Mark Morrison
Encyclopedia
Mark Morrison is a British
R&B
singer. He was the most successful UK R&B singer of the mid-90s and the first black male solo artist to reach number one in the 90s. His single
"Return of the Mack" became a #1 or Top 10 hit
in several European countries in 1996. The song peaked at #2 in America the following year.
, West Germany
, to Barbadian parentage, Morrison lived in Leicester
, before moving to Miami, Florida
at a young age, where he discovered his love for music.
In mid 1995 he released his debut single "Crazy", which became a Top-20 hit in the UK, and "Let's Get Down", the swing beat summer jam, entering the Top-40. They were followed in the spring of 1996 by the aforementioned "Return of the Mack", which became a smash hit worldwide, spending two weeks at number one in the UK charts. Morrison became the first black male solo artist to reach number one in the 90s.
His debut album, also titled Return of the Mack
followed, and became a multiplatinum success. It reached number four in the UK chart, and sold 3 million albums worldwide. It spun off several more hit singles over the next year. "Crazy" (Remix), "Trippin'", "Horny" and "Moan & Groan" would all reach the UK Top-10, making him the first artist in British pop history to have five Top-10s from their debut album.
Although his career was going well, Morrison was constantly in trouble with the law. In 1997 he was imprisoned, the same year (coincidently) he received four Brit nominations, a Mercury Music Prize nomination, an MTV Europe award nomination and 5 MOBO nominations (including winning best R&B), as "Return of the Mack" began to climb its way to number two on the American Billboard charts receiving platinum status en-route. It stayed on the Billboard charts for an incredible 25 weeks.
He also performed at the 1997 Brit Awards. The performance at the Brit's influenced WEA
and Morrison to release Only God Can Judge Me, a 9-track EP
which contained live performances, interviews, prayers and three full-length songs including "Who's The Mack!" which reached #13 in the UK.
instead; He was arrested on his return to the UK and remanded in custody. He was later cleared of the offensive weapon charge.
He was convicted of affray
for his part in a brawl in which a man was killed, and sentenced to community service. Morrison later was incarcerated in Wormwood Scrubs
for a year for paying a lookalike to perform his court-appointed community service in his stead, while Morrison himself went on tour. While in prison, Morrison reportedly converted to Islam
and attempted to change his name to Abdul Rahman. Also in 1998, Morrison was banned from driving for six months and fined £1,380 after twice being caught driving without a licence.
In 2002, Morrison was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and car theft. He was released on bail but a policemen was later arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe from Morrison in return for his release. Morrison failed to appear in court to face the charges and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In 2004, he was arrested and spent a night in police cells, after a fracas that started when his medallion was stolen.
In 2009, Morrison was arrested for an assault in London.
became Morrison's ninth Top 40 hit single, reaching #23 on the UK Singles Chart
. The following year, it was announced by Billboard
that Morrison had signed a five-year worldwide deal with Death Row Records
founder Marion "Suge" Knight
, making him the first, and only British artist to be signed with Death Row Records
.
He later signed to footballer Kevin Campbell
's 2 Wikid label in 2003. His only release for the label, a single entitled "Just a Man"/"Backstabbers", was a minor UK hit, reaching #48 in the UK Singles Chart
in August 2004.
In May 2006, Morrison released a limited edition DVD
/CD
comeback album Innocent Man
in the UK, independently through his own imprint Mack Life Records/Mona Records. A single, also entitled "Innocent Man" feat. DMX
was released in March 2006. It was well received, and reached #46 in the UK Singles Chart
. The following year, in 2007 he featured on Cassidy's single "Innocent (Misunderstood)" from the B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story album. The track sampled Morrison's vocals from the song, "Innocent Man". It was produced by Swizz Beatz, and charted highly on Billboard's Bubbling Under Singles chart.
In 2008, Morrison announced the release of a 'best of' compilation, King of British R&B: The Best Of.. Mark Morrison, although it remains unreleased.
In 2010, a brand new album was announced, called I Am What I Am
, for which a release date has yet to be set. A world-wide tour is to accompany the album release.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer. He was the most successful UK R&B singer of the mid-90s and the first black male solo artist to reach number one in the 90s. His single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
"Return of the Mack" became a #1 or Top 10 hit
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
in several European countries in 1996. The song peaked at #2 in America the following year.
