Happy Birthday, Jaheim!

There's a man that's been a part of the soundtrack for thousands of weddings since the turn of the century, and he's a romantic crooner from New Jersey who goes by the name Jaheim. The R&B star turns 37 today (May 26).

Jaheim had to overcome tragedy before becoming a wedding playlist mainstay; his father died when he was 3 and his mother passed away when he was 18. The latter inspired him to focus on music.

"I woke up," Jaheim said in an interview with St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I had to see the light…. I took heed and realized I had a gift."

The renewed focus turned into near-immediate chart success. Each of his first four albums achieved either platinum or gold certification. Jaheim is definitely more known for his singles, though. Songs like "Put That Woman First" and "Could It Be" speak to those hopefuls who still believe in monogamous relationships. They also spoke to the charts, too; both reached the top five of the Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

The singer's peak may be past him, but he's still doing good work. Appreciation Day, his most recent album, debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and reminded listeners that his passionate vocal presence hasn't rusted.

Watch Jaheim's "Age Ain't a Factor" Video

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