 |
Horace Brown (born in Hartford, Connecticut) is an American R&B singer. He is the son of an Apostolic minister. [1] Despite singing in the church as a child, Brown never believed he would have a singing career and instead dreamed of one day being a professional basketball player. However, a knee injury ruined these plans.
Brown played a variety of instruments in his school's marching band and got a break when DeVante Swing of Jodeci heard one of his demos. [1] He then earned spots doing background vocals for Christopher Williams and some writing and producing (Terri & Monica's Systa album). He then managed to get a recording contract with Uptown Records after president Andre Harrell saw him in a recording session. [1]
In 1994, while with Uptown Records he record his first album, Brown spurred controversy when his single "Taste Your Love" was released. The single was an ode to oral sex and was banned in parts of the South. Despite the press around the single, it failed to perform well on the charts. One more single ("Let Me Know") was released as a promotional 12", [2] but was cancelled as his Uptown Records album was shelved. [3]
When Andre Harrell of Uptown moved to Motown, he brought Brown with him. Motown promoted Brown by releasing two more singles ("One for the Money" and "Things We Do for Love") and in 1996, released his self-titled debut album. The album featured Sean "Puffy" Combs and remixes featured Foxy Brown and Jay-Z. The album's final single was "How Can We Stop" featuring Faith Evans, although three more songs ("Why Why Why", "I Want You Baby" and "Trippin") were released as promotional 12" singles. [4]
Since the release of his debut album, Brown has done a couple of collaborations with artists such as Naudy, Mr. Cheeks, Lisha, Royal Flush and PrinZe Gabriel.
In 2000, he released a single "Shake It Up" on the international label Double H Production with Cut Killer. The following year, he released another single "This Is the One" on Money Talks Entertainment with rapper Styles P.
As of 2013, he toured overseas with Keith Sweat and other R&B artists. He has also joined the upcoming reality series, Come Back Kings, with Ed Lover, Calvin Richardson, David "Davinch" Chance (of Ruff Endz), Jeff Sanders, Jameio, Mr. Cheeks and Black Rob. [5] [6] [7]
Horace Brown teamed up with entertainment veteran Tony Vanias and his company, Matchbox Entertainment. Brown writes and produces alongside other artists in the industry to deliver soulful melodies that speak to today's culture.
| Year | Album | Chart positions [8] | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B | ||
| 1994 | Horace Brown | - | - |
| 1996 | Horace Brown | 145 | 18 |
| Year | Song | Chart positions [8] | Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B | US Dance | NZ [9] | UK [10] | |||
| 1994 | "Taste Your Love" | - | 38 | - | - | 58 | Horace Brown |
| 1996 | "One for the Money" | 62 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 12 | |
| "Things We Do for Love" | 95 | 40 | 13 | - | 27 | ||
| "How Can We Stop" (feat. Faith Evans) | - | 77 | - | - | - | ||
| 2001 | "Shake It Up" | - | - | - | - | - | Non-album single |
| "This Is the One" (featuring Styles P) | - | - | - | - | - | ||
The Temptations are an American vocal group from Detroit, Michigan, who released a series of successful singles and albums with Motown Records during the 1960s and 1970s. The group's work with producer Norman Whitfield, beginning with the Top 10 hit single "Cloud Nine" in October 1968, pioneered psychedelic soul, and was significant in the evolution of R&B and soul music. The band members are known for their choreography, distinct harmonies, and dress style. Having sold tens of millions of albums, the Temptations are among the most successful groups in popular music.
Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau of motor and town, has become a nickname for Detroit, where the label was originally headquartered.
Jodeci is an American R&B quartet with members DeVanté Swing, Mr. Dalvin, K-Ci, and JoJo. Formed in 1989 in Charlotte, North Carolina, Jodeci's members began their musical careers as two duos of brothers and, after years of limited success, joined forces. After signing with Uptown Records in 1991, the group began to work on their debut album, Forever My Lady, which brought them mainstream success with the Billboard Hot 100 single "Come and Talk to Me" and the album's titular track.
Uptown Records was an American record label, based in New York City, founded in 1986 by onetime rapper Andre Harrell. From the late 1980s into the early 1990s, it was a leader in R&B and hip hop. During the 1990s, aided by its A&R worker Sean Combs, it led the fusion of these two genres. Its artists included Al B. Sure!, Christopher Williams, Guy, Heavy D & The Boyz, Father MC, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, Notorious B.I.G., and Soul for Real.
"Come See About Me" is a 1964 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label.
Hip-O Records is a record label that specializes in reissues and compilations. It is part of Universal Music Group. Established in 1996, the label has distributed releases from 'out of style' genres such as disco and early hip-hop music as well as publishing film soundtracks. The label's name is a pun on the name 'hippo'.
Ruff Endz is an American R&B duo, consisting of members David "Davinch" Chance and Dante "Chi" Jordan from Baltimore, Maryland. They are best known for their hit singles "No More" and "Someone to Love You." Originally part of a quartet, the two left the group in 1994 to form the duo.