Early life
Born in HanoverHanover
Hanover or Hannover, on the river Leine, is the capital of the federal state of Lower Saxony , Germany and was once by personal union the family seat of the Hanoverian Kings of Great Britain, under their title as the dukes of Brunswick-Lüneburg...
, West Germany
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
, to Barbadian parentage, Morrison lived in Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, before moving to Miami, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
at a young age, where he discovered his love for music.
Early career
Mark Morrison's first official recording was "Where Is Our Love", pressed on Vynal in 1993, on his own Joe'Mel label.Main career
Mark Morrison went on to become the most successful British R&B singer of the mid-90s. His breakthrough single, "Return of the Mack" became a Top Ten hit worldwide in 1996, and opened the US market for him the following year. Although he became a commercial success overnight, his career was plagued by run-ins with the law that prevented him from consolidating his position as a superstar.In mid 1995 he released his debut single "Crazy", which became a Top-20 hit in the UK, and "Let's Get Down", the swing beat summer jam, entering the Top-40. They were followed in the spring of 1996 by the aforementioned "Return of the Mack", which became a smash hit worldwide, spending two weeks at number one in the UK charts. Morrison became the first black male solo artist to reach number one in the 90s.
His debut album, also titled Return of the Mack
Return of the Mack (album)
Return of the Mack is the debut album by Mark Morrison.-Track listing:United Kingdom:1. "Home PT 1" **Produced by Mark Morrison & Phil Chill.**All instruments & additional production by Billy Moss.2...
followed, and became a multiplatinum success. It reached number four in the UK chart, and sold 3 million albums worldwide. It spun off several more hit singles over the next year. "Crazy" (Remix), "Trippin'", "Horny" and "Moan & Groan" would all reach the UK Top-10, making him the first artist in British pop history to have five Top-10s from their debut album.
Although his career was going well, Morrison was constantly in trouble with the law. In 1997 he was imprisoned, the same year (coincidently) he received four Brit nominations, a Mercury Music Prize nomination, an MTV Europe award nomination and 5 MOBO nominations (including winning best R&B), as "Return of the Mack" began to climb its way to number two on the American Billboard charts receiving platinum status en-route. It stayed on the Billboard charts for an incredible 25 weeks.
He also performed at the 1997 Brit Awards. The performance at the Brit's influenced WEA
Warner Music Group
Warner Music Group is the third largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry, making it one of the big four record companies...
and Morrison to release Only God Can Judge Me, a 9-track EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
which contained live performances, interviews, prayers and three full-length songs including "Who's The Mack!" which reached #13 in the UK.
Criminal record
Morrison has been accused of various crimes, in 1997 he was convicted of attempting to bring a fire arm onto an aircraft. He was jailed for three months for the offence in early '97, at the same time Morrison's hit song "Return of the Mack" began to climb its way to #2 in the U.S. Billboard Charts. In 1998 he failed to appear in court on charges of possessing an offensive weapon, flying to BarbadosBarbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
instead; He was arrested on his return to the UK and remanded in custody. He was later cleared of the offensive weapon charge.
He was convicted of affray
Affray
In many legal jurisdictions related to English common law, affray is a public order offence consisting of the fighting of two or more persons in a public place to the terror of ordinary people...
for his part in a brawl in which a man was killed, and sentenced to community service. Morrison later was incarcerated in Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs
Wormwood Scrubs, known locally as The Scrubs, is an open space located in the north-eastern corner of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London. It is the largest open space in the Borough, at 80 ha , and one of the largest areas of common land in London...
for a year for paying a lookalike to perform his court-appointed community service in his stead, while Morrison himself went on tour. While in prison, Morrison reportedly converted to Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and attempted to change his name to Abdul Rahman. Also in 1998, Morrison was banned from driving for six months and fined £1,380 after twice being caught driving without a licence.
In 2002, Morrison was arrested on suspicion of kidnap and car theft. He was released on bail but a policemen was later arrested on suspicion of taking a bribe from Morrison in return for his release. Morrison failed to appear in court to face the charges and a warrant was issued for his arrest.
In 2004, he was arrested and spent a night in police cells, after a fracas that started when his medallion was stolen.
