As legend has it, the three singers who founded the group Brownstone
were pounding the pavement in their quest for a record contract when
they abruptly found themselves facing a terrifying tryout. At one of
their many boardroom auditions in the early 1990s, pop deity and record
label exec Michael Jackson casually arrived to hear the session.
Although the prospect of performing in front of the "King of Pop"
triggered an instant case of the jitters for the members of Brownstone,
they persevered. When the trio launched into a stunning a capella
number, Jackson declared their heartfelt harmonies extraordinary, and
soon they were recording their debut album, From the Bottom Up, for his
fledgling MJJ Music label. After the record's release, critics were as
equally impressed as Jackson. "This set stands on its own," stated a
review in Billboard. "With the trio . expressing themselves on such
flavorful tracks as the enchantingly serene 'Sometimes Dancin,' the
soulful rendition of the Eagles classic 'I Can't Tell You Why,' the
inspirational 'Don't Cry For Me,' and the hip-hop/G-funk-influenced
'Pass the Lovin.'" The record, which included a variety of producers,
was released in January 1995. It went gold and spawned the hit single
"If You Love Me," which climbed to the pop Top 10 and reached No. 2 on
the R&B chart. The follow-up single, "Grapevyne," also cracked the
R&B Top 10. Brownstone was suddenly in demand. They joined Boyz II
Men on a sold-out U.S. tour, performed with Patti LaBelle, Anita Baker,
Maze, and Blackstreet. In addition to performing with these renowned
stars, Brownstone appeared on The Soul Train Music Awards, The Lady of
Soul Awards, and the BET network's Video Soul. In January 1996, "If You
Love Me" received a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a
Duo or Group. Brownstone was founded by twenty-something singers Nicole
Nicci Gilbert, Charmayne Maxee Maxwell, and Monica Mimi Dolby. They
came together in Los Angeles, where each had come in search of a music
career: Dolby from New Orleans; Gilbert from Detroit; and Maxwell from
Guyana. "The threesome began singing together after seeing each other
perform at a seemingly endless series of auditions," Essence magazine
reported in 1995. "There was instant chemistry. Vocally, we had a
really strong blend that sounded good," Dolby told the magazine. "We
picked our name because brown is the earth and stone is solid." Gilbert
has said that shared sense of strength and stability also inhabited the
friendship between these three women. "Together," she told Essence
reporter D.G. "We have a strong foundation and act as a unit." As it
turned out, however, that foundation was not enough to keep the
threesome intact. Dolby left the group in 1995, reportedly for health
reasons. She was replaced by Detroiter Kina Cosper, a college friend of
Gilbert's. Cosper acknowledged the pressure she faced in joining the
already successful combo. As a new member, "fitting in with the group
was a challenge," she admitted in the band's Epic Records biography. "I
was nervous when we first started recording the new album. But I'm very
excited about how it turned out." She was not the only one feeling the
pressure, however, as the realigned trio began recording their second
record in mid-1996. "We had to get over the sophomore jitters," Gilbert
explained in the Epic bio. "It was really important for us to realize
that our job was not to try and outdo the first record, but to make an
album of songs from the heart." They need not have worried. The album,
Still Climbing, was released in June 1997 and became another critical
and popular success for Brownstone. "In these days of sisters with
sound-alike voices, Brownstone is one of the few female R&B groups
with a distinct vocal style," Jeremy Helligar wrote in People. "Their
swaying, three-part harmonies build, build, build, then soar into what
could pass for a full choir. Unlike many of their counterparts, who
seem too attached to mechanical, mid-tempo beats, Brownstone nails the
emotional bull's-eye with their torchy, slow rhythm & blues."
Helligar went on to say that Still Climbing was reminiscent of the
late-70s heyday of singing groups like the Emotions and the Jones
Girls, when R&B albums offered groups more than a good excuse to
flounce about in fancy videos. On Still Climbing, the groupcontinued to
work with a variety of writers and producers and again managed to
create an album which was both eclectic and cohesive. The record
displayed a seamless consistency derived from the threesome's hands-on
approach and special touch. Of the 12 tracks on Still Climbing, for
example, eight were written or co-written by the three group members.
Meanwhile, MJJ Music and its partner, Epic Records did their part by
launching a strong promotional campaign that pushed Still Climbing to
retailers, radio stations, and video networks. Brownstone promoted the
record during a European tour, then joined singer Keith Sweat for a
series of concerts in the United States. "We didn't necessarily set out
in a different direction (on the second record) but we've grown more,"
Gilbert told Billboard's J.R. Reynolds. "One of the things that we re
most recognized for is our singing ability, and with the addition of
Kina, there's a new energy with {Still Climbing} just like when we were
recording the first album." The first single released from Still
Climbing, an R&B standout called "Five Miles to Empty," received
solid airplay and reached the R&B Top 10. The video for the song
was aired on VH1, the Box, and BET. Gilbert has suggested that, despite
Brownstone's lineup change, the new album picked up where the group
left off with From the Bottom Up. "It shows our vocal and creative
growth," she proclaimed in the Epic bio. "And I think it shows that, if
we stay focused, we can take this all the way and be one of the best
girl groups around." Many listeners would say they've already reached
that plateau. Since the group broke up Gilbert has had small roles in a
few movies and TV (Including Playing the Role of Crayola in "Woo" and
Playing the Drunken Aunt on the Famous Tyler Perry's (Meet the Browns).
Maxwell had career in Europe as a recording artist. Doby left the
business, married and has two children. Kina went on to continue to
record music as an solo artist now its 2007 The Girls Have Officially
Reunited Bringing In New Member Racquel Roberts!!!!
Hello to All Talented Musicians!The Multi-Platinum, Grammy Nominated R&B Group Brownstone is searching for the HOTTEST Female Musical Director to put together a multi cultural and multi talented female band!!!!!You heard it right; BROWNSTONE is looking for the next R&B Powerhouse female band to accompany them on the road and in the studio. This could be a one in a lifetime opportunity for those of you who are serious about this business and willing to work hard while having FUN! If you are interested, please email the following items to the email address listed below: 1. Video Of You Leading/Rehearsing A Band 2. Tracks Of Your Musical Talents 3. Video Of Your Musical Talents (Performing) 4. Photos (3 Photos minimum) 5. Biography 6. Contact Information (Complete Contact) Please send all information and direct all inquiries to Roger Corbin (rpcorbin@sbcglobal.net)
MYSPACE PAGE OFFICIALLY DESIGNED BY YOUNG ROY (ROYTORICAL GRAPHIX)
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