name	Macy Gray
background	solo_singer
birth name	Natalie Renee McIntyre
born	September 06, 1967
origin	Canton, Ohio, United States
genre	R&B;, soul, neo soul, hip hop
occupation	Singer-songwriter, record producer, actress
years active	1990–present
label	Atlantic (1994-1996)Epic (1998-2004)will.i.am / Geffen (2006-2008)Concord (2009-2011)429 (2011-)
associated acts	Bobby Brown, Natalie Cole, Velvet Revolver, Pharoahe Monch, The Black Eyed Peas
website	www.macygray.com }}

Macy Gray (born Natalie McIntyre, 6 September 1967 in Canton, Ohio, USA) is a Grammy Award-winning American R&B; and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress, famed for her distinctive raspy voice, and a singing style heavily influenced by Billie Holiday and Betty Davis.

Gray has released six studio albums, and has received five Grammy Award nominations, winning one. She has appeared in a number of films including ''Training Day'', ''Spider-Man'', ''Scary Movie 3'', ''Lackawanna Blues'', ''Idlewild'' and ''For Colored Girls''. Gray is best known for her international hit single "I Try," taken from her multi-platinum debut album ''On How Life Is''.

Early life and career[link]

Macy Gray, was born to Laura McIntyre, a math teacher, and Otis Jones; Laura later remarried Richard McIntyre, who adopted Macy and fathered her brother Nathon and sister Nehlia. Gray was born in Canton, Ohio, where she briefly worked at age 12, before being fired for lateness. She decided to pursue a career in music after being expelled from Western Reserve Academy in Hudson, which she had attended from the age of 14. However, Gray's initial success came as a surprise. While attending the University of Southern California (graduated 1990) she agreed to write songs for a friend, and a demo session was scheduled for the songs to be recorded by another singer. When the vocalist failed to turn up, Gray recorded them herself. She then met writer/producer Joe Solo while working as a cashier in Beverly Hills. Together, they wrote a large collection of songs and recorded them in Solo's studio. The demo tape landed Gray the opportunity to sing at jazz cafés in Los Angeles, California. Despite Gray's dislike of her own voice, Atlantic Records signed her. She began recording her debut record but was dropped from the label upon the departure of her A&R; man Tom Carolan, who signed her to the label. In 1998, she landed a record deal with Epic Records. She was on one of the songs from The Black Eyed Peas' debut album, "Love Won't Wait".

Music career[link]

''On How Life Is'' (1999–2001)[link]

Gray worked on her debut album in 1999. Released in the summer of 1999, ''On How Life Is'' became a worldwide smash. Despite the first single "Do Something" stalling on the charts, the release of the second single "I Try" made the album a success for Gray. "I Try" (which was originally featured in Love Jones and the Jennifer Aniston-starring vehicle, the romantic-comedy ''Picture Perfect'' in 1997) was one of the biggest singles of 1999, and subsequent singles "Still" and "Why Didn't You Call Me" ensured the album becoming triple platinum in the U.S., quadruple platinum in the UK, and triple platinum in Canada.

In 2001, Gray won the Grammy Award for "Best Female Pop Vocal Performance" for "I Try", which was also nominated for "Song of the Year" and "Record of the Year". She then collaborated with Fatboy Slim, The Black Eyed Peas, and Slick Rick (on the song "The World Is Yours", from the ''Rush Hour 2'' soundtrack), as well as acting for the first time in the thriller ''Training Day''. In August 2001, Gray was booed off the field at the Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibition game after forgetting the words to the American national anthem.

''The Id'' and ''The Trouble with Being Myself'' (2001–2005)[link]

Gray's ''The Id'' featured appearances by John Frusciante and Erykah Badu on the single "Sweet Baby", (which was co-written with longtime collaborator Joe Solo). The album peaked at number eleven on the ''Billboard'' 200. Despite its failure in the U.S., it reached number one on the UK Albums Chart and was certified gold by the BPI. The underperformance in the United States, compared to her debut album, may have been due to ''The Id'' being released just a week after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

In 2002, she appeared in ''Spider-Man'' as herself and worked with Santana on the track "Amoré (Sexo)", for his album ''Shaman''.

