Biography
Born in Wilson, NC, Eric Danell adopted the stage name Ee-De as a playful twist on his birth name and built a career as a seductive R&B vocalist. An upbringing shared with five sisters gave him insights few others possessed, an edge he turned to his benefit while performing in a teen vocal group. His emotionally charged phrasing left female audiences entranced, turning the trio into the standout act at their high school and leading Ee-De to skip basketball drills in favor of rehearsal time. Branching out alone, he soon drew steady local crowds and filled his calendar with weekend shows. NME Recordings viewed him as the natural successor to Usher, only recast with a Southern crunk edge, and responded by offering a deal that yielded the early-2005 debut A.K.A. Mr. Up & Down.