Asher Monroe

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Asher Monroe
AsherMonroe.png
Monroe in 2022
Background information
Birth nameAsher Monroe Book
Born (1988-09-18) September 18, 1988 (age 36)
Arlington, Virginia, U.S.
GenresPop, R&B, soul, reggae
Occupation(s)Recording artist, actor, dancer
Instrumentpiano
Years active1995–present
LabelsD Empire Entertainment, Warner Bros. Records
Website www.ashermonroe.com

Asher Monroe Book (born September 18, 1988), known professionally as Asher Monroe, is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, and actor. In 2006, after starring in an extensive run of national tours including The Sound of Music , Oliver! , and The Prince and the Pauper , Monroe signed to Warner Bros. Records, under which he released his first top 40 single "Love Struck" as lead singer for the boy band V Factory. [1] From 2006 to 2009, he starred in multiple prime time TV & film roles including Parenthood on NBC [2] [3] the MGM remake of Fame [4] [5] [6] and The Mentalist [7] [8] [9] on CBS, after which he signed on as the flagship solo artist to the music label D Empire Entertainment. [10] [11] [12] In 2011, under new label and management, he was named one of MTV's Top Ten Artists, alongside other artists such as Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey, and Avicii. [13] In December 2012, he appeared on the sponsored cover of Billboard magazine, [14] after he which he released his two latest singles: Here With You (co-written by Monroe and produced by OneRepublic frontman Ryan Tedder) [15] and Hush Hush (co-produced by Monroe). Monroe began recording collaborations in late 2013 with Chris Brown and Sean Kingston in Los Angeles, CA for his forthcoming solo album. [16]

Contents

Early life

At the age of seven, he landed the role of “Chip” in the first national tour of the Broadway Production of Beauty and The Beast . [17]

At the age of 16, he made his film debut in the role of Liam in the ABC Family TV movie Pop Rocks . He played the son of an 80s rockstar, who is unknowingly following in his father’s footsteps.

Career

V Factory

Monroe became lead singer of V Factory shortly after high school. On April 29, 2008, their These Are The Days EP was released on iTunes, including "Round and Round", "She Bad" (featuring E-40), and the namesake, "These Are the Days" produced by Bryan Todd. In May 2008, V Factory performed on Johnny Wright's Bandemonium Tour alongside Menudo and NLT. [18] V Factory's first single, "Love Struck", was released to iTunes on February 3, 2009. The single broke top 40 on mainstream radio peaking at No. 37 and No. 70 on the Pop 100.[4] The song was produced by Swedish production team Twin. V Factory shared the stage with other notable artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Pitbull, M.C. Hammer, and Flo Rida before ultimately disbanding in 2009. [19] [20] [21]

Solo Recording career

In 2011, under the shortened name 'Asher Monroe', he began co-writing and producing new songs with various Los Angeles based talent. [16] [22] When Monroe's first solo music video for "Like I Do" was released on YouTube, it garnered up more than 1.6 million views, half of them within the first 24 hours. [23] His second music video "Hello Baby" was featured on the Huffington Post [24] and Forbes. [25] "Every Night" (released in late February 2012) garnered over 2.5 million views [26] just prior to a 20 city co-headlining national tour. [27] After the tour, Monroe founded independent music label D Empire Entertainment with global activist and entrepreneur Diana Jenkins. [11] In August 2012, Monroe collaborated with frontman for OneRepublic, Ryan Tedder on "Here With You". [28] The song was added to full rotation on nationally broadcast radio station Sirius XM, and entered the top ten on Billboard charts. [29] In Feb 2013, Monroe released a remix EP for "Here With You" featuring remixes by Grammy nominated DJ, Dave Aude and Sick Individuals. [30] [31] Monroe co-wrote and produced his next July 2013 release "Hush Hush" alongside Alon Levitan in Hollywood Hills, CA. [32] Monroe filmed the music video for "Hush Hush" in Bosnia Herzegovina with Academy Award winner Danis Tanovic. [33] "Hush Hush" became a top 10 Billboard song [34] and was featured on MTV and Perez Hilton. [35] "Hush Hush" was Monroe's first D Empire Entertainment release with new distribution partner Ingrooves/Fontana.

In December 2012, D Empire Entertainment secured a joint venture/album collaboration between Monroe, Chris Brown and Senior VP of A&R for Def Jam, Bu Thiam. [36]

In late 2013, Monroe wrote and recorded new material with Chris Brown and recording artist Sean Kingston at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, CA. [37]

In December 2013, Monroe released his "Christmas Is Here To Stay" EP on iTunes, featuring the title track as well as the ballad "Warm Winter Night". Both songs included music videos directed by Giuliano Bekor. [38]

In February 2014, Monroe released the music video "Memory" featuring Chris Brown (co-written by Monroe, Justin Tarin, and Chris Brown)

Discography

Albums

Extended Plays

Singles

YearTitle
2011"Back For More" (feat. Hot For Words)
  • Released: May 10, 2011
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"Love Away"
  • Released: May 11, 2011
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"So High"
  • Released: May 11, 2011
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"Like I Do"
  • Released: November 3, 2011
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2012"Hello Baby"
  • Released: January 13, 2012
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"Every Night"
  • Released: February 25, 2012
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
"Here With You"
  • Released: August 29, 2012
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2013"Hush Hush"
  • Released: July 9, 2013
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: CD, digital download
2014"Memory" (featuring Chris Brown) [37]
  • Released: March 4, 2014
  • Label: D Empire Entertainment
  • Formats: Dance radio

Theater

YearProductionRoleDates
1995 Beauty and the Beast (musical) [43] ChipNovember 7, 1995 – March 7, 1999

Filmography

Movies

YearTitleRoleProducer
2004 Pop Rocks LiamPatricia Clifford
2005 Come Away Home Chris Doug McKeon
2009 Fame [44] [45] Marco Ramone Kevin Tancharoen

Television

YearTitleRoleSeason(s)Episode(s)
2003 Dora the Explorer Prince of Cloud Castle32
2005 Zoey 101 [45] Glen Davis112
2006 Close to Home Alex Towers111
2007Eight One Eight [46] Chris
Medium [45] Wyatt Forrester37
2009 Xpose Himself
The Wendy Williams Show Himself
Entertainment Tonight Himself
2010 Parenthood [47] Steve Williams104,05,07,09,10,11,12,13
The Mentalist [48] Jackson Winter34
2022 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Himself12Appearing as Diana Jenkins' fiancé (guest)

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References

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