Mathew Knowles
Encyclopedia
Mathew Knowles is an American
music executive
and manager. He is the father and former manager of R&B singer Beyoncé
, Knowles also managed Kelly Rowland as well as girl group Destiny's Child . He was also the manager of Solange Knowles
.
in Nashville, Tennessee
. While studying at Fisk he held membership in a number of student and social organizations, among them the Omega Psi Phi
fraternity, Eta Beta chapter at UT Chattanooga . After completing his B.A. in 1975, he worked for imaging company Xerox
. He left his job at Xerox to manage his eldest daughter's singing group, Girl's Tyme, the precursor to what later became Destiny's Child
. Knowles has worked as either a producer or an executive producer on many of group's solo and collective projects. In addition to his work in music, Knowles is also one of the executive producers of the 2009 thriller Obsessed
, which stars his eldest daughter Beyoncé
.
. The MWE label produced many artists such as Beyoncé Knowles
, Michelle Williams
, Kelly Rowland
, Solange Knowles
, From Above, Sunshine Anderson
, Trin-i-tee 5:7
, The Pastor Rudy Experience, and J. Xavier.
Knowles has also started or managed Music World Music, the label division of Music World Entertainment. This division consists of four imprints; Music World Kids, Compadre Records, Spirit Rising, and the digital label Hits Revealed.
owner Tina Knowles
since 1980. Together, they have two daughters, R&B
singers Beyoncé
and Solange Knowles
.
On November 11, 2009, Tina Knowles filed for divorce after several reports about Mathew's affair with actress Alexsandra Wright had surfaced. The reports went as far as claiming that Wright was pregnant with Knowles' child. After Wright's son Nixon was born, she requested a paternity test from Knowles, who had admitted to having an affair with her. The paternity test was positive and Knowles was ordered to pay child support
to Nixon and Wright.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
music executive
Music executive
A music executive or record executive is person within a record label who works in senior management, making executive decisions over the label's artists...
and manager. He is the father and former manager of R&B singer Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, Knowles also managed Kelly Rowland as well as girl group Destiny's Child . He was also the manager of Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
.
Manager and producer
Knowles is an alumnus of Fisk UniversityFisk University
Fisk University is an historically black university founded in 1866 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. The world-famous Fisk Jubilee Singers started as a group of students who performed to earn enough money to save the school at a critical time of financial shortages. They toured to raise funds to...
in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
. While studying at Fisk he held membership in a number of student and social organizations, among them the Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi
Omega Psi Phi is a fraternity and is the first African-American national fraternal organization to be founded at a historically black college. Omega Psi Phi was founded on November 17, 1911, at Howard University in Washington, D.C.. The founders were three Howard University juniors, Edgar Amos...
fraternity, Eta Beta chapter at UT Chattanooga . After completing his B.A. in 1975, he worked for imaging company Xerox
Xerox
Xerox Corporation is an American multinational document management corporation that produced and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies...
. He left his job at Xerox to manage his eldest daughter's singing group, Girl's Tyme, the precursor to what later became Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
. Knowles has worked as either a producer or an executive producer on many of group's solo and collective projects. In addition to his work in music, Knowles is also one of the executive producers of the 2009 thriller Obsessed
Obsessed (2009 film)
Obsessed is a 2009 American thriller film directed by Steve Shill. The Screen Gems production stars Idris Elba, Beyoncé Knowles and Ali Larter...
, which stars his eldest daughter Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
.
CEO
In 2003, Knowles founded his own record label, Music World Entertainment. The label is a division of the label Columbia RecordsColumbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
. The MWE label produced many artists such as Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
, Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (singer)
Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
, Kelly Rowland
Kelly Rowland
Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...
, Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
, From Above, Sunshine Anderson
Sunshine Anderson
Sunshine Anderson is a female American R&B and soul singer and songwriter.-Beginnings:Anderson was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and later moved to Charlotte as a child and became friends with Narisha Foxx...
, Trin-i-tee 5:7
Trin-i-tee 5:7
Trin-I-Tee 5:7 is a gospel duo from New Orleans, Louisiana in the United States. The group was marketed as a gospel alternative to R&B girl groups such as Destiny's Child and TLC. Trin-i-tee 5:7 has sold over 2.5 million albums....
, The Pastor Rudy Experience, and J. Xavier.
Knowles has also started or managed Music World Music, the label division of Music World Entertainment. This division consists of four imprints; Music World Kids, Compadre Records, Spirit Rising, and the digital label Hits Revealed.
Personal life
Knowles has been married to stylist and House of DereonHouse of Deréon
House of Deréon is a ready-to-wear fashion line introduced by singer and actress Beyoncé Knowles and her mother/stylist Tina Knowles. The style and concept is inspired by three generations of women in their family, with the name "Deréon" paying tribute to Beyoncé's maternal grandmother, Agnèz Deréon...
owner Tina Knowles
Tina Knowles
Célestine Ann "Tina" Knowles is an American fashion designer known for her House of Deréon brand. She is perhaps best known as the mother of singers Beyoncé Knowles and Solange Knowles, and was the wife of Mathew Knowles, who managed Destiny's Child and then Beyoncé and Kelly Rowland until...
since 1980. Together, they have two daughters, R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singers Beyoncé
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
and Solange Knowles
Solange Knowles
Solange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
.
On November 11, 2009, Tina Knowles filed for divorce after several reports about Mathew's affair with actress Alexsandra Wright had surfaced. The reports went as far as claiming that Wright was pregnant with Knowles' child. After Wright's son Nixon was born, she requested a paternity test from Knowles, who had admitted to having an affair with her. The paternity test was positive and Knowles was ordered to pay child support
Child support
In family law and public policy, child support is an ongoing, periodic payment made by a parent for the financial benefit of a child following the end of a marriage or other relationship...
to Nixon and Wright.