Rockwell

Birth Name: Kennedy William Gordy

Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.

Date of Birth: March 15, 1964

Ethnicity: African-American, distant English

Rockwell is an American singer and songwriter. He is known for his song “Somebody’s Watching Me.” He has also been billed as Kenneth Gordy.

Rockwell is the son of Margaret Norton and legendary Motown producer Berry Gordy. His parents are African-American. His father also has a small amount of English ancestry. He was named Kennedy William after U.S. President John F. Kennedy and R&B and soul singer William “Smokey” Robinson.

Rockwell is a half-brother of career music executive Kerry Gordy, musician and actress Rhonda Ross Kendrick, and musician Redfoo, through his father. He is the half-uncle of actor and musician Jermaine Jackson II, and musicians Sky Blu and Mahogany Lox. He is also a first cousin, once removed, of actress Bianca Lawson, through their shared Gordy ancestors.

Rockwell’s paternal grandfather was Berry Gordy, Jr. (the son of Berry Gordy and Lucy Hellum). Rockwell’s grandfather Berry was born in Oconee, Washington County, to parents who were also born in Georgia. Rockwell’s great-grandfather Berry was the son of James Thomas Gordy and Esther Johnson.

Rockwell’s paternal grandmother was named Bertha Fuller. Bertha was born in Milledgeville, Baldwin County.

Rockwell is a half-second cousin, once removed, of President Jimmy Carter. Rockwell is descended from President Carter’s (white) great-grandfather, James Thomas Gordy, from his relationship with a black woman, Esther Johnson (President Carter was descended from James’s white wife, Harriet Emily Helms). President Carter and music producer Berry Gordy were half-second cousins.

Sources: Genealogy of Rockwell (focusing on his father’s side) – http://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Rockwell’s father (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://famouskin.com