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Biography
Other peopleInfobox musical artist|name = Mark Morrison|image =|background = solo_singer|alias = Mack Morrison|origin = Leicester , England |Nationality = England|English |birth_date = Birth date and age|1972|5|3|df=yes|birth_place = Hanover , West Germany |genre = Contemporary R& B|R& B , Hip hop music|hip hop |years_active = 1993-present|label = Mack Life Records Mark Morrison (born 3 May 1972) is an English People|English Contemporary R& B|R& B singing|singer . The first black male solo artist to reach number-one in the 1990s, his single (music)|single , " Return of the Mack ", became a number-one or Top 40|Top 10 hit record|hit in several European countries in 1996. The song peaked at number 2 in the United States the following year.
Early life
Born in Hanover , West Germany , to Barbadian parents, he lived in Leicester , England and attended Rushey Mead School , before moving to Miami , Florida . At age 19, he moved back to England .
Career
Early career
Mark Morrison's first official recording was the 1993 vinyl release, Where Is Our Love , pressed on his own private Joe'Mel label.
Main career
In mid-1995, Morrison released his debut single, Crazy , which became a Top 20 hit in the UK. The follow-up single, ''Let's Get Down , also entered the Top 40. They were followed in the spring of 1996 by Return of the Mack which became a smash international hit spending two weeks at #1 on the UK charts. Morrison became the first black male solo artist to reach #1 in the 1990s.
His debut album, also titled Return of the Mack (album)|Return of the Mack , followed and became a multi-platinum 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 10 hits from a debut album.
Although his career was going well, Morrison was constantly in trouble with the law. In 1997, he was imprisoned the same year he received four Brit Awards nominations, Mercury Prize nomination, an MTV Europe Music Awards nomination, and five Music of Black Origin Awards (MOBO) nominations as the single Return of the Mack began to climb its way to #2 on the American Billboard charts| 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 Warner Music Group|WEA and Morrison to release Only God Can Judge Me (Morrison album)|Only God Can Judge Me , a 9-track Extended play|EP which contained live performances, interviews, prayers, and three full-length songs including ''Who's The Mack! which reached #13 in the UK.
Legal issues
Morrison has faced various criminal charges during his career including a 1997 conviction for attempting to bring a firearm aboard an airliner for which he served three months just as his hit song, Return of the Mack , began rising up the US Billboard charts| Billboard charts .cite web | last = Erlewine | first = Stephen | title = Mark Morrison Biography | work = Allmusic | publisher = Yahoo& #33; Music | url = http://music.yahoo.com/ar-258461-bio--Mark-Morrison | accessdate = 2007-07-16 In 1998, he failed to appear in court on charges of possessing an offensive weapon, choosing to instead fly to the West Indies island of Barbados . He was arrested and remanded into custody upon his return to the United Kingdom." http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432336/19980318/morrison_mark.jhtml Mark Morrison Back In Custody After Jumping Bail", MTV , 18 March 1998, retrieved 2010-05-31" http://www.nme.com/news/mark-morrison/118 SLAMMERTIME& #33; MARK MORRISON IN WORMWOOD SCRUBS", NME , 23 February 1998, retrieved 2010-05-31 He was later cleared of the offensive weapon charge." http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432334/19980327/morrison_mark.jhtml Mark Morrison Not Guilty Of Offensive Weapon Charge", MTV , 27 March 1998, retrieved 2010-05-31
He was convicted of affray for his part in a brawl resulting in one fatality and sentenced to community service.Lister, David (1998) " http://www.independent.co.uk/news/in-the-news-mark-morrison--pop-star-takes-the-ultimate-rap-for-a-life-of-living-dangerously-1152244.html In the news: Mark Morrison - Pop star takes the ultimate rap for a life of living dangerously", The Independent , 25 March 1998, retrieved 2010-05-31 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.Heawood, Sophie (2006) " http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2006/mar/08/popandrock 'I'm the most real black artist in England'", The Guardian , 8 March 2006, retrieved 2010-05-31 While in prison, Morrison reportedly converted to Islam and attempted to change his name to Abdul Rahman." http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432333/19981028/morrison_mark.jhtml Mark Morrison Changing Name", MTV , October 28, 1998, retrieved 2010-05-31 Also in 1998, Morrison was banned from driving for six months and fined £1,380 after twice being caught driving without a licence." http://www.nme.com/news/mark-morrison/120 MORRISON'S TROUBLES CONTINUE", NME , 24 February 1998, retrieved 2010-05-31
