Canela | pt

Canela Cox (pronounced Kuh-NAY-luh) is an American R&B singer and songwriter, known for her singles "Sponsor" and "Everything" as well as for providing extensive background vocals on J-Lo's #1 hit single "Love Don't Cost A Thing".

Canela Cox was born in Los Angeles, California. She moved to Amsterdam (Holland, Europe) at the age of 14 where her mother, a former Diana Ross' background vocalist, Rocq-E Harrell performed as an R&B singer and recording artist. Upon moving back to the United States at age 18, Canela continued to pursue her musical endeavors performing with numerous musical groups throughout Los Angeles. After being discovered at a performance she was signed to Dreamworks Records and Dave Hollister's Goodfellas Records. She completed a whole album (mostly produced by Rodney Jerkins and his Darkchild team), released the smash club hits "Sponsor" and "Everything", went on promo tours, shoot a video but shortly thereafter Dreamworks was sold to the Universal Music Group, the label was folded and Canela's album release cancelled. The promo advance CD is now a collector.

Canela is also known for providing very extensive background vocals on J-Lo’s #1 and 7 times platinum hit single “My Love Don’t Cost A Thing”. Also, Canela, as a songwriter, is co-responsible for Anastacia's European smash hit single "Why'd You Lie To Me", released in September 2002. She was also the female vocalist on rapper Won G's 2004 single "Caught Up In The Rapture" (that featured Paris Hilton in the video).

Signed to Genuine Entertainment, Canela had put down the buzz single "Blazed"/"Bedrock" in 2004, through a distribution deal with Monopoly Records. In late 2004, Canela had been selected to form the girl group Anything But Monday for the new and innovative docu-soap reality television series "30 Days Til I'm Famous" produced by Stephen Stone and hosted by Fat Joe. The show has been shot in both English and Spanish in spring and summer 2006 in Costa Rica, Argentina, New York and Los Angeles. The show follows the journey of three musical groups as they seek to achieve superstardom, including Canela's group. The show has been created as an international production of unprecedented proportions, involving three major television network partners situated on three continents. Due to buisiness reasons, the project (originally expected for a winter 2006 broadcast) is yet on hiatus.

Canela has been more recently featured on Capitol recording artist Ak'Sent's smash "Pick Up". Her song "Bedrock", released in 2004 as a b-side, has been re-recorded by rappers 2XL (from Monopoly Records) and Ak'Sent (who was already featured on the original version), with Canela's hooks kept. The song is featured on their 2007 album. .