Kennedy William Gordy (born March 15, 1964), known professionally as Rockwell, is an American musician. He is best known for his hit single "Somebody's Watching Me", which features an uncredited Michael Jackson on chorus vocals. Other relatives include half-siblings Redfoo, Rhonda Ross Kendrick and half-nephew Sky Blu.
Early life
Kennedy William Gordy is the son of Motown founder and CEO Berry Gordy and Margaret Norton. His father named him Kennedy William after John F. Kennedy and William "Smokey" Robinson.
Growing up in Detroit during the peak of Motown's influence, Gordy was immersed in music and show business from an early age. Despite his father's position as Motown's founder, he reportedly sought to establish a career independently, concerned about accusations of nepotism. Gordy arranged his own audition and signed a recording contract with Motown without Berry Gordy's prior knowledge. He adopted the stage name "Rockwell", explaining that he chose it because he believed he "rocked well."
Career
In 1983, Rockwell released his most successful single, "Somebody's Watching Me", with childhood friend Michael Jackson singing the chorus lyrics and Jermaine Jackson singing backing vocals. The song became a RIAA gold-certified
Personal life
Rockwell is the son of Berry Gordy. Rockwell's paternal half-sister is actress Rhonda Ross Kendrick, the eldest child of Diana Ross. He is also related to the group LMFAO through his half-brother Redfoo (Stephen Kendal Gordy, son of Berry Gordy and Nancy Leiviska) and his half-nephew Sky Blu (Skyler Austen Gordy, son of his half-brother Berry Gordy IV and his wife Valerie Robeson).
In July 2010, Rockwell married Nicole Moore. In 2013, he filed for divorce.
Rockwell has also been involved in various charitable organizations over the years, such as the Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society, and the United Negro College Fund.
Discography
Studio albums
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:12em;" | Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;" | Album details
! scope="col" colspan="5" | Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US <br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US R&B <br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |CAN <br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |UK <br>
|-
! scope="row" | Captured
|
- Release date: January 15, 1985
- Label: Motown
|120
|52
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
! scope="row" | The Genie
|
- Release date: 1986
- Label: Motown
|—
|59
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
|colspan="8" style="font-size:90%" |"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
|-
|}
Singles
{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1"
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:18em;" |Title
! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Year
! scope="col" colspan="9" |Peak chart positions
! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:10em;" |Certifications
! scope="col" rowspan="2" |Album
|-
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |US <br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |CAN <br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |NZ <br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |SWI <br>
! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:90%;" |UK <br>
|-
! scope="row" |
| rowspan="1" |1983
| 2
| 1
| 3
|12
|14
| 2
| 5
| 3
| 6
|
- US: Gold
- UK: Gold
|rowspan="4" |Somebody's Watching Me
|-
! scope="row" |"Obscene Phone Caller"
|rowspan="3" |1984
|35
| 9
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|79
|
|-
! scope="row" |"Taxman"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|88
|
|-
! scope="row" |"Knife"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
! scope="row" |"He's a Cobra"
| rowspan="3" |1985
|108
| 65
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
| rowspan="3" |Captured
|-
! scope="row" |"Peeping Tom"
|—
|—
|21
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
! scope="row" |"Tokyo"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
! scope="row" |"Carmé"
| rowspan="2" |1986
|—
|46
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
| rowspan="2" |The Genie
|-
! scope="row" |"Grow-Up!"
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|
|-
| colspan="15" style="font-size:90%" |"—" denotes a recording that did not chart.
|-
|}
Filmography
{|class="wikitable"
|+Film
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Role
|-
|1978
|Bloodbrothers
|Tyrone
|-
|2023
|FITUMI: Fake It til U Make It
|Man at table
|-
|}
{|class="wikitable"
|+Television
! scope="col"| Year
! scope="col"| Title
! scope="col"| Role
! scope="col"| Notes
|-
|1971
|The Doris Day Show
|Himself
|Episode: "Whodunnit, Doris"
|-
|}