"All men have a vision, a goal they keep their eyes on. Our goal is to always put out the best music possible."-- Spanky, Men of Vizion
Men of Vizion was first formed by member George "G-Fly" Spencer as a quartet at New York's La Guardia High School of Music & Art. It became complete with the addition of the dynamic Prathan "Spanky" Williams, also a songwriter and producer. Following intensive rehearsal and performances, the group was picked up by Jade Productions. With the assistance of super-producer Teddy Riley, they secured a deal with Michael Jackson's MJJ Music.
The quintet made an impressive splash with its 1996 debut album, Personal. Their very first single, "House Keeper" (co-written by G-Fly), became a Top 10 R&B hit and introduced the group as purveyors of romance at its finest. In the lyrics and again in the song's video, MOV placed women on a pedestal, promising to do whatever it takes to prepare them for an evening of non-stop ardor. The group backed up "House Keeper" with the funk-fortified bounce of "Do Thangz," featuring a rap by a then up-and-coming Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott; and a cover of the Jacksons' Philly soul classic "Show You The Way To Go," which was featured on the soundtrack of the Wesley Snipes/Jennifer Lopez movie, Money Train.
A tour opening for R. Kelly was the highlight of this crucial first stage. "We were just a group from the hood," G-Fly reminisces. "We never imagined we'd be playing in front of so many people so soon."
Change is a common denominator for nearly all of R&B's greatest groups and for MOV, realignment became a painful necessity. Today, Men of Vizion consists of Spanky and G-Fly, plus three new members formerly of RIFF: a once-rival group from Paterson, New Jersey best known for their scintillating performance in the film, Lean On Me, and their early-'90s singles "My Heart Is Failing Me," "If You're Serious," and "Every Time My Heart Beats."
Spanky met Anthony "Chill" Fuller during a church service. "We talked," Spanky says, "and he asked me if I could help his group with some production or writing. They had lost some members"- Riff was down to a trio from a quintet- "so I could feel where he was coming from. I put his number in my coat pocket.
"Meanwhile, MOV went overseas for some shows using fill-ins who just didn't work out. When I got home from the tour, I found Chill's number on a faded slip of paper when I was doing my laundry. Suddenly, I realized how we could help each other."
RIFF members Anthony "Chill" Fuller, Dwayne "Stylz" Jones, and Michael "Nitty Green" Best, who have been singing together since high school, brought their collective strengths to comprise the new and improved Mach II version of Men of Vizion. It offered a more contemporary vehicle for the former members of RIFF, which flexed a more doo wop-steeped ensemble sound. In MOV, the guys stretch more because all five members get chances to sing passionate leads. Nitty: "We feel this was destined to happen and is a blessing." And when asked how long it took the members to bond, G-Fly responds: "About three minutes!"
Since then, MOV has worked with an impressive list of industry heavy-hitters including, Fred Jerkins, who produced "Do You Feel Me (…Freak You)”, the first single off their sophomore CD, which also featured the distinctive rhyme stylings of Mr. Cheeks from the rap group, Lost Boyz; JOE who penned and produced the second single, "Break Me Off"; Teddy Riley; and the late, Kenny Greene, formerly of INTRO.
Bound by a fierce desire to excel, inseparable ties to their individual families and a shared faith in the Lord, the members of Men of Vizion have morphed into a makeshift family of their own. (In fact, the group includes two real-life brothers, Stylz and Chill.) Together, all five members are determined to live up to the legacy of greats like the Temptations and the Dells (both still going strong at this writing).
Most recently, the fellas have been back in the studio creating more of that memorable music that we have come to know and love them for. So, be on the lookout. Men of Vizion intends to take you to soul church with their upcoming gospel project due out early 2007. Check back often for updates!!!
