The
producers of a new stage version of the Sylvester
Stallone film Rocky are talking to pop star R.
Kelly about possibly writing the score for the show.
Thomas Meehan, the three-time Tony-winning librettist
of Annie, The Producers and Hairspray, is
on board to write the book, Meehan's spokesman
confirmed. The spokesman added that Kelly was in talks
to join the creative team. Variety also reported the
news about Kelly.
In addition to penning his own work, R. Kelly (whose
full name is Robert Kelly) has written songs for the
likes of Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Janet
Jackson, Aaliyah and Luther Vandross. He released his
first solo album in 1992. His second, "12
Play," became a crossover success, spawning the hit
"Bump n' Grind." His 1996 single "I
Believe I Can Fly," won three Grammy Awards.
On the dark side, R. Kelly was arrested in June 2002
and indicted on 21 counts of child pornography. The
charges stemmed from a videotape that allegedly shows
him engaged in sex with an underage girl, according to
officials. In January 2003, Kelly was arrested again for
child pornography charges, after pictures of a sexual
nature were found in his home. The arrests, however,
have not dampened his appeal with the record-buying
public. His latest album, "Chocolate Factory,"
went to number one on the Billboard charts and was
certified multi-platinum.
Earlier in his career, Kelly drew attention by
marrying his protégé Aaliyah, who was 15 at the time.
The marriage was later annulled.
Sylvester Stallone became famous for his role as
"Italian Stallion" Rocky Balboa in 1976's Rocky,
a film he wrote for himself. The story tells of an
aspiring boxer from downtown Philadelphia, who is set up
through a publicity stunt to fight current heavy weight
champion Apollo Creed. With all the odds against him and
with Apollo set to win, Rocky knows that this is his one
chance to make a better life for himself.
The Rocky story of motivation and inspiration
created a sensation and has been followed by four
sequels.
Two songs from Rocky films—"Gonna Fly
Now," an instumental by Bill Conti, and "Eye
of the Tiger" by Survivor—became No. 1 pop hits.