Harvey Mason, Jr.

Harvey Mason, Jr.
Background information
Birth name	Harvey Jay Mason
Born	(1968-06-03) June 3, 1968 Boston, Massachusetts
Origin	Los Angeles, California
Genres	Pop, R&B, Jazz
Occupations	Record producer, songwriter, movie producer
Years active	1976 – present
Associated acts	Whitney Houston, Jordin Sparks, Chris Brown, Britney Spears, Jennifer Hudson, Justin Timberlake, Toni Braxton
Website	Harvey Mason Media Website

Harvey Mason, Jr. (born June 3, 1968) is a six-time Grammy Award-winning American songwriter, record producer and movie producer. He has written and produced songs for popular performers in the music industry including Aretha Franklin, Elton John, Whitney Houston, and Luther Vandross as well as current artists like Britney Spears, Jordin Sparks, Chris Brown, Jennifer Hudson, Leona Lewis, Mary J. Blige and Justin Timberlake. He served as executive producer on the film “More Than A Game" – a documentary featuring NBA star, LeBron James.

Biography

Mason Jr. was born into a musical family. His father, noted jazz drummer Harvey Mason, Sr., and mother, Sally Mason, both attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston.^[1] Harvey moved with his family to Los Angeles as a child and followed his father to many recording sessions with such greats as Quincy Jones, The Brothers Johnson and Herbie Hancock. Mason Jr. penned his first song at the age of eight for Grover Washington, Jr. titled "Love Makes It Better".^[2]

After attending the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship from 1986–1990 and playing in the 1988 Final Four, he began working as a songwriter/record producer. Some early work included tracks for British pop artist Michelle Gayle's album "Sensational" in 1997 and the jazz/soul duo Imprompt2. He co-produced the jazz album "Ratamacue" with his father, Harvey Mason Sr. in 1997. In addition he worked with Mason Sr.'s group Fourplay and produced the track "Sexual Healing" featuring El Debarge in 1998.

In 1997, Mason Jr. also penned the track "Truthfully" which caught the attention of record producer, Rodney Jerkins. The track was produced for Brandy's 1998 album "Never Say Never".^[3] Mason Jr. then worked with Jerkins over the next three years on projects like “Say My Name” by Destiny's Child, "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" by Whitney Houston, "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton and on the Invincible by Michael Jackson.

The Underdogs

In 2000, Mason Jr. co-wrote the track "I Like Them Girls" with Damon Thomas for Tyrese's album "2000 Watts".^[4] The success of that song led to a partnership and the formation of Underdog Entertainment. The Underdogs produced R&B and pop hits like "How You Gonna Act Like That" by Tyrese, "Gots Ta Be" by B2K, "O" by Omarion, "More To Life" by Stacie Orrico, "Sorry 2004" by Ruben Studdard, and “No Air” by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.^[5] In 2001, he collaborated with British designer and former member of the Spice Girls Victoria Beckham on her debut album Victoria Beckham on tracks like "Girlfriend" and some b-sides.^[6] In 2004, The Underdogs signed a label deal through BMG under Clive Davis^[7] and created Underdog Music Publishing, a joint venture with Rondor/Universal Music.^[8] In 2006, The Underdogs produced the soundtrack to the motion picture “Dreamgirls” which won the Critic's Choice Award in 2007 for best movie soundtrack.^[9] After a three year hiatus, The Underdogs reunited in 2011 to produce "Up 2 You" for Chris Brown's album "F.A.M.E.". The Underdogs wrote and produced the song "Living Proof" performed by Mary J. Blige for the movie "The Help". The Underdogs wrote and produced the second single from Chris Brown's album Fortune titled Turn Up the Music. In 2012 The Underdogs produced the vocals for the film Pitch Perfect, starring Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow.^[10]