Also in 2002, she appeared on the Red Hot Organization's compilation CD in tribute to Nigerian afropop pioneer, Fela Kuti, Red Hot and Riot. She appeared on a remake track of Kuti's classic, "Water No Get Enemy" alongside prominent hip hop and R&B; artists, D'Angelo, The Soultronics, Nile Rodgers, Roy Hargrove, and Kuti's son, Femi Kuti.

She recorded a duet with Zucchero called "Like The Sun (From Out Of Nowhere)" which featured Jeff Beck on guitar released in 2004 on ''Zu & Co.'', a duets collection. Her song "Time of My Life" was included in the soundrack to ''8 Mile''. A cartoon based on Gray's childhood was being developed, but it never came to fruition.

In 2003, Gray released her third studio album, ''The Trouble with Being Myself'', to rave reviews. The lead single "When I See You" became a radio hit in the U.S. and a top forty hit in the UK, although the album was not as well received by fans. Nevertheless, it became Gray's third top twenty album in the UK. A greatest hits collection and a live album were subsequently released: ''The Very Best of Macy Gray'' (2004) and ''Live in Las Vegas'' (2005). Additionally, Gray was featured on Marcus Miller's 2005 album ''Silver Rain'', on a cover of Prince's 1986 song "Girls & Boys". She also appeared on the soundtrack to the film ''Chicago'' with Queen Latifah and Lil Kim on "Cell Block Tango/He Had it Comin'."

Return to music and ''Big'' (2007–2010)[link]

Gray began 2007 badly after being kicked off-stage at a concert in Barbados for profanity (which was part of the show), but she was not aware that it was against the law in that country. She gave a public apology that night to avoid arrest.

In March, Gray released her fourth studio album (sixth overall), entitled ''Big''. Two singles, "Finally Made Me Happy" and "Shoo Be Doo", have been released from the album. "What I Gotta Do", another track from the album, is featured on the ''Shrek the Third'' soundtrack. It is considered Gray's comeback album, after a four-year hiatus since her last studio album. The album was critically acclaimed and seen by some as her best work to date. It featured collaborations with Natalie Cole, Fergie, Justin Timberlake, and will.i.am, who co-executive produced the album with Gray.

The album was moderately successful in the U.S., where it debuted and peaked at #39 on the ''Billboard'' 200, becoming Gray's highest-charting album since ''The Id''. ''Big'' reached #62 on the albums chart in the UK, her lowest-charting UK album, but it did achieve some success in several other countries including Switzerland, the Czech Republic, and Finland, reaching the top forty of their album charts.

PBS's ''Soundstage'' live concert series premiered a Gray concert on July 5.

On July 7, 2007, Gray performed at the Brazilian leg of Live Earth at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Gray and her band members wore clothes bearing political messages. Gray's dress carried the message "Darfur Red Alert".

In 2008, Macy launched a new campaign under the name Nemesis Jaxson, with upcoming single, "Slap a Bitch".

Macy was available again in another movie soundtrack (she is featured in more than 10 other soundtracks): ''Confessions of a Shopaholic'', with the newest track "Don'Forget Me".

''The Sellout'' (2010–2011)[link]

The first single from Gray's fifth studio album ''The Sellout'', "Beauty in the World," is featured in the final sequence of the series finale, ''Hello Goodbye'', of the ABC television series, ''Ugly Betty''. "Beauty in the World" is also used as the theme in multiple videos created by Microsoft to promote Internet Explorer 9. Both singles released from the album ("Beauty in the World" and "Lately") are Top 10 hits on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Hot Dance Club Songs chart.On 16 February 2012 to participate in the Sanremo Festival as a guest, performing alongside Gigi D'Alessio and Loredana Berte with the song At least you in the universe, in the English version entitled Flame.

Upon its release, ''The Sellout'' received generally mixed reviews from most music critics. Metacritic, gave it an average score of 57, based on 15 reviews; Andy Gill of ''The Independent'' gave it 3 out of 5 stars; while Allmusic writer John Bush shared a similar sentiment and panned Gray's songwriting.

However, ''The Boston Globe''s James Reed commended its production. and Jeremy Allen of ''NME'' gave the album a 7/10 rating.

''Covered'' (2011–present)[link]

In 2011, Gray signed a deal with 429 Records and started recording a series of covers for her next studio album ''Covered''. The album was officially released on March 26th, 2012. The album's first single is "Here Comes The Rain Again" (originally performed by Eurythmics). On 16 February 2012 to participate in the Sanremo Festival as a guest, performing alongside Gigi D'Alessio and Loredana Berte with the song At least you in the universe, in the English version entitled Flame.

