At the age of 16, Bender recorded his first album, titled Baby Doll, for Epic Records. Bender’s manager Terryl L. Calloway later stated about Baby Doll: “It didn’t sell. The video was never [released]. The record didn’t sell anything.” Bender nevertheless went on to secure a $500,000 contract with EastWest Records.[2] He signed a seven-album contract, although only one album on that contract was released before his death. The album Draped hit No. 92 on the Billboard magazine R&B album chart. His two charted singles “I Knew” and “That’s Not The Way” broke into the top 70 on the Hot R&B Singles chart. Other songs he was known for included “Who Will I Choose” and “Kiss and Make Up”. On November 3, 1991, Bender was shot and killed in Brockton, while sitting in a car outside the housing project where his mother lived |