Harvey Mason Media

Mason Jr. formed his independent company Harvey Mason Media in 2008. It encompasses his film and record productions, music publishing, and website ventures. Record productions include the 2008 releases of Chris Brown's, "Superhuman" from the album "Exclusive", Britney Spears', "Mannequin" from the album "Circus"^[11] and Jennifer Hudson's, "You Pulled Me Through" from her self-titled debut album. He produced the title track "I Look To You" along with Tricky Stewart and the cover of "Song for You" along with Stargate for Whitney Houston's 2009 album "I Look To You". .^[12] In 2010, Mason Jr. produced the updated version of "One Shining Moment" featuring Jennifer Hudson for CBS Sports to be featured during the Final Four.^[13] Mason Jr. produced and worked as A&R on Toni Braxton's Pulse. In 2011, Mason Jr. produced the first single "Where You At" along with R. Kelly for Jennifer Hudson's album "I Remember Me"

Harvey Mason Media produced the feature film "More Than A Game” in 2008. This inspirational movie documents the rise of LeBron James and his high school teammates from their early AAU basketball days to the high school national championship stage. The film received rave reviews when it premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2008 where it won first runner up to best film, “Slumdog Millionaire”.^[14] Lions Gate Films will distribute the film with a fall 2009 release.^[15] Harvey Mason Music and Interscope Records distributed the soundtrack album titled "Music Inspired by More Than a Game". "More Than A Game" is nominated for best documentary at the 2010 NAACP Image Awards and the Independent Spirit Awards.

Mason Jr. is also the musical consultant on the social networking website "Sweety High” which launched in February 2010. He appeared on the 2011 season of American Idol as a mentor/producer, working with Pia Toscano and Jacob Lusk. He has also made numerous appearances on the reality series Braxton Family Values on the WEtv Network starring Toni Braxton.

Grammy Foundation

Mason Jr. was elected to the board of the directors for the Los Angeles chapter of NARAS (National Academy of Record Arts and Sciences) in 2007 and the board of trustees in 2009. He has participated in Grammy Foundation events including Grammy in the Schools, Grammy Camp^[16] and the Music Cares Foundation.

Basketball

Mason Jr. has also achieved great success on the basketball court. As a guard on the Crescenta Valley High School team in La Crescenta, California he was selected to the All-CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) team in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He received a full-scholarship to the University of Arizona and played for Hall of Fame coach, Lute Olson. Mason Jr.'s teams won the Pac-10 title in 1988, 1989 and 1990 and played in the Final Four in 1988.^[17] Notable teammates include Steve Kerr (Chicago Bulls), Jud Buechler (Chicago Bulls), Bison Dele (Chicago Bulls), Sean Elliott (San Antonio Spurs) and Kenny Lofton (Major League Baseball six time all-star).^[18] Multiple knee surgeries sidelined Mason Jr.’s hope of a continuing basketball career. Most recently he has played in the NBA Entertainment League where he has been consistently selected to the all-star team. Mason Jr. serves on the National Leadership Council and the Board of Trustees for the University of Arizona.

Trey Mason, who plays at Arizona Wildcats, is Harvey Mason, Jr.'s son.

