Born: November 18, 1974
Place of Birth: Houston, TX
Died: January 28, 2003
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
Keven "Dino" Conner is the founding member of the rhythm and blues group H-Town. The trio first hit the scene in 1990 with members Solomon "Shazam" Conner (Dino's brother, and Darryl "G.I." Jackson.
The group grew up together in Houston's Yellowstone neighborhood on the city's south side. While attending Jack Yates High School in 1991, Keven and Solomon Conner formed a band with Darryl Jackson. They were known as "The Gents" and recorded their first album, It's No Dream, with producer Phil Blackmon. Shazam was chosen as lead singer at the time of recording this album, which featured the ballad "A Time for Us." The album was released locally and was a minor commercial success. The group continued recording and performing at talent shows and plays when a local producer sent their demo tape to 2 Live Crew rapper and record label executive Luther "Luke" Campbell. After an impromptu audition, Campbell signed the group to his label, Luke Records. Producer Bishop "Stick" Burrell became their producer and positioned Dino as lead singer, seeing his potential and rare voice as the formula for group success and building his sound around him. They took the name of the group, "H-Town", from the local nickname for the city of Houston, Texas, in which they grew up.
H-Town's debut album, Fever for Da Flavor, was released on April 15, 1993. The group achieved hit status in the United States with "Knockin' Da Boots", which became H-Town's biggest hit and also their signature song. "Boots" was a #1 hit on the R&B charts and peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Lick U Up", the band's follow-up single, peaked at #21.
They signed on as a part of the 1993 Coca-Cola Summer Fest tour, which included fellow R&B hit groups Shai, SWV, Jade, Naughty by Nature, and Silk, and also had multi-platinum rap artist LL Cool J. In 1994, H-Town won the Soul Train Music Award for Best New Artist. They also appeared on the Above the Rim soundtrack with their single "Part-Time Lover," produced by DeVante Swing of Jodeci. It peaked at #9 on the R&B Charts. Also in 1994, the trio appeared in the group Black Men United, alongside Silk, Portrait, Boyz II Men, and others, recording the hit single "U Will Know" for Jason's Lyric soundtrack.
In late 1993, H-Town returned to the studio to record their second album, Beggin' After Dark. It was released on November 8, 1994. The most popular single from this album was "Emotions." It became a #11 hit on the Billboard R&B chart and reached #51 on the Hot 100. Other tracks from the album included "Back Seat (Wit No Sheets)," "Full Time," "One Night Gigolo," "Tumble & Rumble," "Buss One," featuring reggae singer Papa Reu, and "Baby I Love Ya" featuring Roger Troutman.
They had undergone some changes by the time H-Town returned to the studio to record Ladies Edition. They recorded a cover version of The Persuaders' "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate" featuring Shirley Murdock for the 1996 film of the same name. The song became H-Town's first Top 40 pop hit in three years, peaking at #37. They then cut ties with Luther Campbell, underwent a spiritual awakening, and became more aware of women's issues on their third album, Ladies Edition, Woman's World. It was released on October 28, 1997.
The album's general theme centers on a man's penitence for his past transgressions with his woman, a theme conveyed in songs such as "Don't Sleep on the Female," "Julie Rain" (an account of spousal abuse), and "Jezebel." According to the liner notes, the album was dedicated to Nicole Brown Simpson and "all the women of the world." Twenty national women's telephone helplines were also listed on the back cover. Their one and only single from the album, "They Like It Slow", was released on September 23, 1997, and peaked at #35 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Dino Conner, age 28, was killed along with his girlfriend in an automobile accident on January 28, 2003.
In 2004, the band self-released Imitations of Life. The surviving members continued to record and tour into the 2010s, collaborating with Pretty Ricky and Jodeci on the 2010 single "Knockin' Your Heels."