Brownstone (group)

Brownstone

Brownstone is a Grammy Award nominated female R&B group popular during the mid-1990s which has begun a revival in 2007. They are best known for the 1995 hit single, "If You Love Me". They also had some success with the singles "Grapevyne", "Pass The Lovin'", and "I Can't Tell You Why", a song originally recorded by the Eagles.

Group History

Brownstone's debut album From the Bottom Up

The three original members of Brownstone were Nichole "Nicci" Gilbert, Charmayne "Maxee" Maxwell and Monica "Mimi" Doby. The group was founded in Los Angeles after the three singers met each other after going to different auditions around the city. They formed the group, and less than a year later were signed to Michael Jackson's MJJ Music Record Label. They recorded their debut album, From the Bottom Up which spawned the hit "If You Love Me". In 1995 the band was awarded with a Grammy nomination and a Billboard Music Award.

After extensive touring around the globe, Doby left the group after what was released in the media in an interview with BET Video Soul host Donnie Simpson as a medical problem of bronchitis, but was later revealed through radio interviews to be because of internal strife with the other two members of the group. She was replaced by Kina Cosper and after a difficult transition period where their audience was not very receptive to the change in both physical makeup and harmony, Brownstone had a brief showing with "5 Miles to Empty".

During the group's down time, Gilbert has had small roles in a few movies and TV. She also had a role in Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns where she acted as Mr. Brown's sister, Vera. Maxwell had an on again, off again career in Europe as a recording artist. Doby left the business and is a teacher with two children.

Currently, Brownstone has reunited with both Gilbert and Maxee, bringing on a new member, Racquel Roberts (who happens to be a close friend of former member Kina), an international performing artist with stage credits on Broadway (Hairspray), as well as an international tour of (Rent) as a member of the Benny Company, and a Deutsch production of The Lion King in Hamburg, Germany.

Discography

Albums

Artwork	Album	Release Date	Peak Position	Certification
	From the Bottom Up	January 10, 1995	#29	Platinum
	Still Climbing	June 24, 1997	#51	–
	All For Love	October 31, 2000	–	–

Singles

Year	Title	Album	US	US R&B	US Dance	UK
1995	"If You Love Me"	From the Bottom Up	8	2	–	8
1995	"Grapevyne"	From the Bottom Up	49	6	–	16
1995	"I Can't Tell You Why"	From the Bottom Up	54	22	–	27
1995	"Freedom"	Panther soundtrack	38	18	–	–
1997	"5 Miles to Empty"	Still Climbing	39	6	38	12
1997	"Kiss and Tell"	Still Climbing	–	41	–	21
2007	"Stand By Me"	N/A	–	N/A	–	N/A

Awards & nominations

Year	Award
1995	Billboard Music Award Win for Top Hot R&B Singles Airplay for "If You Love Me"
1995	Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot R&B Singles Artist - Duos/Group
1995	Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot R&B Singles Artist
1995	Billboard Music Award nomination for Top New R&B Artist
1995	Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Artist - Duos/Group
1995	Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot R&B Singles & Tracks for "If Your Love Me"
1995	Grammy Award nomination for Best Rhythm & Blues Vocal Performance - Duo or Group ("If You Love Me") [1]
1995	Lady of Soul Music Award nomination for Best R&B/Soul Song of the Year for "If You Love Me"

Trivia

• Brownstone had preformed an unreleased song titled A Capella in front of Micheal Jackson, impressing him so much that he signed the group to his MJJ Music label. It is a personal favorite of member Nichole "Nicci" Gilbert.

References

• Billboard.com (2006) Discography - Brownstone
• Billboard.com (2006) Artist Chart History - Brownstone

Website

• Myspace (2007) - Brownstone
• Official Site (2007) - Brownstone Defunct