POP MUSIC: ROCK / COUNTRY / R&B; / RAP / LATIN / JAZZ : INTRODUCING . . . JON B. : A Classical Foundation but the Veneer of R

Jon B. has a sheepish grin on his face as he quietly explains how an upstart white teen-ager from Altadena has taken the predominantly black world of R&B; by storm.

“People seem to like what I do, which is still sort of amazing to me,” says the lanky 19-year-old singer, whose last name is Buck.

At this point in his young career, most people know him from “Someone to Love,” the dreamy Top 10 ballad that’s a duet with Babyface.

But it’s what he’s doing as a producer-writer that has created the big buzz in R&B; circles. This teen-ager has landed assignments that veterans would kill for.

He’s writing and producing songs for Toni Braxton and the reunited New Edition, whose albums are among the most eagerly awaited pop events of the next year. He has also written and produced several songs for two other prominent R&B; groups--After 7, whose album is just out, and Color Me Badd, whose album is coming later this year.

Given these credits, you’d expect a brash, authoritative guy who comes across much older than he is. But sitting in the Santa Monica office of Yab Yum/Sony Records, which just released his debut album, “Bonafide,” he’s shy and soft-spoken, mostly talking with his head down, staring at the couch. And he looks young enough to be a high school student.

“If I didn’t have this facial hair, I’d look 15,” he says with a faint smile.

Considering his family background, Buck had been expected to wind up with a career in music--classical music. His father is a classical music professor at Cal State L.A., his mother is a concert pianist and a music teacher, his sister is a graduate of the Juilliard School and his brother is studying cello at USC.

So how did he wind up in R&B;?

“I rebelled against classical when I was growing up,” says Buck. “My parents wanted me to study piano and voice or percussion, but it was all too serious for me. I gravitated toward jazz, which I love because it has no real limits, and toward R&B.; I found out I have a real flair for R&B.;”

By the time Buck, a Rhode Island native who grew up in Altadena, got to high school, he had already begun looking for a record deal.

“When I was 13, I was coming to record companies with 40-song demo tapes, things I’d written and recorded in my home studio,” he says.

His break came last year when he met with Yab Yum Records president and CEO Tracey Edmonds, who was so impressed by the tapes that she introduced him to her husband, Kenny Edmonds. Better known as Babyface, he has shaped hits for some of the biggest names in the business.

Babyface wrote “Someone to Love” for him and wound up singing with him on the single, which is featured in the soundtrack for the movie “Bad Boys.” He’s high on Buck’s musical future.

“He’s so soulful--particularly for a young white kid--and he’s so versatile,” Babyface says. “He goes beyond R&B.; There’s some strong jazz influences on his demos and some music that’s to the left--very offbeat. His talent goes much deeper than what people have heard. The album is just scratching the surface.”

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Hear Jon B.

* To hear a sample of Jon B.’s album “Bonafide,” call TimesLine at 808-8463 and press *5720.

In 805 area code, call (818) 808-8463.