In 2002, Morrison was arrested on suspicion of kidnapping and car theft." http://www.nme.com/news/korn/12080 MARK MORRISON DRAMA - POLICEMAN ARRESTED", NME , 18 July 2002, retrieved 2010-05-31 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 custody after a fracas started when his medallion went missing.Youngs, Ian (2004) " http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/3527444.stm R& B star Mark Morrison arrested", BBC , 2 August 2004, retrieved 2010-05-31
In 2009, Morrison was arrested for an assault in London." http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/107044/Morrison-facing-assault-charge-after-arrest MORRISON FACING ASSAULT CHARGE AFTER ARREST", Daily Express , 12 June 2009, retrieved 2010-05-31
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 featuring Connor Reeves & Gabrielle (singer)|Gabrielle became Morrison's ninth Top 40 hit single, reaching #23 on the UK Singles Chart . http://www.chartstats.com/release.php? release=27363 Chart Stats The following year, it was announced by Billboard (magazine)|Billboard that Morrison had signed a five-year worldwide deal with Death Row Records founder Suge Knight|Marion "Suge" Knight , making him the first, and only British artist to be signed with Death Row Records . http://www.billboard.com/news/death-row-heads-to-u-k-1078037.story#/news/death-row-heads-to-u-k-1078037.story Death Row Heads To U.K.
He later signed to soccer player Kevin Campbell (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. http://www.chartstats.com/songinfo.php? id=31830 Just a Man/Backstabbers, Chart Stats, retrieved 2010-05-31
In May 2006, Morrison released the limited edition compact disc|CD / DVD album entitled Innocent Man in the United Kingdom on his private label, Mack Life Records/Mona Records. The title track, Innocent Man , featuring DMX (rapper)|DMX was released in March 2006. It was well received and reached #46 on the UK Singles Chart . In 2007, he was featured on hip-hop artist Cassidy (rapper)|Cassidy's single titled 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 , and charted 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." http://www.hiphop-elements.com/article/read/4/17554/1/ Mark Morrison To Release 'Best Of' Album/European Tour", HipHop-Elements.com, 10 March 2008, retrieved 2010-05-31
In 2010, he announced the planned release of a new album entitled I Am What I Am (Mark Morrison album)|I Am What I Am which has a tentative release date of 2012. Plans for a world-wide tour to accompany the new release was also announced.
In 2012, Mark Morrison appeared as a guest feature on the Houston rapper Trae Tha Truth 's "I'm On 2.0" which features notable rappers Big Krit , Jadakiss , J. Cole , Kendrick Lamar , B.O.B , Tyga , Gudda Gudda and Bun B .
Discography
Main|Mark Morrison discography
Return of the Mack (album)|Return of the Mack (1996)
Innocent Man (2006)
I Am What I Am (Mark Morrison album)|I Am What I Am (2012)
References
reflistrefbegin
http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/markmorrison/discography Rolling Stone discography for Mark Morrison
http://music.yahoo.com/ar-258461-discography--Mark-Morrison Yahoo& #33; discography for Mark Morrison
http://beehive.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/default.asp? WCI=SiteHome& ID=8354 Interviews on the Leicester Bands website
refend
External links
http://www.markmorrison.com Mark Morrison Official website
http://www.mackliferecords.com Macklife Records Official website
youtube|u=markmorrisononline
myspace|macklife
Persondata| NAME = Morrison, Mark | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH = 3 May 1972 | PLACE OF BIRTH = Hanover , West Germany | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Morrison, Mark Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Military brats Category:People from Leicester Category:English male singers Category:Death Row Records artists Category:Black British singers
