R&B Starlet JaeRene Died Before Finishing Her Debut Album — But It’s Dropping Anyway

Steven Visneau
R&B Starlet JaeRene Died Before Finishing Her Debut Album — But It’s Dropping Anyway

WHEN R&B STARLET JaeRene was killed by a drunk driver earlier this year at age 19, the city lost a bright rising star. Her music will live on, however, thanks to what her manager, Joshua T. Dada, calls "an outpouring of support" from Houston's music community, to help him and the late artist's mom complete what would have been JaeRene's debut album.


The record, Unfinished, draws on several tracks that were in various states of readiness when JaeRene died. It features the single "Bed of Lies," the chorus of which JaeRene laid down just a week before the car crash, with Grammy-nominated singer Ari Lennox filling in missing verses and background.

Similarly, artists ranging from crooner Luke Whitney to members of the Houston Symphony, and accomplished producers like Bruce Bang, chipped in to reimagine and wrap up the other songs. Unfinished will drop in November.

Art + Entertainment

Robert Saucedo has been named artistic director of River Oaks Theatre. (photo by Jason Ostrow)

THE REOPENING OF the storied River Oaks Theatre, which first began showing movies in Houston in 1939, is getting closer to reality after a long restoration process — and now an artistic director has been named.

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

THE WRATH OF Hurricane Beryl couldn’t stop the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo from presenting 70 students, representing 57 Future Farmers of America chapters from across Texas, with $1.4 million in scholarships to a college of their choice. Scholarships were awarded at last week’s 96th annual Texas FFA State Convention which, amazingly, was held July 8-12 in the George R. Brown Convention Center for the first time in 20 years. The scholarship awards are part of Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo’s $27.3 million dollar commitment this year to support Texas youth and statewide educational programs.

Keep Reading Show less
People + Places