Robert Barisford "Bobby" Brown (born February
5, 1969) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, occasional rapper,
and dancer. After success in pop group New Edition, Brown began his
solo career in 1987 and had a string of Top 10 Billboard hits, culminating
in a Grammy Award. He was a pioneer of New Jack Swing music, a fusion
of hip hop and R&B. His second album, Don't Be Cruel, included
popular songs such as "My Prerogative". Brown is the ex-husband
of R&B singer Whitney Houston and starred in the reality show
Being Bobby Brown.
Bobby Brown began his music career as a member of the R&B boy
band New Edition which he founded along with childhood friend Michael
Bivins. He is the youngest member of the group since the inception.[citation
needed] The group's hits with Brown included "Candy Girl", "Cool
It Now", and "Mr. Telephone Man". Brown was voted
out of New Edition in 1986 when the other four members felt that
their careers would be jeopardized by Bobby's lewd, line-crossing
on-stage antics.[1] Throughout the All for Love tour, he feuded with
Ralph Tresvant and cut in on Tresvant's lead vocals. In 1996, Brown
rejoined the group for New Edition's comeback album, Home Again.
In the middle of the tour, he engaged in further racy on-stage antics.
He extended his solo set and cut into Bell Biv Devoe's time. Once
again, he left New Edition. In the fall of 2005, New Edition performed
at BET's 25th Anniversary Special. The group performed a medley of
its greatest hits, and even brought Bobby Brown on stage for a rendition
of "Mr. Telephone Man". It was later announced on BET and
Inside Hollywood that Bobby had rejoined the group and would be on
the next group album. In January 2006, New Edition announced that
the group would launch a new album and tour in 2008. Bobby also appeared
at a concert in Columbia, South Carolina that New Edition had filmed
for a future dvd release.
[edit] Solo career
After leaving New Edition in 1985, Brown stayed with the group manager
Steven Machat and Machat secured from MCA, the groups record label,
a record deal guaranteed for Browns solo career if Brown agreed to
leave the New Edition. MCA released his first solo album, King of
Stage, in 1986. This album included "Girlfriend", a minor
hit which went to #1 on the Billboard R&B charts and #57 on the
Billboard Hot 100. Other than that, King of Stage did not garner
much attention. However, Brown's next album, 1988's Don't Be Cruel
with Machat overseeing the entire production and styling of Brown
with Louil Silas, MCA's rep, rocketed him to super stardom. Working
with the writing/producing team of L.A. Reid and Babyface, as well
as Teddy Riley, Don't Be Cruel spawned five Top 10 Billboard Hot
100 singles: "Don't Be Cruel" (#8), "Every Little
Step" (#3), "Rock Wit' Cha" (#7), "My Prerogative" (#1),
and "Roni" (#3). The album would eventually be certified
8x platinum (8,000,000 units sold).[2]
In 1989, he contributed two songs (including "On Our Own",
which reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100) to the Ghostbusters II
soundtrack, in addition to making a cameo in the film. Brown has
subsequently dabbled in acting.
In between the "On Our Own" single and the release of
Brown's next album, a remix album, Dance! Ya Know It! was released
to capitalise on Brown's huge success at the time. A non-album "megamix" single
was released to promote the project. The European dance-oriented
version (sampling beats by Snap!) was titled "The Freestyle
Megamix" and was a hit in the UK, reaching #14 on the Gallup
charts. A more R'n'B oriented version called "Every Little Hit
Mix" (b/w "Roni) hit the Australian top 10
Brown's third album, Bobby, did not arrive until 1992. It reached
#2 on the Billboard album charts and produced the hit singles "Humpin'
Around" (#3 on the Billboard Hot 100) and "Good Enough" (#7)
as well as a smaller hit in "Get Away" (#14). The album
was eventually certified 1x platinum (1,000,000 units sold).[2] However,
it did not come close to matching the album sales or singles chart
success of its predecessor.
Brown waited until 1997 to release his next (and to date, last)
album of original material, Forever. The album was originally titled
Bobby II and was supposed to be produced by such luminaries as R.Kelly,
Teddy Riley, Sean Combs and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. However, Brown
negotiated 100% creative control of the album[citation needed] and
decided to write all the songs himself. It only managed to climb
to #61 on the Billboard Hot 200 album charts and produced no charting
singles.
There were hopes for a Brown comeback in 2002 when he appeared on
the lead single "Thug Lovin'" from rapper Ja Rule's third
studio album The Last Temptation. There were even talks that Brown
had signed with Murder, Inc. (now known as The Inc) records.
