A native of Atlanta, Johnta Austin grew up in the spotlight; whilst singing in choirs and aiming to become an actor, he became a TV host and a reporter from just 8 years old. He moved into music, becoming an artist himself, signing to RCA records, before really taking hold as a songwriter towards the turn of the millennium. Working with the cream of the US R&B fraternity (Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, Chris Brown, Janet Jackson, Trey Songz), he achieved 2 Grammy awards for his work on the Mariah Carey’s We Belong Together from her Emancipation Of Mimi album (2005). He also wrote Be Without You for Mary J Blige which was one of the most played songs on US radio in 2006. The song was nominated for Record of The Year and Song of the Year and won the Best R&B Song and Best Female R&B Vocal performance at the 2007 Grammys.