Other work[link]

Gray appeared in the eighth season of Bravo's ''Celebrity Poker Showdown'', playing for Habitat for Humanity. She finished in third place, behind Robin Tunney and Christopher Meloni, and ahead of Joy Behar and Andy Dick.

In 2002, she was the voice for Seeiah Owens in the video game ''SSX Tricky''. That same year, she made a brief appearance in the film ''Spider-Man'' as herself.

Gray sang the theme song for a cartoon show on Nickelodeon, ''As Told By Ginger'', composed by Jared Faber and Emily Kapnek.

She appeared at the 2008 Formula One Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix. She stated she liked the Ferrari team and also found the Honda driver Jenson Button 'cute'.

In August 2008, Gray headlined at the 2008 Summer Sundae music festival in Leicester, England, performing cover versions of Rod Stewart's "Do Ya Think I'm Sexy?", Deee-Lite's "Groove Is in the Heart" and Radiohead's "Creep". For the gig, her band wore pink Andy Warhol wigs.

On September 28, 2008, Gray sang the American national anthem as part of the Israeli flag-raising ceremony at the Israeli Consulate of Los Angeles.

In 2008, Gray collaborated with Australian DJ and singer Kaz James on the song "Can't Hold Back". The single was released in early 2009 in Australia and is credited to Kaz James featuring Macy Gray. It is included on James' debut solo album, ''If They Knew''.

Personal life[link]

Gray was married from 1996 to 1998 to Tracy Hinds, with whom she had three children: Aanisah (born January 1995), Tahmel – known as Mel (born December 1995) – also involved in the music industry, and Happy (born 1997). Gray opened up a music academy called The Macy Gray Music Academy in 2005.

Gray has two tattoos, one on her right wrist with all her children's names and the other on her leg. She was an early supporter of a Barack Obama presidential campaign.

Gray has bipolar disorder.

Discography[link]

Studio albums

1999: ''On How Life Is''

2001: ''The Id''

2003: ''The Trouble with Being Myself''

2007: ''Big''

2010: ''The Sellout''

2012: ''Covered''

Filmography[link]

''Saturday Night Live'' ''SSX Tricky'' ''Training Day'' ''MDs'' ''Spider-Man (film) ''Scary Movie 3'' ''Gang of Roses'' ''When I Was a Girl'' ''Around the World in 80 Days (2004 film) ''Lightning in a Bottle'' ''American Dreams'' ''That's So Raven'' ''Blue's Clues'' ''Lackawanna Blues'' ''The Crow: Wicked Prayer'' ''Shadowboxer'' ''Domino (film) ''Duck Dodgers (TV series) ''American Dragon: Jake Long'' ''1-800-Missing'' ''Idlewild (film) ''Macy Gray's Big Special'' ''Dancing with the Stars (U.S. season 9) ''Head Case '' ''For Colored Girls'' ''Percentage'' ''Mama Black Widow''

+ List of television, videogame and films credits
Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2000	''Ally McBeal''	Herself
2000—2001	|	Herself	"Freddie Prinze, Jr./Macy Gray" (Season 25, Episode 10)"Drew Barrymore/Macy Gray" (Season 27, Episode 3)
2001	|	Seeiah Owens (voice)	Videogame
2001	|	Sandman's Woman
2002	|	Jess	"Wing and a Prayer" (Season 1, Episode 7)
2002	Spider-Man'' ||	Herself	Cameo
2003	|	Herself	Cameo
2003	|	Assassin
2003	|	Herself	"Singers " (Season 1, Episode 11)
2004	Around the World in 80 Days'' ||	Sleepy Frenchwoman
2004	|	Herself	Cameo
2004	|	Carla Thomas	"Real-to-Reel" (episode 12, season 2)
2004	|	Rhonda	"Taken to the Cleaners" (episode 4, season 3)
2004	|	Herself	"Bluestock" (Season 6, Episode 9)
2005	|	Pauline	TV movie
2005	|	Carman
2005	|	Neisha
2005	Domino'' ||	Lashandra Davis
2005	Duck Dodgers'' ||	Diva (voice)	"Diva Delivery/Castle High" (Season 2, Episode 10)
2005	|	Trixie Carter>Trixie's Grandmother/Miss Jenkinks (voice)	"Act 4, Scene 15" (Season 1, Episode 5) "Professor Rotwood's Thesis" (Season 1, Episode 8)
2005	|	Cleo	"A Death in the Family" (Season 3, Episode 13)
2006	Idlewild'' ||	Taffy
2007	|	Herself
2009	Dancing with the Stars'' ||	Herself/Contestant	Season 9
2009	|	Herself	"The Wedding Ringer" (Season 3, Episode 1)
2010	|	Rose	Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble
2012	|	Mama Cash	Post-production
2013	|	Hattie Mae	Announced

