 51 | 12 | – | – | – | Ready (Trey Songz album) | |
| 2010 | "Kitty Kitty" (Plies (rapper) featuring Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Goon Affiliated |
| "Best Night of My Life" (Jamie Foxx) | – | 12 | – | – | – | Best Night of My Life | |
| "Gorgeous" (Jamie Foxx) | – | – | – | – | – | Best Night of My Life | |
| "Strip" (T.I. featuring Young Dro and Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | No Mercy (T.I. album) | |
| "Respirator" (Flo Rida) | – | – | – | – | – | Only One Flo (Part 1) | |
| "Love Faces" (Trey Songz) | 63 | 3 | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Massage" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Doorbell" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Unfortunate" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Alone" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Bottoms Up" (Trey Songz featuring Nicki Minaj) | 6 | 2 | – | 11 | 71 | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Made to be Together" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Red Lipstick" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Blind" (Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Passion, Pain & Pleasure | |
| "Sex Room" (Ludacris featuring Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Battle of the Sexes (album) | |
| "Dang a Lang" (Trina) | – | – | – | – | – | Amazin' (Trina album) | |
| 2011 | "Good Good Night" (Roscoe Dash) | – | 81 | – | – | – | J.U.I.C.E. |
| "Hummin" (Bobby V featuring Lloyd Banks) | – | – | – | – | – | Fly on the Wall (Bobby V album) | |
| "Be the One" (Lloyd featuring Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | King of Hearts (Lloyd album) | |
| 2012 | "My Bed" (Mario (entertainer)) | – | – | – | – | – | Restoration (album) |
| 2013 | "Entertainment" (Sean Paul featuring Juicy J and 2 Chainz) | – | – | – | – | – | Full Frequency |
| "Twerk" (Justin Bieber featuring Miley Cyrus) | – | – | – | – | – | TBA | |
| "Lolly" (Maejor Ali featuring Justin Bieber and Juicy J) | 19 | 4 | – | – | – | Def Jam Single | |
| "Heartbreaker" (Justin Bieber) | 13 | – | – | – | – | Journals | |
| "Physical" (R. Kelly) | – | – | – | – | – | Black Panties | |
| "One Life" (Justin Bieber) | – | – | – | – | – | Journals | |
| 2014 | "Smoke" (50 Cent featuring Trey Songz) | – | – | – | – | – | Animal Ambition |
| "Mission" (Lupe Fiasco) | – | – | – | – | – | Tetsuo & Youth | |
| "Me And My Team" (Maejor Ali featuring Trey Songz and Kid Ink) | – | – | – | – | – | Def Jam Single | |
| "Can't Trust Thots" (Wash featuring French Montana) | – | – | – | – | – | Where You Been | |
| 2016 | "Nobody" (Pieter Oliver) | – | – | – | – | – | Intimate Friends |
| "Where You Been" (Wash featuring Kevin Gates) | – | – | – | – | – | Where You Been | |