Mark Middleton

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Mark Middleton is a member of the R&B group Blackstreet, born in Brooklyn, New York and raised in South Carolina. Middleton grew up in the church and began singing at an early age. His musical influences included Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway.

[edit] Early career and Blackstreet

In 1992 Middleton contributed background vocals for R&B singer Bruce Saunders on his album. His fellow Blackstreet groupmate Eric Williams also sang background vocals on Saunders album. In 1996 New Jack Swing pioneer and founder and member of R&B groups Guy and Blackstreet Teddy Riley and Blackstreet's co-founder Chauncey Hannibal were looking for new members for Blackstreet after the departure of members Levi Little and Dave Hollister. The group first recruited Englewood, New Jersey native Williams, who was a good friend of Hannibal. Williams told Riley and Hannibal about Middleton who sang background vocals with him for Bruce Saunders. After hearing Middleton sing Riley and Hannibal were blown away by his talent and he became a member of Blackstreet. Middleton along with Eric Williams made their debut's with Blackstreet on the first single from their second album Another Level in the summer of 1996 called "No Diggity" featuring West Coast rapper Dr. Dre and Teddy Riley's protege female rapper Queen Pen.

[edit] Solo career

After helping propel the group to success with their second album and a few guest appearances their was trouble brewing within the Blackstreet camp. A dispute over money issues saw Middleton leave the group in 1998 to find success as a solo artist. Blackstreet replaced Middleton with North Carolina native Terrell Phillips and they released their third album Finally in 1999. In 2000 Mark Middleton was featured on rapper Vibe's song "Tonight's The Night".

In 2001 he sang the song "I Do" for the soundtrack for the movie The Brothers. That same year Middleton signed a solo deal with Quincy Jones label Qwest Records distributed through Warner Bros. Records. He then recorded his solo debut My Turn, My Time which featured songs such as "Me & Your Lady", "Date With Love", and "Forever You & I". The album however wasn't released because Qwest Records folded.

[edit] Blackstreet reunion

Middleton was displeased with not finding success as a solo artist. The group he left to go solo Blackstreet was also not having any success with their third album Finally and began having problems with their label Interscope Records. Despite the success of their singles "Take Me There" with singer Mýa and rappers Mase and Blinky Blink, "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" with Janet Jackson, and rappers Ja Rule and Eve, and "Think About You", the album couldn't live up to the success of their 1994 debut and 1996 second album Another Level.

The declining sales of Finally, problems with their label Interscope, and numerous line-up changes took its toll on the group as group co-founders Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal began feuding as they were suing each other and taking each other to court. Hannibal accused Riley of stealing the members of Blackstreet's money and also that Riley slept with Hannibal's girlfriend. Riley then decided to focus on the Guy reunion instead of Blackstreet and put the group on hiatus.

After the release of Guy's reunion album Guy III in 2000, Riley soon had a falling out with Guy members Aaron Hall and Damion Hall. He decided to focus on his own writing and producing career and started work on a solo album. Some of the songs he recorded felt like Blackstreet records to him. He had second thoughts about disbanding Blackstreet and decided to end the bitter feud with Hannibal. The two decided to put the group's Another Level line-up back together and brought Eric Williams and Mark Middleton back to the fold. In 2003 the group released their reunion album titled Level II which featured the hits "Wizzy Wow" featuring rapper Mystikal, "Deep", and "Bygones" which Middleton wrote and featured ex-Blackstreet member Dave Hollister.

In 2005 Chauncey Hannibal decided to leave Blackstreet for a solo career. In 2006 Teddy Riley, Mark Middleton, and Eric Williams reformed Blackstreet with new member J-Stylz and joined the New Jack Reunion Tour, which Riley created along with Tony! Toni! Tone!, After 7, SWV, and Riley's earlier group, Guy.

Mark Middleton is working on a new Blackstreet album that is planned for release mid-2008.