Awards and nominations[link]

She won five of seventeen nominations, including Grammy Award, MTV Video Music Awards and BRIT Awards. |- | rowspan="9"| 2000 | rowspan="3"| Macy Gray | BRIT Award for Best International Female || |- | BRIT Award for Best International Breakthrough Act || |- | Grammy Award for Best New Artist || |- | ''On How Life Is'' || Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B;/Soul Album, Female || |- | rowspan="2"| "Do Something" || Grammy Award for Best Female R&B; Vocal Performance || |- | MTV Video Music Award for Best Choreography || |- | rowspan="6"| "I Try" | MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist|| |- | MTV Video Music Award for Best Female Video || |- | MTV Video Music Award for Best Art Direction || |- |rowspan="7"| 2001 | Grammy Award for Song of the Year || |- | Grammy Award for Record of the Year || |- |Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance || |- | "Geto Heaven Remix T.S.O.I. (The Sound of Illadelph)" || MTV Video Music Award for Breakthrough Video || |- | rowspan="3"| "Request Line" ||MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video || |- ||Billboard Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Clip of the Year || |- ||Billboard Award for Best Direction in Video || |- |rowspan="1"| 2006 | rowspan="1"| ''Lackawanna Blues'' | NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special || |- |rowspan="1"| 2011 | rowspan="1"| ''For Colored Girls'' | Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble || |-

References[link]

External links[link]

Macy Gray's official website

Nemesis Jaxson's official website

Macy Gray on the Interscope Records website

Category:African-American actors Category:African American record producers Category:African American singer-songwriters Category:African American female singer-songwriters Category:American film actors Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters Category:American soul singers Category:American television actors Category:Ballad musicians Category:Brit Award winners Category:Geffen Records artists Category:Grammy Award winners Category:Living people Category:Neo soul singers Category:Actors from Ohio Category:Musicians from Ohio Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Canton, Ohio Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:People with bipolar disorder Category:Date_of_birth_unknown da:Macy Gray de:Macy Gray et:Macy Gray es:Macy Gray fr:Macy Gray it:Macy Gray he:מייסי גריי csb:Macy Gray nl:Macy Gray pl:Macy Gray pt:Macy Gray ro:Macy Gray ru:Мэйси Грэй simple:Macy Gray fi:Macy Gray sv:Macy Gray th:เมซี่ เกรย์

Sweet Baby (originally known as Sweet Baby Jesus) was a pop punk band that originated from Berkeley, California, and was part of the 924 Gilman Street scene. They were signed to Ruby Records.

Formed in 1986 by singer Dallas Denery and singer/guitarist Matt Buenrostro with Crispy Jim (later of The Saddlebacks) on bass and Dr. Frank (the frontman of The Mr. T Experience) on drums. Frank and Crispy Jim did not appear on any Sweet Baby recordings, having been already replaced by Sergie Loobkoff (Samiam, Knapsack) and Richie Bucher (Jüke, Wynona Ryders), respectively. Aaron Elliott aka Aaron Cometbus also played drums for them on their 1989 US tour. They had two songs on the Maximum Rock and Roll compilation ''Turn it Around'' (1988), "She's from Salinas" and "Pathetic." In 1989, they released their only lp, ''It's A Girl'' on Ruby Records (a Slash/Warner subsidiary). Lookout Records re-released it in 1995.''''

In January 2005, their song, "Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby, I Love You" was featured on Bravo in an advertisement for the show ''Queer Eye for the Straight Girl''.

In 1989 due to Sweet Baby, Green Day changed their name from Sweet Children to Green Day for there to be no confusion before releasing their first EP 1,000 Hours.

Band members[link]

Dallas Denery is currently an assistant professor at Bowdoin College in the History Department and regularly broadcasts a radio show for WBOR 91.1 called "Dick and Jane's Cocktail Hour" with his wife and son "Spot." They generally play a "happy hour" of lounge music starting at 5:00pm and then an hour of independent rock on various weekdays.

