Horace Brown (musician)
Encyclopedia
Horace Brown was born in Charlotte
, North Carolina
and is the son of a Baptist
minister. Despite singing in the church as a child, Brown never believed he would have a singing career and instead dreamed of one day being a professional basketball player. However, a knee injury ruined these plans.
Brown played a variety of instruments
in his school's marching band and got a break when DeVante Swing
of Jodeci
heard one of his demos
. He then earned spots doing background vocals
for Christopher Williams
and some writing
and producing
. (Terri & Monica
's Systa album
) He then managed to get a recording contract
with Uptown Records
after president Andre Harrell
saw him in a recording
session.
In 1994, while on Uptown Records, Brown spurred controversy his single
"Taste Your Love" was released. The single was an ode to oral sex
and was banned in parts of the South
. Despite the press around the single, it failed to perform well on the charts
and caused Brown's album to be shelved.
When Andre Harrell of Uptown moved to Motown, he brought Brown with him. Motown promoted the album by releasing two more singles and in 1996, released his self-titled debut album. The album featured Sean "Puffy" Combs and Faith Evans
and his remix
es featured Foxy Brown and Jay-Z
.
In July 2007 he appeared on German R&B artist Lisha's Album "Nice to Meet You" with the track "I Want That".
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
and is the son of a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister. Despite singing in the church as a child, Brown never believed he would have a singing career and instead dreamed of one day being a professional basketball player. However, a knee injury ruined these plans.
Brown played a variety of instruments
Musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted for the purpose of making musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the...
in his school's marching band and got a break when DeVante Swing
DeVante Swing
Donald Earle DeGrate, Jr. , better known by his stage name DeVante Swing, is an American record producer, singer, rapper and songwriter. Swing rose to fame in the 1990s as the founding member of the trendsetting R&B group Jodeci, one of the more popular R&B acts of its time...
of Jodeci
Jodeci
Jodeci is an American band, whose repertoire includes R&B, soul music, and new jack swing. The group consists of two pairs of brothers from Hampton, Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina: Cedric & Joel Hailey and Donald & Dalvin DeGrate, all respectively known by their stage names: K-Ci & Jojo,...
heard one of his demos
Demo (music)
A demo version or demo of a song is one recorded for reference rather than for release. A demo is a way for a musician to approximate their ideas on tape or disc, and provide an example of those ideas to record labels, producers or other artists...
. He then earned spots doing background vocals
Backing vocalist
A backing vocalist or backing singer is a singer who provides vocal harmony with the lead vocalist or other backing vocalists...
for Christopher Williams
Christopher Williams (singer)
Christopher Williams is an American R&B singer and actor.-Music career:...
and some writing
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
and producing
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. (Terri & Monica
Terri & Monica
Terri & Monica was a R&B duo from the early 1990s which featured Terri Robinson and Monica Payne, who were members of the short-lived late 80s New Jack Swing R&B group The Gyrlz. They released a pair of full-length recordings, 1993's Systa and 1996's Suga, both released via Epic Records...
's Systa album
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
) He then managed to get a recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Uptown Records
Uptown Records
Uptown Records was an American record label, founded by Andre Harrell in 1986. It went on to become one of the most popular Hip-Hop and R&B labels of the late 1980's and early 1990s. Featured on the roster were such luminaries as Guy, Heavy D & The Boyz, Jodeci, Mary J. Blige, and Soul for Real...
after president Andre Harrell
Andre Harrell
Andre Harrell is founder of the now defunct record label, Uptown Records. Harrell also served as president/CEO of Motown Records. He was also the first half of the hip hop duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde.-Biography:...
saw him in a recording
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
session.
In 1994, while on Uptown Records, Brown spurred controversy 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...
"Taste Your Love" was released. The single was an ode to oral sex
Oral sex
Oral sex is sexual activity involving the stimulation of the genitalia of a sex partner by the use of the mouth, tongue, teeth or throat. Cunnilingus refers to oral sex performed on females while fellatio refer to oral sex performed on males. Anilingus refers to oral stimulation of a person's anus...
and was banned in parts of the South
South
South is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.South is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of north and is perpendicular to east and west.By convention, the bottom side of a map is south....
. Despite the press around the single, it failed to perform well on the charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
and caused Brown's album to be shelved.
When Andre Harrell of Uptown moved to Motown, he brought Brown with him. Motown promoted the album by releasing two more singles and in 1996, released his self-titled debut album. The album featured Sean "Puffy" Combs and Faith Evans
Faith Evans
Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B...
and his remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es featured Foxy Brown and Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
.
In July 2007 he appeared on German R&B artist Lisha's Album "Nice to Meet You" with the track "I Want That".
Singles chart positions
| Year | Song | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B | Sales | ||
| 1994 | Taste Your Love | - | 38 | - |
| 1996 | One for the Money | 62 | 14 | 12 |
| 1996 | Things We Do for Love | 95 | 40 | 13 |
| 1996 | How Can We Stop (feat. Faith Evans Faith Evans Faith Renée Evans is an American singer-songwriter, recording artist, record producer, actress and author. Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Evans relocated to Los Angeles during 1993 for a career with the music business. After working as a backing vocalist for Al B... ) |
- | 77 | - |
| 2001 | Shake It Up | - | - | - |
| 2008 | You Are | - | - | - |