In 2006 Brown appeared on "Beautiful", the third single
from Damian Marley's album Welcome to Jamrock.
2010 Bobby Brown surprised his fans duetting with American R&B
and soul singer-songwriter, record producer, and actress Macy Gray
on her new album titled "The Sellout" The Sellout. Together
they did a song "Real Love". Macy Gray divulge the pleasure
of working with Bobby Brown to Essence Magazine.[3] on the project
quoting, "Actually 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 fiance, 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.".[4] Bobby Brown is working
on his 5th solo album The Masterpiece that is set to be released
early 2011 with production from producers such as Jimmy Jam & Terry
Lewis, Teddy Riley, Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Derek "DOA" Allen,
Benjamin Franklin, & some of his nephews.
[edit] Heads of State
As of September 27, 2008, Brown began touring with fellow New Edition
members Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill in a new group named Heads
of State. The group continues to tour worldwide. They are currently
recording an album.
[edit] Movies
While always maintaining his focus on music, Brown has also been
venturing into the movie side of showbiz. In 1996, Brown co-starred
in the hit movie, "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate",
along with Martin Lawrence and Lynn Whitfield. and in more recent
years he has appeared in the films Two Can Play That Game, along
with Vivica A. Fox and Morris Chestnut; "Go for Broke";
and Gang of Roses starring Lil' Kim, Lisa Raye, Stacy Dash, and Marie
Matiko. After those he was in Nora's Hair Salon. Also conquering
the small screen with the hit television show "Being Bobby Brown."
Bobby Brown had cameo guest appearances in many movies. Panther
(1995) starring Courtney B. Vance and Chris Rock. Earlier, he played
all three characters of Three Blind Mice in Mother Goose Rock 'n'
Rhyme (1990). In 1989 was Brown's first solo guest cameo appearance
in Ghostbusters II playing the Mayor's Doorman.
1985 Krush Groove Character Name: Himself[5]
1989 Ghostbusters II Played The Mayor's Doorman[6]
1989 His Prerogative Interview and Videos[7]
1990 Mother Goose Rock 'N' Rhymes Character Name: Three Blind Mice[8]
1992 Bobby Brown: Humpin' Around Making of the Video
1993 Bobby Brown: Bobby Played Himself
1995 Panther Character Name: Rose[9]
1996 A Thin Line Between Love and Hate Character Name: Tee[10]
2001 Two Can Play That Game Character Name: Michael[11]
2002 Go For Broke Character Name: Jive[12]
2003 Gang of Roses Character Name: Left Eye Watkins[13]
2004 Nora's Hair Salon Character Name: Bennie[14]
2008 Nora's Hair Salon II Character Name: Old Man Butter[15]
[edit] Personal life
Bobby Brown (born February 5, 1969) to Herbert and Carol Brown.
Brown has a total of 6 siblings: two Brothers Tommy Brown (former
longtime manager), Derrick Brown; four sisters; Leolah Brown, Tina
Brown, Bethy Brown(passed away due to cancer), and Carolyn Brown.
He has a total of five biological children. In chronological order
the oldest being his son Landon Brown age 24, La'princia Brown age
21, Robert(Bobby)Brown Jr. age 18, Bobbi Kristina Brown, age 17 and
Cassius Brown age, 1. Brown had a brief intimate relationship with
pop superstar Janet Jackson during the Don't Be Cruel era. Brown
married Whitney Houston in July 1992. Together they have one daughter,
Bobbi Kristina Brown, born on March 4, 1993. On September 13, 2006,
Houston's publicist announced that after 14 years of marriage, Houston
had filed for a legal separation from Brown. One month later, Houston
officially filed for a divorce from Brown.[16] It was ruled by a
judge on April 4, 2007 that their marriage would be definitively
dissolved on April 24, 2007, and that Whitney would receive custody
of their then 14-year-old daughter. Bobby now has a new son named
Cassius Brown with his new wife, Alicia Etheredge-Brown, born 3 years
after his divorce from Houston.[17]
Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Brown's legal and substance
abuse troubles threatened to overshadow his music. In late 2003,
Brown was arrested for misdemeanor battery, allegedly for striking
Houston while shouting epithets.[18] In February 2004, Brown was
arrested and jailed in Georgia on a parole violation related to a
previous drunk driving conviction. Whitney Houston has also publicly
stated that Brown's choice of drug was marijuana laced with cocaine.[19]
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.[20]
Brown's eldest son, Landon Brown, appeared on the MTV show Rock
the Cradle. On February 3, 2009, it was announced Brown was expecting
his fifth child with his then girlfriend.[21] His fifth son, a boy
named Cassius, was born May 30, 2009.[22]
He has been appearing on cable-televised reality T.V. shows such
as Celebrity Fit Club, Gone Country, and his own show entitled Being
Bobby Brown.
