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Redfoo (right) and Sky Blu in 2010, Joe Seer/ bigstock.com
Birth Name: Stephen Kendal Gordy
Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, United States
Date of Birth: September 3, 1975
Ethnicity: * father – African-American, distant English * mother – Finnish
Redfoo is an American musician. He is one half of electronic dance music duo LMFAO, known for their song “Party Rock Anthem,” with his half-nephew Sky Blu .
Redfoo’s father is producer Berry Gordy, who is African-American, and also has a small amount of English ancestry. Redfoo’s mother, Nancy Leiviska, has Finnish ancestry. Both Redfoo and Sky Blu are biracial, as their fathers are black and their mothers are white (Redfoo, and Sky Blu’s father, are half-brothers). On their track, “Welcome To My World,” Redfoo says, “I got a white mom and a black dad.”
Redfoo is a half-brother of career music executive Kerry Gordy, singer Rockwell and musician and actress Rhonda Ross Kendrick , through his father. Redfoo has a daughter with his partner, chef and road manager Jasmine Alkouri.
Redfoo’s paternal grandfather was Berry Gordy, Jr. (the son of Berry Gordy and Lucy Hellum). Redfoo’s grandfather Berry was born in Oconee, Washington County, to parents who were also born in Georgia. Redfoo’s great-grandfather Berry was the son of James Thomas Gordy and Esther Johnson.
Redfoo’s paternal grandmother was named Bertha Fuller. Bertha was born in Milledgeville, Baldwin County.
Redfoo’s maternal grandfather was named Einar Leiviska. Einar was born in Michigan, of Finnish descent.
Redfoo’s maternal grandmother was named Vivian/Vivien Maki. Vivian was born in Michigan, of Finnish descent.
Redfoo is the half-uncle of actors and musicians Jermaine Jackson II and Mahogany Lox . He is a first cousin, once removed, of actress Bianca Lawson , through his paternal grandparents Berry Gordy and Bertha Fuller, who were Bianca’s maternal great-grandparents.
Redfoo is a half-second cousin, once removed, of President Jimmy Carter . Redfoo 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 Redfoo – https://www.geni.com
Genealogy of Berry Gordy III (focusing on his own father’s side) – https://famouskin.com