External links[link]

Dallas Denery's homepage at Bowdoin College

Trouser Press's Sweet Baby Bio

A Dallas Denery Fan Bio and Interview

Larry Livermore on the Denery Brothers

Dallas Denery interview on Bowdoin Cable News

Category:Musical groups from California Category:Music of the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Musical groups established in 1986 Category:People from Berkeley, California Category:American pop punk musical groups

simple:Sweet Baby

background	solo_singer
birth name	Robert Barisford Brown
birth date	February 05, 1969
birth place	Roxbury, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
genre	R&B;New jack swingHip hopDance-popRap
children	Bobbi Kristina Brown occupation Singer-songwriter, rapper, dancer, actor
years active	1978–present
label	MCA (1986-1998)Bronx Bridge Entertainment (2011-present)
associated acts	New EditionHeads of State Whitney Houston Damian Marley
website	www.bobbybrownonline.com }}

Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American R&B; singer-songwriter, occasional rapper, and dancer.

Brown started his career as one of the frontmen of the pop group New Edition, from its inception as The Bricks in 1978 until his forced exit from the group in 1986 following a period of misbehavior on his part. Starting a solo career, he became a hit success with his second album, ''Don't Be Cruel'', which spawned a number of hit singles including the co-self penned "My Prerogative", which became his signature hit. Brown had a string of top ten hits on various ''Billboard'' charts between 1986 and 1992, and is a recipient of a Grammy Award. Brown is noted as a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a fusion of hip-hop and R&B.;

Brown was most noted in recent years as the ex-husband of pop singer Whitney Houston. Brown and Houston later gained notoriety co-starring in the reality show, ''Being Bobby Brown''.

Life and career[link]

Early life[link]

Brown was born in Boston as one of eight children to Herbert "Pops" and Carole Brown. Herbert was a construction worker and Carole was a schoolteacher. Brown and his family grew up in Roxbury's Orchard Park Projects. As a child, Brown got involved in petty theft including robbery later saying "I didn't wanna ask my mother or my father because they didn't have a lot of money", stating that whenever he saw something he wanted, "I'd just go to the store and take it." Brown also grew up around gangs. At ten, he was shot in the knee during a fight with a rival gang while attending a block party. Brown said his life reached a turning point at eleven after seeing one of his friends dead from multiple stab wounds at another party. Brown's brother Tommy would later say after that moment, Brown took "his career, schooling, his whole life more seriously." Brown's first taste of being onstage occurred at the age of three when one of his childhood idols, James Brown, performed in Boston.

Music career[link]

New Edition[link]

New Edition originally started as a trio formed by nine-year-old Brown and best friend Michael Bivins. Under the name, The Bricks, the group included another close friend, Ricky Bell. In 1981, the group grew to include a fourth member, Ralph Tresvant. The quartet became a quintet when their manager Brooke Payne insisted on bringing in his nephew Ronnie DeVoe, to complete the group. After performing in several talent shows in the Boston areas in 1982, they won a deal with Maurice Starr's label and released their debut album, ''Candy Girl''. The title track became an instant million-seller in which Brown sung co-lead alongside Bell and Tresvant. Brown's first full lead vocal performance was on the New Edition ballad, "Jealous Girl", which was a minor hit when it charted in 1983. The group became pop sensations with their self-titled sophomore release. The album included the crossover hits "Cool It Now" and "Mr. Telephone Man", which Brown also co-led.

Despite the group's success, however, Brown felt the group was never rightfully paid the money they felt they had earned from their success, later saying "the most I saw from all the tours and all of the records we sold was $500 and a VCR." Brown also allegedly grew jealous of the attention given to fellow New Edition member Ralph Tresvant and during some of their tour performances, would often step out of his position and perform out of turn, performing seductively and singing, which caused hiccups from the group's management team. Brown was featured on two more New Edition albums before leaving the group in early 1986. Brown later said he felt that the group's management treated them "like little slaves by people who were only interested in money and power, and not in the welfare of New Edition." A little controversy arose over how Brown got kicked out. Some say Brown asked to be let out of New Edition but a VH-1 ''Behind the Music'' documentary on the group claimed Brown was voted out by the group via their management team, with some of the members, most prominently Michael Bivins, against the decision.

