You probably know the voice. It’s that silky, late-night-radio baritone that makes you want to dim the lights and pour a glass of something expensive. But the man behind the microphone, Kim Owens—known to the world as Kem—wasn't always the dapper R&B superstar we see on stage today. Before he was a multi-platinum artist with five #1 singles, he was a young man searching for scraps of food in Detroit trash cans.
When people search for Kem Share My Life, they’re often looking for the song. And it’s a great song. A wedding staple. A smooth jazz-infused plea for commitment. But in 2023, that title took on a much heavier weight. Kem released his memoir, Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith, and Redemption, and honestly, it’s one of the rawest looks at the music industry—and the human spirit—I've ever read.
He didn't just write a book. He bared his soul.
The Man Behind the Smooth Sound
It's easy to look at a guy like Kem and assume he had it easy. He looks like he was born in a tuxedo. But the "Share My Life" narrative starts in a place of deep, suffocating silence. Growing up in Detroit and Pontiac, Michigan, his family lived by a dangerous motto: "Hard things are better left unsaid."
Imagine that.
A house where emotions are tucked under the rug until the floor is too lumpy to walk on. His mother struggled with alcohol. His relationship with his father was a minefield of tension. By the time he was 19, Kem was homeless. He wasn't just "crashing on couches." He was roaming the freezing streets of Detroit, physically and emotionally bankrupt.
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He spent years in and out of shelters. He dealt with addiction that nearly took him out. But here’s the thing that floors me: while he was at his lowest point, staying in those adult shelters, he was also writing. He was refining the very songs that would later make up his debut album, Kemistry. He was essentially building a multi-million dollar career from a cot in a rescue mission.
Why Share My Life is More Than Just a Hit Single
If you’ve ever sat through an R&B set, you’ve heard the track. Share My Life is the quintessential Kem song. It’s got that signature "Quiet Storm" vibe, reminiscent of legends like Anita Baker or Smokey Robinson. But when you look at the lyrics through the lens of his memoir, they hit different.
"Share my life / Trust in me / You're all I want / Everything I need."
On the surface, it’s a love song. Deep down? It’s a prayer. It’s the plea of a man who spent decades feeling invisible, finally asking to be seen.
The memoir, co-authored with the legendary David Ritz (who has worked with everyone from Marvin Gaye to Aretha Franklin), bridges the gap between the music and the trauma. Kem has been sober since July 23, 1990. That’s over 35 years of choosing a different path. He often tells audiences, "I'm not here to preach; I'm here to testify." And that testimony is exactly what the Share My Life book delivers.
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The Grind: From the Trunk of a Car to Motown
We live in an era of overnight TikTok stars. Kem is the polar opposite. He’s the definition of the "long game."
After he got sober, he didn't just get a record deal. He worked as a waiter. He sang in wedding bands. He saved every single penny to self-finance his first album. He sold 10,000 copies of Kemistry out of the trunk of his car. His mom even helped him pitch the CDs while she was selling Mary Kay products!
That’s hustle.
Eventually, Motown Records came calling in 2003. They didn't just sign a singer; they signed a finished product. A man who knew exactly who he was because he had already survived the worst version of himself.
A Quick Look at the Numbers (Because They Don't Lie)
- One Platinum Album: Album II
- Two Gold Albums: Kemistry and Intimacy
- Five #1 Singles: Including "Love Calls" and "Why Would You Stay"
- Four Grammy Nominations: Though many fans (myself included) think he's overdue for a win.
The Anniversary and the Future
In 2023, Kem hit a major milestone: 20 years with Motown. To celebrate, he didn't just drop the book. He released Anniversary: The Live Album, recorded at the Aretha Franklin Amphitheatre in his hometown of Detroit.
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If you want to understand the Kem Share My Life phenomenon, listen to the live version of that song. You can hear the crowd—mostly people who have grown up with him—singing every word back. It’s not just a concert; it’s a communal experience.
He’s currently living a life that his 19-year-old self wouldn't recognize. He’s a husband, a father, and a mentor. He spends a significant amount of time working with organizations like Covenant House, giving back to the very community of homeless youth he once belonged to. He recently donated $10,000 to their New York branch during his book tour, doing it quietly, without the typical celebrity fanfare.
How to Apply the Kem Philosophy to Your Life
What can we actually take away from Kem's journey? It’s not just about the music. It’s about the "connective tissue," as he calls it, between the earthly and the divine.
- Own your story, even the ugly parts. Kem realized that his "hard times" were the very things that gave his voice its weight. If he hadn't suffered, he wouldn't be able to sing with that kind of depth.
- Sobriety is a foundation, not a phase. For Kem, his recovery is the cornerstone. He views everything through the lens of being "physically and emotionally bankrupt" and choosing to surrender.
- The "trunk of the car" mentality works. Don't wait for a gatekeeper to give you permission. Build it yourself, sell it yourself, and let them come to you when you’re already successful.
- Silence is a killer. Break the generational patterns of "leaving hard things unsaid." Transparency is where the healing starts.
Honestly, whether you're listening to the song on a loop or reading the 272 pages of his life story, the message is the same. You have the power to write your own ending, no matter how messy the beginning was.
To get the full experience of his journey, you should check out the Anniversary live album on Spotify or Apple Music while reading the memoir. It’s a masterclass in how to turn pain into something beautiful.
Next Steps for You:
- Listen: Find the live version of "Share My Life" from the Anniversary album to hear the raw emotion of his 20-year milestone.
- Read: Pick up the memoir Share My Life: A Journey of Love, Faith, and Redemption for the full, unvarnished story of his time on the streets.
- Reflect: Consider what "unspoken mantras" might be holding you back in your own life and how transparency could change your path.