The Avila Brothers, composed of Bobby "Ahvlah" Ross Avila and Issiah "Iz" J. Avila, are an American R&B producing and songwriting duo best known for their numerous contributions to Usher projects, including 2004 album Confessions. The brothers later won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Album for their contributions to Chaka Khan album Funk This.
Career 1989-2003: Industry beginnings In 1989 at the age of 12, Bobby Ross Avila signed a record deal with RCA Records, releasing his eponymous debut solo album later that same year and achieving a minor R&B hit with "Music Man". This project was followed by mature R&B album My Destiny (1993), which paired Avila with notable R&B producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis as they had recently signed Avila to their label Perspective Records. The album scored Avila his biggest single to date with Hot 100-charting "La La Love". Additional albums Que Pasa? (1994), and Into My Life (1995) would be released on other record labels, before Avila and his brother Issiah would become in-house producers and instrumentalists for Jam & Lewis' subsequent label Flyte Tyme Records. This opportunity resulted in contributions to Usher, Mya, Yolanda Adams, Gwen Stefani, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Janet Jackson projects, among others, as well as playing instruments for various songs on The Fighting Temptations (soundtrack) executive-produced by Jam & Lewis.
2004-2010: Confessions, Damita Jo & Chaka Khan After contributing 5 songs to Usher's diamond-certified album Confessions ("Truth Hurts", "Simple Things", "Bad Girl", "That's What It's Made For", and bonus track "Seduction") and several to Janet Jackson's 2004 studio album Damita Jo, the brothers next worked alongside Jam & Lewis, as well as notable R&B producer James "Big Jim" Wright to co-write five songs for inclusion on Chaka Khan's eleventh studio album Funk This in 2007. This included minor R&B hit "One for All Time".
2011-Present: Miguel and "Glu" In 2017, the duo were credited for all instrument accompaniment on "Banana Clip" from Miguel's 2017 album War & Leisure. They would later reunite with longtime Usher collaborators Lil Jon and Sean Garrett in 2023 to co-write single "Glu", which climbed to number one on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart. The pair also produced "Horas Y Horas", the Spanish version of Muni Long's R&B sleeper hit "Hrs and Hrs" for an exclusive Spotify release.
Selected songwriting and production credits Credits are courtesy of Discogs, Tidal, Spotify, and AllMusic.
Title Year Artist Album "Darling Girl"2001Yolanda AdamsBelieve "Jesus for a Day"2003Macy GrayThe Trouble with Being Myself "Anatomy 1On1"MyaMoodring "Late" "Things That Lovers Do"Kenny Lattimore & Chanté MooreThings That Lovers Do "Loveable (From Your Head to Your Toes)" (#19 US Adult R&B) "Truth Hurts" 2004UsherConfessions "Simple Things" "Bad Girl" (#106 US R&B) "That's What It's Made For" (#53 US R&B/Hip-Hop) "Seduction" (#68 US R&B/Hip-Hop) "Sweet Kind of Life"Cheryl LynnShark Tale OST "Harajuku Girls"Gwen StefaniLove. Angel. Music. Baby. "Damita Jo"Janet JacksonDamita Jo "Spending Time with You" "Like You Don't Love Me" "Moist" "Baggage" (#104 US R&B/Hip-Hop) 2005Mary J. BligeThe Breakthrough "Can't Get Enough" "4 My Man" (Featuring Fantasia)Missy ElliottThe Cookbook "Music" (#26 US Adult R&B, #33 US Dance/Club Charts)Leela JamesA Change Is Gonna Come "Pure Gold" (#15 US Adult R&B, #23 US Adult Contemporary)Earth, Wind & FireIllumination "Alwaysness"Yolanda AdamsDay by Day "Enjoy"2006Janet Jackson20 Y.O. "Back in the Day" 2007Chaka KhanFunk This "One for All Time" (#35 R&B) "Will You Love Me?" "Disrespectful" (Featuring Mary J. Blige) (#1 US Dance/Club Charts) "Hail to the Wrong" "Point Of It All" (#109 US, #19 US R&B)2008Anthony HamiltonThe Point of It All "On The Hood"Sean GarrettTurbo 919 "One Day" "Beautiful U R" (#1 Dance/Club Charts, #10 CAN)Deborah CoxThe Promise "Down 4 U" "Monstar" (#107 US) 2010UsherRaymond v. Raymond "Mars vs Venus" "Pro Lover" "Lingerie"Versus (EP) "How Can You Love Me"El DeBargeSecond Chance "Christmas Without You" "Heart Full of Love" "Body Police"AvantThe Letter "I'll Wait (To Fall in Love)"2011Anthony HamiltonBack to Love "Santa Claus Goes Straight to the Ghetto" 2014Home for the Holidays "What Do the Lonely Do at Christmas" "Hey Lover" 2015Charlie WilsonForever Charlie "Me and You Forever" "Do It Yourself" (with Usher)2021Jam and LewisJam & Lewis: Volume One "Glu" (#1 US Adult R&B)2023Usher "530"2024¥$Vultures 2
Awards and nominations Year Ceremony Award ResultRef 2005 47th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Album of the Year (Confessions) 2008 50th Annual Grammy Awards Grammy Award for Best R&B Album (Funk This) 2024 ASCAP Rhythm & Soul Awards Most Performed R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ("Glu")
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