Maxwell (musician)

Maxwell, on the cover of his 2001 *Now* album.

Maxwell (born in Brooklyn, New York on May 23, 1973) is an American R&B musician, inportant in the develpment of the subgenre of neo-soul music.

Biography

Maxwell (the singer's middle name; he chooses to keep his full birth name private) was born of mixed Puerto Rican and Black Caribbean hertiage. began a career in music after losing his father at the age of three. He first performed in the Baptist church, and was heavily inspired by the work of artists such as Marvin Gaye and Prince. At the age of seventeen, he began writing songs, and eventually got a record deal with Columbia Records in 1994.

The singer began working with songwriter Leon Ware and noted guitarist Wah Wah Watson to record his debut, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite. When the album was finished, Columbia had doubts about the album's potential, and shelved it for two years, finally issuing it in 1996. The album, heavily inspired by the sound of classic soul music, 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.

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's #1 R&B single of 1999.

Now, Maxwell's third album, was released in 2001, and featured the hit singles "Lifetime" and "This Woman's Work" (a Kate Bush cover originally featured in his 1997 live MTV Unplugged setlist). Maxwell's latest album, Black Summer's Night, was completed in 2005, but has been shelved indefinitely by Columbia Records.

Discography

Full albums

1996: Maxwell's Urban Hange Suite
1998: Embrya
2001: Now

EPs

1997: MTV's Unplugged: Maxwell

Singles

1996: "Til the Cops Come Knockin"
1996: "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)"
1996: "Sumthin', Sumthin'"
1997: "Whenever, Wherever, Whatever"
1998: "Luxury: Cococure"
1998: "Martimony: Maybe You"
1999: "Let's Not Play the Game"
1999: "Fortunate"
2000: "Get to Know Ya"
2001: "Lifetime"
2001: "This Woman's Work"

Soundtrack contributions

Songs listed in italics were issued as singles.

1996: Love Jones ("Sumthin', Sumthin': "Mellosmoothe")
1999: Life ("Fortunate")
1999- The Best Man (Let's Not Play the Game, As My Girl)
2000- Love and Basketball (This Woman's Work)

Awards and nominations

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

Nominations

Grammy Awards- 1996 (39th Annual): Best Rhythm & Blues 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 R&B Male Vocalist - "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
MTV Video Music Awards- 2002 (19th Annual) :2002- Breakthrough Video- "This Woman's Work"

External Links

Official website

www.musze.com

Fan sites