Bobby Brown made a guest appearance on The Monique Show with fellow
group mates Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant to promote their ongoing
tour across the globe to sold out shows. Bobby also discussed how
he overcame his struggles. He told the world how happy he is to be
in love with his new wife Alicia Etheredge-Brown. The trio Heads
of State performed medleys of their classic legendary hits to an
audience full of die hard New Edition fans.[23]
On May 7, 2010, Brown proposed to his long time girlfriend[24] while
performing at the Funk Fest in Jacksonville, Fla. He asked her to
marry him while giving his performance on stage. He got down on one
knee and when she joined him on stage along with their child she
accepted his proposal. He is currently signed to Geffen Records/Interscope
Records.
[edit] Discography
[edit] Studio albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications[25]
(sales threshold)
US US R&B UK AUS SWE AUT SWI
1986 King of Stage
* Released: December 11, 1986
* Label: MCA Records
88 12 40 — — — —
1988 Don't Be Cruel
* Released: June 20, 1988
* Label: MCA Records
1 1 3 5 20 — —
* US: 7× Platinum
* UK: 2× Platinum
* CAN: 3× Platinum
1992 Bobby
* Released: August 25, 1992
* Label: MCA Records
2 1 11 2 4 26 18
* US: 2× Platinum
* CAN: 2× Platinum
1997 Forever
* Released: November 4, 1997
* Label: MCA Records
61 15
The Masterpiece
* Released: 2011
* Label: Brownhouse Entertainment/Geffen/Interscope
- -
[edit] Remix albums
Year Album details Peak chart positions Certifications[25]
(sales threshold)
US US
R&B UK AUS
1989 Dance!...Ya Know It!
* Released: 1989
* Label: MCA Records
9 7 26 14
* US: Platinum
* UK: Gold
* CAN: Gold
1993 Remixes n the Key of B
* Released: 1993
* Label: MCA Records
— 72 — —
"—"
denotes releases that did not chart
[edit] Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions RIAA[26] Album
US US R&B US Dance US AC UK
1986 "Girlfriend" 57 1 — — — — King
of Stage
1987 "Girl Next Door" — 31 — — — —
1988 "Don't Be Cruel" 8 1 — — 42 Gold Don't
Be Cruel
"
My Prerogative" 1 1 71 — 6 Gold
1989 "Don't Be Cruel" (UK re-release) — — — — 13 —
"
Roni" 3 2 1 — 21 Gold
"
Every Little Step" 3 1 17 — 6 Gold
"
On Our Own" 2 1 15 — 4 Platinum Ghostbusters 2 (soundtrack)
"
Rock Wit'cha" 7 3 — 28 33 Gold Don't Be Cruel
1990 "The Freestyle Mega-Mix" — — — — 14 — Non-album
song
1992 "Humpin' Around" 3 1 15 — 19 Gold Bobby
"
Good Enough" 7 5 — — 41 Gold
1993 "Get Away" 14 3 3 — — —
"
That's the Way Love Is" 57 9 31 — 56 —
"
Something in Common" (with Whitney Houston) — — — — 16 —
1994 "Two Can Play That Game" — — — — 38 —
1995 "Two Can Play That Game" (remix) — — — — 3 — Remixes
n the Key of B
"
Humpin' Around" (remix) — — — — 8 —
"
My Prerogative" (remix) — — — — 17 —
1996 "Every Little Step" (remix) — — — — 25 —
1997 "Feelin' Inside" — 42 — — 40 — Forever
2006 "Lying Eyes" — — — — — — The
Masterpiece
2009 "Damaged" — — — — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or not certified
[edit] Featured singles
Year Single Artist Peak chart positions Album
US US R&B US Dance UK
1990 "She Ain't Worth It" Glenn Medeiros 1 43 — 12
Glenn Medeiros
2002 "Thug Lovin'" Ja Rule 42 16 10 15 The Last Temptation
2006 "Beautiful" Damian Marley — — — 39
Welcome to Jamrock
2010 "Real Love" Macy Gray — — — - The
Sellout