Maxwell (musician)

Maxwell (born in Brooklyn, New York on May 23, 1973) is an American R&B musician, important in the development 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 heritage. Maxwell 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.

Related Topics:
Puerto Rican - Black - Caribbean - Baptist - Marvin Gaye - Prince - Columbia Records - 1994

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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, but finally issued 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.

Related Topics:
Leon Ware - Wah Wah Watson - 1996 - Soul music - Gold status - Grammy Award

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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.

Related Topics:
1998 - R. Kelly - Life - ''Billboard'' magazine

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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. According to Billboard, Maxwell will be releasing a new album on Columbia in February 2006.

Related Topics:
2001 - Kate Bush - 1997 - MTV Unplugged - 2005 - February - 2006

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