Solo career[link]

Following his exit, Brown signed a contract with his former group's label, MCA, which had earlier promised Brown a solo deal if he had decided to leave New Edition and also signed with manager Steven Machat, who also worked with New Edition. The label released his debut album, ''King of Stage'', in 1986. Brown had a number-one R&B; hit with the ballad, "Girlfriend" but the album produce little else and became a modest failure.

Brown laid low for more than a year working on his follow-up album. With the help of Machat and an MCA representative, Louil Silas, Brown began working with some of the top R&B; producers and songwriters including Babyface, Antonio "L.A." Reid and Teddy Riley. The producers helped to compose what became Brown's most successful solo album to date, ''Don't Be Cruel''. Released in 1988, the album launched five top ten hits on the ''Billboard Hot 100'' including the number-one single, "My Prerogative", which became, along with "Every Little Step" and the title track, signature hits for the performer. Album sales eventually would reach eight million alone in the United States making it the best-selling album of 1989. Don't Be Cruel went to #1 on both the R&B; and Pop charts as an album, it first topped the R&B; Albums chart for 11 nonconsecutive weeks starting in 1988, then peaked on the Pop Album chart for six weeks the year after. It was the best-selling album in 1989 on the Billboard Year-End Pop Album Chart and eventually went seven times Platinum. The album is the 33rd best-selling album of the 1980s, with sales already at 5 million copies by September 1989. Don't Be Cruel was the best selling "New Jack Swing" album at the time until Michael Jackson's 1991 album "Dangerous" was released. Bobby Brown won the Grammy for Best Male R&B; Vocal Performance in 1990. Brown followed the release of his album with a 120-date world tour.

In 1989, Brown contributed two songs to the soundtrack of ''Ghostbusters II'', in which he also appeared in a cameo role in the film. The leading track from the soundtrack, "On Our Own", became another top ten single for the singer, peaking at number two. The same year, a remix compilation, ''Dance! Ya Know It'', was released and found fans in the United Kingdom, where Brown had a fan base and had major success. Brown ventured on a world tour to promote the ''Don't Be Cruel'' project in 1988. The tour became a success with Brown's former group New Edition sometimes opening for him. The tour lasted into 1990 but not without Brown gaining notoriety for simulating sexual acts onstage, which got him in trouble with the law.

Brown's next album, the ''Bobby'' album wouldn't come until 1992. While released during the final days of the new jack swing era, an era that Brown had dominated, the album did become a success, selling more than a million copies and spawning several hits including "Humpin' Around", "Get Away" and "Good Enough". However the sales of ''Bobby'' didn't match its predecessor. Some of that may have to do with Brown deciding not to continue his career as he was now married to his famous wife, Whitney Houston, who with Brown, contributed a UK hit with their duet, "Something in Common", from the ''Bobby'' album. Brown would release his fourth solo album, ''Forever'', in 1997. Due to lack of promotion and Brown's desire to write and produce most of the tracks, the album tanked and the album's only single, "Feeling Inside", was not successful.

Prior to its release, Brown had been in negotiations with rapper Tupac Shakur to get signed to Shakur's new label Makaveli Records. However, Shakur died before that would take place. Leaving MCA following the release of ''Forever'', Brown laid low for several years, re-emerging in 2002 where he was featured in a duet with rapper Ja Rule on the song "Thug Lovin'". Brown had been signed to Murder Inc. Records. However much like the situation with 2Pac, Murder Inc. began dissolving, leading to Brown's tenure with them brief. In 2006, Brown appeared adding vocals to Damian Marley's song "Beautiful" on Marley's album, ''Welcome to Jamrock''. In 2010, Brown was featured in a duet with singer Macy Gray on the song "Real Love" off Gray's ''The Sellout''. Gray explained to ''Essence'' about the project, saying "actually he came to the studio, since he doesn't live far, and knocked out his recording in two hours. We're friends and his one-year-old son is my godson. His fiancée is one of my best friends in the whole world. I met Bobby a long time ago, but we really got to know each other through her."

Since 2007, Brown has been at work on a long-awaited fifth album titled ''The Masterpiece''. In 2011, he released the single, "Get Out the Way", which was supposed to have been the leading single. As of 2012, the album has yet to be released.

