Elgin Baylor Lumpkin (born October 15, 1970),[1] better known by his stage name Ginuwine is an American singer-songwriter dancer and actor. Signed to Epic Records since the mid-1990s, Ginuwine had released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990s and early 2000s .
Biography
Ginuwine was born on October 15, 1970 in Washington, D.C. He is named after NBA legend Elgin Baylor, who is also a Washington native.[2] In 1989, he graduated from Forestville High School (now known as Forestville Military Academy) in Forestville, Maryland and later graduated from Prince George's Community College in Largo, Maryland with a paralegal associate's degree. Soon afterward he broke into the music industry.
Personal life
Ginuwine lost both his parents in 2000; his father committed suicide and his mother died of cancer less than a year later. Ginuwine struggled with grief and depression; he also thought of committing suicide. He received counseling by his pastor, which turned him to a more positive path.[3][4]
Ginuwine is married to the American rapper Tonya M. Lumpkin [5][6][7] better known by her stage name, Solé. Solé has daughters De'jan (9 March 1991) and Cypress (9 January 1995) from previous relationships. Ginuwine met Solé in June 1999[8] and they began dating in October 1999.[8] They were married on 8 September 2003 in the Caribbean. They live in Georgia and Maryland.[9] They have two daughters together: Story (29 March 01)[10] and Dream Sarae Lumpkin (1 November 02).[11] He has son Elgin Jr (1992) from a previous relationship, as well as three other children by three different women.[12] In February 2009 Ginuwine announced he has eight children.[13][14]