Robert Ross, known professionally as Black Rob, was an American rapper who was signed to Bad Boy Records. He was best known for his 2000 single "Whoa!", which peaked at number 43 on the Billboard Hot 100. He spent four years in prison in connection with a hotel robbery in 2004.
Forever, Michael is the fourth studio album by American singer Michael Jackson, released by Motown Records on January 16, 1975. The album is credited as having songs with funk and soul material. Edward Holland, Jr., Brian Holland, Hal Davis, Freddie Perren, and Sam Brown III served as producers to Forever, Michael. It is the final album before Jackson's solo breakthrough with his next album, Off the Wall (1979).
Andre O’Neal Harrell was an American music executive and multimedia producer. In 1986, recently a rapper, he formed Uptown Records, which became a leader in hip hop, R&B, and their fusion, "new jack swing." He gave Sean "Diddy" Combs his 1990 start in the business, and later was CEO of Motown Records.
"Heat Wave" is a 1963 song written by the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting team. It was first made popular by the Motown vocal group Martha and the Vandellas. Released as a 45 rpm single on July 9, 1963, on the Motown subsidiary Gordy label, it hit number one on the Billboard Hot R&B chart—where it stayed for four weeks—and peaking at number 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Until You Come Back to Me " is a song written by Morris Broadnax, Clarence Paul, and Stevie Wonder. The song was originally recorded by Stevie Wonder in 1967, but his version was not released as a single and did not appear on an album until 1977's anthology Looking Back. The best-known version of this song is the 1973 release by Aretha Franklin, who had a million-selling top 10 hit on Billboard charts. The song reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 3 on the Hot 100 chart in 1974. It became an RIAA Gold record.
James Jay "J. J." Barnes is an American R&B singer and songwriter.
Rafiek George is an underground hip hop rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. He gives much of the credit for his success to his mother, who worked hard to raise 5 other family members. After graduating he went out to get a recording contract. Supporting himself as a public speaker, youth counselor, and taking parts in talent shows, Journalist eventually earned himself his first paycheck after triumphing in a talent search held at New Jersey's Stardust ballroom two years after graduating.
For Life is the second studio album by Soul for Real, released on September 24, 1996. The album was released quickly after their debut studio album Candy Rain. During that time, Uptown Records founder Andre Harrell left the label to become the president at Motown Records. MCA Music Entertainment Group CEO Doug Morris promoted Heavy D. as the new president of Uptown several months before the release of For Life. As a result, Uptown was moved from its parent company MCA Records to the newly launched Doug Morris label Universal Records.
Calvin Richardson is an American R&B and soul singer-songwriter. In 1999, he released his debut solo album Country Boy. He is also known by the nickname "Prince of Soul."
"Baby, Come Back" is a song by the English band The Equals from their 1968 album Baby Come Back. Written by Eddy Grant, the song was originally released as a B-side in 1966 and was later released as a single in continental Europe before being released as a single in the UK in 1968. "Baby, Come Back" charted in multiple countries, including no. 1 in the Belgian, Rhodesian, and UK charts in 1967 and 1968.
Thaddis Laphonia "Kuk" Harrell is an American songwriter, vocal producer, arranger and engineer. He was a member of a songwriting–production team composed of himself, Christopher "Tricky" Stewart and Terius "The Dream" Nash. In 2011, Kuk Harrell and partner Tricky Stewart joined the ranks of Fox's American Idol along with music mogul Jimmy Iovine, producing many of the songs performed on television by the contestants and released via iTunes. 2011 marked the highly anticipated return of Jennifer Lopez and her album LOVE? in which Kuk served as Album Vocal Producer. Earning his fourth Grammy for the vocal production of Rihanna's No. 1 Billboard Single "Only Girl ", Harrell is also the vocal producer and co-writer of Rihanna's Grammy-winning single "Umbrella". A composer and engineer on Beyoncé's chart topping "Single Ladies " from the album I Am... Sasha Fierce, he is also vocal producer and engineer of the Diane Warren-penned "I Was Here" from Beyoncé's 2011 album 4. He also produced the majority of the vocals on Mary J. Blige's Platinum album Growing Pains, which won the 2008 Grammy for Best Contemporary R&B Album. The first single from Growing Pains, "Just Fine", earned a Grammy nomination for best R&B vocal performance in 2007.
Changes is the second studio album from American R&B artist Christopher Williams, released on December 29, 1992 on Uptown Records.
A Christmas Record is an LP originally released in 1981 by ZE Records. It was recorded by various musicians from that label's roster, including Was, August Darnell, Material, Suicide, Cristina, and The Waitresses, all performing original seasonal songs. The album was reissued in 1982, as a "Special Edition", with a revised track listing. In 2004, a further revised version was issued on CD, as ZE Xmas Record Reloaded 2004. The 2004 version was remastered and re-released again in 2016 under its original title and artwork, with one of the 1982 "Special Edition" songs restored.