New Edition reunions[link]

Brown made his first reunited appearance with New Edition at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards. Their performance later sparked the recording of Bell Biv DeVoe's "Word to the Mutha!" in which Brown, Ralph Tresvant and later NE member Johnny Gill was included. A full-fledged reunion occurred with the 1996 release of the album, ''Home Again''. Brown contributed lead vocals on two hit singles, "Hit Me Off" and "You Don't Have to Worry". However a subsequent 1997 tour to support the album led to problems between Brown and the other New Edition members. Brown later admitted that he was struggling with drug addiction and alcoholism during the tour.

In 2005, at the BET 25th anniversary special, Brown again reunited with New Edition to a receptive audience. In 2008, Brown, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill then formed a splinter group, Heads of State, to compete with Bell Biv DeVoe. At the 2009 BET Awards, following the death of the group's idol Michael Jackson, the six New Edition members again reunited to perform a medley of Jackson 5 hits in honor of Jackson. This sparked rumors of another full-fledged New Edition reunion, which was confirmed the following year. As of 2012, Brown and New Edition continue to perform together.

Film and television career[link]

Brown made his first acting debut making a guest appearance in the 1989 film, ''Ghostbusters II'', playing the Mayor's Doorman. The following year, he appeared in the HBO kids show, ''Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme'' playing all three characters of Three Blind Mice. In 1995, he made another guest appearance in the film, ''Panther'', and had a major role the following year on the Martin Lawrence film, ''A Thin Line Between Love and Hate''. Brown made other guest appearances in the films, ''Two Can Play That Game'', ''Gang of Roses'', ''Nora's Hair Salon'' and ''Go for Broke''.

In 2005, Brown signed a deal with Bravo to overlook the direction of the reality series, ''Being Bobby Brown'', but it was said that he had to convince producers that his then-wife Whitney Houston would appear on the show. Houston later told Oprah Winfrey that she agreed to do it because she "loved him" and "did whatever he asked because I was his wife." The show lasted one season but received bad reviews in the duration of its run, leading to a fallout in both singers' careers. The show ended in 2006 after Houston refused to appear in a second season of the show. The couple divorced soon after.

In June 2007, Brown took part in the ITV television series "24 hours with...", a chat show format as celebrity and interviewer spend an intense 24 hours locked in a room together. The show's host, Jamie Campbell, asked Brown questions about his career and private life, and infamously joked about making "sexual moves" towards the singer. Brown was furious and threatened to beat Campbell up live on air. Brown's later tenures in reality shows included appearances on ''Celebrity Fit Club'' and ''Gone Country''.

Personal life[link]

Family[link]

In 1986, Brown became a father at seventeen when one of his girlfriends gave birth to their first son, Landon Brown. Brown would later say he was pursued by several famous female performers including Madonna and Janet Jackson, who shared an alleged brief liaison in the late eighties. At the 1989 ''Soul Train Music Awards'', Brown met his future wife, late singer Whitney Houston, following his well-received performance at the show. Critics would later say the show sparked a change in Houston, who was receiving backlash from recording crossover pop material and had been briefly jeered during the ''Soul Train'' telecast. It's also alleged that the relationship between Brown and Houston was concocted to make Houston have an edgier image. Brown and Houston clicked after Brown attended Houston's birthday party celebration in her New Jersey hometown.On March 4,1993 Whitney gave birth to their daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston.Brown and his girlfriend Kim Ward broke up following the birth of their first-born, daughter, LaPrincia Brown, in 1990 and shortly afterwards, Brown began courting Houston after she ended her relationship with comedian Eddie Murphy.

Brown and Houston kept their relationship under wraps until late 1991, when Houston confirmed that she and Brown were involved. During a brief breakup, Brown returned to a relationship with Kim Ward and their reunion produced another child, Robert Barisford, Jr. However, as soon as they had reunited, Brown and Ward again broke up after Brown reunited with Houston in early 1992. That year, Brown proposed marriage to Houston, who accepted despite the fact that Bobby was having another woman's child. Around the time Bobby Jr. was born, Brown and Houston would marry on July 28, 1992 in front of several well-wishers at Houston's New Jersey residence. Nine months afterwards, on March 4, 1993, Brown and Houston welcomed the birth of their first and only child, daughter Bobbi Kristina Houston-Brown, nicknamed Krissy. Brown and Houston tried producing more children but Houston suffered several miscarriages.