In 2009, Morrison was arrested for an assault in London.
Return to music
Morrison appeared on the 1999 Brit Awards where he presented an award, introduced Whitney Houston and announced his return to music. In September 1999, a single titled "Best Friend" feat. Connor Reeves & GabrielleGabrielle (singer)
Louisa Gabrielle Bobb is a multi-platinum selling, BRIT Award winning English singer, who records under the name Gabrielle. Gabrielle began her career temping during the day and singing for free in London clubs at night...
became Morrison's ninth Top 40 hit single, reaching #23 on the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The following year, it was announced by Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
that Morrison had signed a five-year worldwide deal with Death Row Records
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
founder Marion "Suge" Knight
Suge Knight
Marion "Suge" Knight, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Black Kapital Records and co-founder and former CEO of Death Row Records. Death Row Records rose to dominate the rap charts after Dr. Dre's breakthrough album The Chronic in 1992. After several years of chart successes for artists including...
, making him the first, and only British artist to be signed with Death Row Records
Death Row Records
Death Row Records is a record label founded in 1991 by Marion "Suge" Knight Jr., Andre Young , Tracy Lynn Curry and Michael Harris . It is known to have been home to many popular West Coast hip hop artists such as Dr...
.
He later signed to footballer Kevin Campbell
Kevin Campbell (footballer)
Kevin Joseph Campbell is an English former football player who played as a striker.-Playing career:Campbell began his career as a trainee with Arsenal, joining the club on schoolboy forms in 1985...
's 2 Wikid label in 2003. His only release for the label, a single entitled "Just a Man"/"Backstabbers", was a minor UK hit, reaching #48 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in August 2004.
In May 2006, Morrison released a limited edition DVD
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
/CD
Compact Disc
The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,...
comeback album Innocent Man
Innocent Man
Innocent Man is the third album released by British R&B musician Mark Morrison, and released in the UK as a limited edition DVD release. It is the second full-length album release, and follow up to "Return Of The Mack" in 1996. In 1997 Mark Morrison released an E.P. entitled "Only God Can Judge Me"...
in the UK, independently through his own imprint Mack Life Records/Mona Records. A single, also entitled "Innocent Man" feat. DMX
DMX (rapper)
Earl Simmons , better known by his stage name DMX, is a multiplatinum American rapper and actor who rose to fame in the late 1990s. His stage name pays tribute to the Oberheim DMX drum machine, an instrument he used when he made his own rap beats in the 80's...
was released in March 2006. It was well received, and reached #46 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The following year, in 2007 he featured on Cassidy's single "Innocent (Misunderstood)" from the B.A.R.S. The Barry Adrian Reese Story album. The track sampled Morrison's vocals from the song, "Innocent Man". It was produced by Swizz Beatz, and charted highly on Billboard's Bubbling Under Singles chart.
In 2008, Morrison announced the release of a 'best of' compilation, King of British R&B: The Best Of.. Mark Morrison, although it remains unreleased.
In 2010, a brand new album was announced, called I Am What I Am
I Am What I Am (Mark Morrison album)
I Am What I Am is a forthcoming studio album by British R&B singer Mark Morrison.Confirmed tracks that will appear on the album include the singles "My Life", "B'Day" feat...
, for which a release date has yet to be set. A world-wide tour is to accompany the album release.
Discography
- Return of the MackReturn of the Mack (album)Return of the Mack is the debut album by Mark Morrison.-Track listing:United Kingdom:1. "Home PT 1" **Produced by Mark Morrison & Phil Chill.**All instruments & additional production by Billy Moss.2...
(1996) (UK) - Only God Can Judge Me (1997)
- Innocent ManInnocent ManInnocent Man is the third album released by British R&B musician Mark Morrison, and released in the UK as a limited edition DVD release. It is the second full-length album release, and follow up to "Return Of The Mack" in 1996. In 1997 Mark Morrison released an E.P. entitled "Only God Can Judge Me"...
(2006) - I Am What I AmI Am What I Am (Mark Morrison album)I Am What I Am is a forthcoming studio album by British R&B singer Mark Morrison.Confirmed tracks that will appear on the album include the singles "My Life", "B'Day" feat...
(2012)