Maxwell (musician)
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Maxwell (born in Brooklyn, New York on May 23, 1973) is an American R&B artist. He played an important role in the development of the subgenre of neo-soul music.
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[edit] Biography
Maxwell is his middle name; he chooses to keep his last name private. He was born to a Puerto Rican father and a black Caribbean mother.[1] The loss of his father at the age of three in plane crash (he was returning to his native Puerto Rico for a visit), greatly impacted him as a person and as an artist. Maxwell first performed in a Baptist church, and was heavily inspired by the work of artists such as Marvin Gaye and Prince. Maxwell began his interest in music at the age of 17 by writing songs. He eventually got a record deal with Columbia Records in 1994 when he was 21 years old.
[edit] Current News
According to Billboard, Maxwell was to release a studio album on Columbia Records in February 2007 under the title 'Black Summers' Night'. Recent news from Maxwell's official website announced that the new material will be released as a trilogy, beginning with a first volume in 2007, followed by two subsequent discs in 2008 and 2009. As of February 13, 2007, neither the first single, nor the trilogy's first album have a release date.
On the morning of February 14, 2007, MAXWELL posted a blog on his myspace page, explaining the delay. He also posted an audio message apologizing to fans for the delay. The first single from the upcoming CD can be heard playing in the background.
[edit] Musical Career
Maxwell began working with songwriter Leon Ware and noted guitarist Wah Wah Watson to record his debut Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite in the early 90s. When the album was finished, Columbia had doubts about the album's potential, and shelved it for two years, but finally issued it in 1996.
[edit] Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite was finally released in 1996. It was heavily inspired by the sound of classic soul music. It did not catch on until the release of its second single, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)", which became a hit. Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite sold over 500,000 copies, earning gold status, and was nominated for a Grammy Award.
[edit] Maxwell MTV Unplugged
Maxwell performed his famous R&B and soul (aka neo-soul) songs for his Maxwell Unplugged session in New York on 6/15/1997. He clashed with his label about the release of an album of his unplugged session, so only an EP Maxwell Unplugged CD of the 1st 7 songs below was released for sale.
Set List:
- Suite Urban Theme [the Hush]
- Mello: Sumthin [the Hush]
- Lady Suite
- This Woman's Work
- Whenever Wherever Whatever
- Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
- Gotta Get: Closer
- Now
- Embrya
[edit] Embrya
Maxwell's second album, Embrya, was released in 1998 and became a critical success. The following year, Maxwell released "Fortunate", a single written by R. Kelly and featured on the soundtrack for the 1999 film Life. To date, "Fortunate" is Maxwell's most-successful single, and was Billboard magazine's #1 R&B single of 1999.
[edit] Now
Now, Maxwell's third album, was released in 2001, and featured the hit singles "Lifetime" and "This Woman's Work" (a Kate Bush cover [2] originally featured in his 1997 live Maxwell Unplugged MTV Unplugged setlist).
[edit] Discography
[edit] LPs
- 1996: Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (2x Platinum) #37 US
- 1998: Embrya (Platinum) #3 US
- 2001: Now (Platinum) #1 US, #46 UK
- 2007: Black Summer's Night
[edit] EPs
- 1997: MTV's Unplugged: Maxwell (Gold) #53 US
[edit] Singles
- 1996: "Til the Cops Come Knockin" #79 R&B
- 1996: "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" (Gold) #36 US #8 R&B
- 1996: "Sumthin', Sumthin'" #23 R&B
- 1997: "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever"
- 1998: "Luxury: Cococure"
- 1998: "Matrimony: Maybe You" #79 R&B
- 1999: "Let's Not Play the Game" #55 R&B
- 1999: "Fortunate" (Gold) #4 US #1 R&B
- 2000: "Get to Know Ya" #25 R&B
- 2001: "Lifetime" #22 US #5 R&B
- 2001: "This Woman's Work" #58 US #16 R&B
- 2007 (?): "Fistfull Of Tears"
[edit] Soundtrack contributions
Songs listed in italics were issued as singles.
- 1997: Love Jones ("Sumthin', Sumthin': "Mellosmoothe")
- 1999: Life ("Fortunate")
- 1999: The Best Man (Let's Not Play the Game, As My Girl)
- 2000: Love & Basketball (This Woman's Work)
[edit] Other works
- 1996: Red Hot + Rio ("Seguranca")
- 1996: Sweetback ("Softly, Softly")
- 2004: Cottonbelly NYC Sessions ("Luxury")
Appears as a Featuring Artist
- 2004: Nas' Street's Disciple ("No One Else in the Room")
Singles on compilation albums
- 1999: R&B From Doo-Wop to Hip Hop ("Ascension Don't Ever Wonder")
- 2000: Platinum Hits 2000 ("Fortunate Jay Denes Club Remix")
- 2002: Blazin Hip Hop and R&B ("This Woman's Work")
- 2002: The Classic Chillout Album ("Ascension")
[edit] Awards and nominations
[edit] Awards
- Soul Train Awards (1996) (11th Annual): Best R&B/Soul Single - Male, "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"; Best R&B/Soul Album - Male, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite; Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist, "Ascension"
- Billboard Music Awards (1999) (10th Annual): R&B single, "Fortunate", Maxwell
- Soul Train Awards (2000) (15th Annual): Best R&B/Soul Single - Male, "Fortunate" by Maxwell
[edit] Nominations
- Grammy Awards- 1996 (39th Annual): Best R&B Album, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite - Maxwell
- Grammy Awards- 1997 (40th Annual): Best Pop Male Vocalist - "Whenever Wherever Whatever"
- Grammy Awards- 1998 (41st Annual): Best Male R&B Vocal Performance - "Matrimony: Maybe You"; Best R&B Album - Embrya - Maxwell
- Grammy Awards-1999 (42nd Annual): Best R&B Male Vocalist, Maxwell - "Fortunate"
- Blockbuster Entertainment Awards- 1999 (6th Annual): Favorite Song, "Fortunate"
- Soul Train Music Awards- 1999 (14th Annual): Best R&B/Soul Album - Male, Embrya
- NAACP Image Awards- 2001 (33rd Annual): Outstanding Male Artist - "Lifetime"
- Soul Train Music Awards- 2002 (17th Annual): 2002- Best R&B/Soul Single - Male, "This Woman's Work"
- Grammy Awards-2001 (44th Annual): Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, "Lifetime"
- BET Awards 2002 (2nd Annual) :2002- Best Male R&B Artist
- MTV Video Music Awards- 2002 (19th Annual) :2002- Breakthrough Video- "This Woman's Work"