Brown and Houston's marriage was tempered by rumors of Brown's infidelity and the couple's frequent drug use, which was often the subject of jokes at their expense especially on sketch shows, ''Saturday Night Live'' and, much frequently, ''MadTV'', in which they were spoofed by actors Debra Wilson and Aries Spears. Spears' depiction of Brown was that of a jealous, verbally abusive, philandering cocaine-addicted drunk who bristled at his wife's more iconic popularity. Following fourteen years of marriage, Brown and Houston filed for legal separation in September 2006. Their divorce was finalized on April 24, 2007, with Houston receiving custody of their then-14-year-old daughter.

On May 30, 2009, Brown had son Cassius with his partner of two years, manager Alicia Etheridge. Brown and Etheridge became engaged in May 2010, when Brown proposed during a performance at the Funk Fest in Jacksonville, Florida. Brown currently lives in Los Angeles.

In 1996, Brown found himself involved in a drive-by shooting in Boston while with his brother-in-law. His brother-in-law died from gunshot wounds from intruders, Brown narrowly escaped being shot. When police found Brown, he appeared to have been shaken and distraught. Brown's parents Carole and Herbert Brown died within a year of each other, Carole Brown dying in 2011 and Herbert "Pops" Brown dying in January 2012. Following the death of his ex-wife Houston the following February, Brown struggled to perform at a New Edition show the night of Houston's death, shouting, "I love you, Whitney", while in tears. Brown then excused himself from the stage and New Edition canceled their remaining show. Brown was invited to appear at Houston's memorial service at New Jersey but left before the service began. Brown lives in the Atlanta city of Johns Creek.

Mental illness, substance abuse and legal problems[link]

As a child, Brown was diagnosed with ADD and was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder in his early thirties. Brown said that his drug of choice was marijuana and that he had developed alcoholism at an early age, following his rise to fame, he dabbled in cocaine only recreationally at first. Following his marriage to Houston, Brown began dabbling heavily into drug use. By the mid-1990s, he was not only addicted to cocaine and crack, but also heroin, which he often smoked along with marijuana. He and Houston would often smoke cocaine-laced weed in blunts. Following his separation and later divorce from Houston, Brown stopped using cocaine, crack and heroin though he admitted he still drinks but not as much as he did in his younger years.

During his tours, Brown would often be arrested and cited for lewd and lascivious content after simulating sex acts with random female audience members that he would bring onstage. Brown's legal problems however grew serious as he would be often arrested for several offenses over the years including drug possession, driving under the influence and driving while intoxicated. In a now-infamous 1996 arrest while in Florida, during a high-speed police chase, he crashed what was his wife's Mitshubishi, and would be later cited for resisting arrest after he yelled expletives at officers and allegedly performing public urination in the back of one of the squad cars.

In late 2003, Brown was arrested for misdemeanor battery, allegedly for striking Houston while shouting epithets. In February 2004, Brown was arrested and jailed in Georgia on a parole violation related to a previous drunk driving conviction. In June 2004, Brown was sentenced to 90 days in prison for missing three months of child support payments. That sentence was immediately suspended after Brown made back payments totaling about $15,000.

On March 26, 2012 Brown was arrested for DUI after being pulled over for allegedly using a cell phone while driving.

Discography[link]

''King of Stage'' (1986)

''Don't Be Cruel'' (1988)

''Bobby'' (1992)

''Forever'' (1997)

Filmography[link]

Year	Film	Role
1985	''Krush Groove''	Himself
1989	''Ghostbusters II''	Mayor's Doorman
1990	''Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme''	Three Blind Mice
1995		Rose
1996	''A Thin Line Between Love and Hate''	Tee
2001	''Two Can Play That Game''	Michael
2002		Jive
2003	''Gang of Roses''	Left Eye Watkins
2004	''Nora's Hair Salon''	Bennie
2008	''Nora's Hair Salon 2: A Cut Above''	Old Man Butter

References [link]

External links[link]

Bobby Brown Online

NEW Bobby Brown HD interview April 2010

Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:African American dancers Category:African American singers Category:American dance musicians Category:American male singers Category:American pop singers Category:American rhythm and blues singers Category:Grammy Award winners Category:New Edition members Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Atlanta, Georgia Category:Musicians from Boston, Massachusetts Category:Whitney Houston Category:MCA Records artists Category:Celebrity Fit Club participants Category:People convicted of drug offenses Category:People self-identifying as alcoholics Category:People self-identifying as substance abusers Category:People with bipolar disorder

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