Albert Jason Brown III (born June 4, 1968, Boston,
Massachusetts) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer.
He grew up in Leonia, New Jersey and Mount Vernon, New York. During
the late 1980s under the stage name Al B. Sure!, he enjoyed a brief
run as one of New Jack Swing's most popular romantic singers and
producers
Brown was a star football quarterback at Mount Vernon High School
in New York, who rejected an athletic scholarship to the University
of Iowa to pursue a music career. In 1987, Quincy Jones selected
Brown as the first winner of the Sony Innovators Talent Search. Subsequently,
Brown went on to work with Jones on several projects, most notably
the platinum single "Secret Garden" from Jones' double
platinum album, Back on the Block. On this recording, Brown was one
of a quartet with Barry White, El DeBarge, and James Ingram.
His debut album from 1988, In Effect Mode, sold more than two million
copies, topping the Billboard R&B chart for seven straight weeks.
The album included his single "Nite and Day", which topped
the R&B chart and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. He received
numerous Grammy and American Music Award (AMA) nominations, and won
an AMA for Best New R&B Artist. He also received several Soul
Train Award nominations, and won the award for Best New Artist. He
also won several New York Music Awards. In addition, his 900 phone
line was third in generating revenue, following those for New Kids
on the Block and Run-DMC.
As a writer and producer, Brown introduced the multi-platinum group
Jodeci and teen R&B performer Tevin Campbell (also one of Quincy
Jones's former protégés), as well as Faith Evans, Dave
Hollister, Case, and Usher to the music industry.
In 2009, Brown signed with Hidden Beach Recordings. His first single, "I
Love It (Papi Aye, Aye, Aye)" entered the Radio & Records
Urban AC chart at #33 in one week. The album Honey I'm Home was released
on June 23, 2009.
[edit] Other work
In 1991, Sure co-starred with Martin Lawrence in a television pilot
titled Private Times. Other cast members included ER's Michael Michele
and The Five Heartbeats' Michael Wright. Sure's various talk show
appearances include The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with David
Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America,
The Arsenio Hall Show, Rolanda, and Donahue. Sure's television and
acting performances include Showtime at the Apollo, Soul Train and
The Soul Train Music Awards, the Grammys, the American Music Awards,
Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel Air, and ABC's Magic Johnson Special
from Hawaii. He also hosted MTV Jams.
In 2000, Sure's ABS Entertainment launched a television development
division, and he served as co-executive producer of the HBO Comedy
Special starring Jamie Foxx, filmed at the Paramount Theater in Oakland,
California.
Recently, Sure teamed with the ABC Radio Network to produce a romantic
nighttime show, The Secret Garden, hosted by him and featuring a
blend of music and celebrity guests.
He participated in the Bless the Children Foundation celebrity auction
along with NFL stars Charles Woodson and Anthony Dorsett. Sure was
presented with the key to the city of Oakland by city council member
Laurence E. Reid in recognition of the work of Sure's ABS Ken-Struk-Shen
in refurbishing parts of the city. Reid proclaimed October 19 "Al
B Sure! Day."
Sure was a DJ on the Los Angeles radio station KHHT, and played
old school and R&B. He was one of 590 Clear Channel employees
released in April 2009.
One of his three sons, known as Lil B. Sure! was featured on MTV
series Rock the Cradle.
In 2010, Sure appeared as one of the 12 contestants on the TV One
reality television dating game show The Ultimate Merger.[3] The series
is produced by Donald Trump and stars former Apprentice contestant
Omarosa Manigault-Stallworth, whom Sure has dated previously.[4]
[edit] Personal life
Sure has three sons: Quincy Brown (June 4, 1991), with Kimberly
Porter (Who also made an appearance on Keeping Up with the Kardashians),
Albert Brown IV (who is an aspiring singer with the stage name "Lil
B. Sure!"); and Devin, who resides in Atlanta, Georgia. He also
has a goddaughter, Paige Hurd.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
2009: Honey I'm Home, Hidden Beach Recordings
1992: Sexy Versus, Warner Bros. Records
1990: Private Times...and the Whole 9!, Warner Bros. Records
1988: In Effect Mode, Warner Bros. Records
[edit] Singles
"Nite and Day" (1988) #7, #1 R&B
"Off On Your Own (Girl)" (1988) #45, #1 R&B
"Rescue Me" (1988) #3 R&B
"Killing Me Softly" (1988) #80, #14 R&B
"If I'm Not Your Lover" (feat. Slick Rick) (1989) #2 R&B
"Somebody for Me" (with Heavy D & The Boyz) (1989)
"The Secret Garden" (with Quincy Jones) (1990) #31, #1 R&B
"Missunderstanding" (1990) #42, #1 R&B
"No Matter What You Do" (feat. Diana Ross) (1991) #4 R&B
"Had Enuf" (1991) #28 R&B
"Right Now" (1992) #47, #1 R&B
"U & I" (1992)
"Natalie" (1992) #56 R&B
"I Don't Wanna Cry" (1993) #83 R&B
"I'm Still In Love"
"Black Tie/White Noise" (feat. David Bowie)
"I Love It (Papi Aye Aye Aye)" (2009) #77 R&B, #22 Adult R&B
(Active)