Second Cup Café: Robin Thicke

He might be the son of one of TV's most wholesome dads, but Robin Thicke's soulful, sexified tunes are more Barry White than whitebread.

Associated Press writer Nekesa Mumbi Moody named Thicke's latest album, "The Evolution of Robin Thicke," to her list of the 10 best albums of 2006.

"… Robin Thicke was the master of sensuality and passion on his CD packed with alluring bedroom grooves that made your knees wobble with just one listen," she wrote.

He visits the Second Cup Café to share songs from the album.

Thicke has an interesting musical pedigree. His mother is actress and singer Gloria Loring, who soap opera fans might remember as nightclub vocalist Liz Chandler on "Days of Our Lives." His father Alan, who played the loveable dad on the television comedy "Growing Pains" for more than a decade, composed theme songs for dozens of TV shows including "Wheel of Fortune," "Facts Of Life," and "Diff'rent Strokes."

As a boy, Thicke took a stab at acting, making guest appearances on his father's show and on "The Wonder Years." Music had a stronger pull, and when he was 16 he decided to focus on songwriting.

He began writing professionally while a teen, penning songs for Usher, Mya, Jordan Knight, Christina Aguilera and Marc Anthony.

In 2002, he released his first solo album, "Cherry Blue Skies," which was re-released with additional tracks a year later as "A Beautiful World."

The album achieved enough notice to pique the interest of super-producer Pharrell of the Neptunes, who signed Thicke to his Star Trak label.

"The Evolution of Robin Thicke" is the singer's first release on Star Trak. The album's second single, "Lost Without U" hit the Top Five on the Billboard Adult R&B airplay chart.