Songwriting and/or Music Production Highlights

• 50 Cent featuring Brevi – "Be My Bitch"
• Avant – "4 Minutes", "When It Hurts"
• Babyface – "Cant Stop Now", "Loneliness"
• Backstreet Boys – "Rush Over Me"
• E-17 – "I Miss You", "I'm Here For You"
• Victoria Beckham – "Girlfriend", "Always Be My Baby"
• Beyoncé – "Listen"
• Jack Black & Cee-Lo – "Kung Fu Fighting"
• Brandy – "Truthfully"
• B2K – "Gots Ta Be"
• B5 – "All Over Again, "What It Do", "Things I Would Do"
• Dane Bowers – "Shut Up And Forget About It"
• Toni Braxton – "He Wasn't Man Enough", "I Wanna Be (Your Baby)", "I Hate You", "Finally", "Hands Tied", "Hero", "Why Don't You Love Me", "Stay"
• Chris Brown – "Ya Man Ain't Me", "Young Love", "Is This Love", "Take You Down", "Help Me", "Get At'Cha", "Nothin", "Lottery", "Superhuman", "Heart Ain't A Brain", Turn Up The Music, "Free Run"
• Kelly Clarkson – "Thankful", "You Thought Wrong"
• Deborah Cox – "If I Had One Wish", "U Need To Quit"
• Craig David – "Take 'Em Off", "My Love Don't Stop"
• Dream – "That's OK", "Promise Me"
• Dreamgirls – Movie Soundtrack
• Fantasia – "Ain't Gonna Beg", "This Is Me", "Always on My Mind"
• Fourplay – "Sexual Healing", "Love TKO" (featuring Ruben Studdard)
• Aretha Franklin featuring Fantasia – "Put You Up on Game"
• Aretha Franklin featuring Mary J. Blige – "Never Gonna Break My Faith"
• Ginuwine – "Good For Nothing", "Please You"
• Whitney Houston – "I Look To You", "Song For You"
• Jennifer Hudson – "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going", "Love You I Do", "Where You At", "If This Isn't Love", "My Heart", "You Pulled Me Through", "Invisible"
• Javier – "Beautiful U R", "Biggest Mistake", "Slow Motion"
• Lyfe Jennings – "Cops Up"
• Joe – "Ain't Nothin' Like Me", "Priceless", "Beautiful"
• JoJo – "Baby It's You", "Never Say Goodbye"
• Donell Jones – "Ooh Na Na", "Cuttin Me Off"
• K-Ci & JoJo – "Love Me Carefully"
• Tynisha Keli – "Walls Up"
• Dave Koz – "Whisper in Your Ear"
• Leona Lewis – "I Know Who I Am"
• Luke and Q – "My Turn"
• Mario – "What Your Name Is", "Holla Back", "Could U Be", "How Could You", "I'm The One", "If I Hurt You"
• Marques Houston – "Naked", "Always & Forever"
• Mary J. Blige – "Never Gonna Break My Faith", "Living Proof"
• Jessica Mauboy – "Fight For You", "Here For Me"
• Brian McKnight – "Shoulda Woulda Coulda"
• Katharine McPhee – "Do What You Do"
• Mishon – "Text Me", "Life Guard", "Just A Kiss"
• Monica – "Sideline Ho", "My Everything"
• Musiq Soulchild – "Today"
• R.L. Huggar – "Good Man", "Model Chick"
• NLT – "That Girl"
• Nina – "What If"
• Olivia – "You Got The Damn Thing"
• Omarion – "O", "Midnight", "Im Try'na"
• Spice Girls – "Let Love Lead The Way"
• Stacie Orrico – "More To Life", "I Promise"
• Calvin Richardson – "Not Like This"
• Jordin Sparks – "No Air" – featuring Chris Brown, "Don't Let It Go To Your Head"
• Britney Spears – "Mannequin"
• Ruben Studdard – "Sorry 2004", "Change Me", "Get Loose", "Love TKO" (Fourplay)
• Tank – "Please Don't Go", "My Body", My Heart", "Wedding Song", "If You Dream", "Sex Music","Beautiful", "You Mean That Much"
• Justin Timberlake – "Still on My Brain"
• Tyrese – "I Like Them Girls", "How You Gonna Act Like That", "One", "I Ain't Tryna", "Better To Know", "Come Back To Me Shawty", "With Me"
• J. Valentine – "She's Worth The Trouble", "Wassup", "Heartbreak"
• Luther Vandross – "If I Was The One"
• Luther Vandross and Elton John – "Anyone Who Had A Heart"
• Charlie Wilson – "What If I'm The One", "Homeless", "Can't Live Without You"
• Elliott Yamin – "Doorway", "Always"
• Ya Boy – "We Ready" (from "More Than A Game" soundtrack)
• Jessica Mauboy – "Here For Me", "Fight For You"
• Jesse McCartney – "Mrs. Mistake"
• Toni Braxton – "He Wasn't Man Enough", "I Wanna Be (Your Baby)", "I Hate You", "Finally", "Hands Tied", "Hero", "Why Don't You Love Me", "Stay", "Austine Karibo"

Awards and nominations

References

External links

• Harvey Mason Media
• Underdog Entertainment
• Harvey Mason Sr.
• More Than A Game
• Sweety High
• Harvey Mason Jr. on More Than a Game
• Mason's Talents Not Limited To Basketball
• French Underdogs Interview on SoulRnB.com