Al B. Sure!

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Al B. Sure!
Al B. Sure! on the cover of his Very Best Of album
Al B. Sure! on the cover of his Very Best Of album
Background information
Birth name Albert Brown
Born June 4, 1969
Origin Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Genre(s) Urban, New jack swing, Quiet Storm, R&B
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, producer, musician
Instrument(s) Vocal, keyboard
Years active 1987-present
Label(s) Warner Bros. Records
Associated
acts		 Quincy Jones, Heavy D.

Al B. Sure! (born Albert Brown on June 4, 1969 in Boston, Massachusetts) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York and during the late 1980s, Al B. Sure! enjoyed a brief run as one of New jack swing's most popular romantic singers and producers. He is known for his trademark unibrow.

Contents

[edit] Music career

Brown was a star football running-back in high school, who later turned down a scholarship at the University of Iowa to pursue a career in music. Al's debut album, In Effect Mode, sold more than 2 million copies, launching the double platinum-plus LP to the top of the Billboard charts at the #1 position (R&B) for seven straight weeks. The album included his memorable "Nite and Day" single. In 1987, Quincy Jones selected Al as the first winner of the Sony Innovators Talent Search in a blindfold contest. Subsequently, Al would go on to work with Quincy on several projects; most notable, the platinum single "Secret Garden" from the album Back on the Block, a double platinum CD. Accompanying Al on this quartet were Barry White, El DeBarge, and James Ingram.

Al B Sure! received numerous Grammy nominations, American Music Award nominations as well as an AMA for Best New R&B Artist, several Soul Train Award nominations and STA for Best New Artist, several New York Music Awards, more than thirty ASCAP Awards for writing and composition performance. In addition, Al's 900 phone line was third in generating revenue following boy band New Kids on the Block and Russell Simmons unprecedented discovery and hip-hop legends Run-DMC.

In 2000, ABS Entertainment launched a television development division by being the co-executive producer of the HBO Comedy Special with Jamie Foxx filmed at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, California. Al participated in the Bless the Children Foundation celebrity auction along with NFL stars Charles Woodson and Anthony Dorsett. Al was presented with the key to the city of Oakland by Mayor Laurence E. Reid's for his participation through ABS Ken-Struk-Shen in refurbishing the magnificent and historical city of Oakland, making October 19th Al B Sure! day. Currently Al has teamed up with ABCRN radio mogul and executive vice president Darryl Brown in addition to his Power House syndication team of experienced radio executives Edward Pearson, Hector Hannabal, and Vern Catron. They launched a new nighttime, celebrity-intense, romantic radio show titled "The Secret Garden" hosted by Al B. Sure! Al's vision for the Secret Garden Xperience is a journey into the soul of the listener, supplying non-stop, blazing-hot, romantic, current, and classic music, taking the captive audience wherever it desires to travel, as well as introduce them to the inside of the their favorite celebrity through intriguing yet stimulating conversation (reminiscent of NYC's legendary radio personalities Vaughn Harper and Frankie Crocker). Weekly visits from celebrity guests and intriguing personalities from every facet of the music, sports, television, and the film industries.

As a writer and producer, Al has generated some of today's most inspired and innovative music, including his music industry introduction of the multi-platinum group Jodeci, and teen R&B sensation Tevin Campbell, one of Quincy Jones's former protégés. Al's introduction of Jodeci and production on its multi-platinum debut launched Al B. Sure! as one of the premier and decorative producer-songwriters in the history of the American music business. Al was also credited with introducing many R&B artists such as Faith Evans, Dave Hollister, Case, and Usher Raymond to the music scene.

[edit] Personal

Al B Sure! has a son, Albert Brown IV; a son, Quincy, with Kim Porter; and a son by a woman, thought to be named Tanya in Atlanta.[citation needed]

[edit] Movie and television credits

Al co-starred with Martin Lawrence in a pilot titled Private Times, directed by George Jackson, Doug McHenry, and Stan Lathan. The cast included ER's Michael Michele and The Five Heartbeats' Michael Wright. Al's various talk show appearances include The Oprah Winfrey Show, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Good Morning America, Arsenio Hall, Rolanda, Phil Donahue, NBC's Live at 5, and Good Morning Los Angeles. Al's television and acting performances include Showtime at the Apollo, BET, Soul Train & Soul Train Awards, the Grammys, the American Music Awards, "Will Smith's" Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Quincy Jones's Back on the Block movie/documentary, and ABC's Magic Johnson Special from Hawaii. Al also assisted MTV Networks in launching its first R&B dedicated show on the Network by hosting MTV Jams.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] Singles

  • "Secret Garden"
  • "Night and Day"
  • "Off On Your Own Girl"
  • "Rescue Me"
  • "If I'm Not Your Lover" (feat. Slick Rick)
  • "No Matter What" (feat. Diana Ross)
  • "Had Enuf"
  • "Right Now"
  • "Misunderstanding"
  • "Natalie"
  • "I'm Still In Love"
  • "Nite and Day"
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