R.Kelly has paid tribute to his high school music mentor many times, saying she played a big role in who he eventually became.

When the world famous artiste learnt Lena McLin could lose her apartment in Chicago due to new charges, he set about helping her to keep the house.

Kelly played a benefit concert in her honour last week at the Chicago theatre, the proceeds of which he donated to McLin, now 87. The concert money plus additional funds raised from a GoFundMe campaign was enough to let the retiree keep her apartment.

She had been in danger of eviction because additional work was being done on the condo and her pension was not enough to cover the costs.

“On the first day I met her, Ms. McLin told me, ‘You’re going to be one of the greatest singers, songwriters and performers of all time,'” he told the Chicago Sun-Times.

“She taught me opera, classical music, jazz, gospel. She said, ‘You are music. You’re not in any one category. Anything you attempt, you’ll be able to tap into the spirit of it, and that’s the gift you have.’ She made me.”

So now he’s given her something in return.