Al B. Sure!
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Al B. Sure! |
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Albert Joseph Brown III (June 4, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York. During the late 1980s, Al B. Sure! enjoyed a brief run as one of New Jack Swing's most popular romantic singers and producers.
Music career
Brown was a star football quarterback in high school,and he turned down a scholarship to the University of Iowa to pursue a career in music. In 1987, Quincy Jones selected him as the first winner of the Sony Innovators Talent Search. Subsequently, Al would go on to work with Jones on several projects, most notably the platinum single "Secret Garden" from Jones' double platinum album Back on the Block. On this recording Al was one of a quartet with Barry White, El DeBarge, and James Ingram.
Al B. Sure has a teen look-a-like son, Quincy, with Kim Porter.
His solo debut album from 1988, In Effect Mode, sold more than two million copies, topping the Billboard R&B chart for seven straight weeks. The album included his memorable "Nite and Day" single. Al received numerous Grammy and American Music Award nominations, and won an AMA for Best New R&B Artist. He also received several Soul Train Award nominations, and won the award for Best New Artist. He also won several New York Music Awards. In addition, Al's 900 phone line was third in generating revenue following those for New Kids on the Block and Run-DMC.
As a writer and producer, Al introduced the multi-platinum group Jodeci and teen R&B performer Tevin Campbell (also one of Quincy Jones's former protégés), as well as Faith Evans, Dave Hollister, Case, and Usher to the music scene.
Other work
In 1991, Al co-starred with Martin Lawrence in a television pilot titled Private Times. Other cast members included ER's Michael Michele and The Five Heartbeats' Michael Wright. Al's various talk show appearances include The Oprah Winfrey Show, Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Good Morning America, The Arsenio Hall Show, Rolanda and Donahue. Al's television and acting performances include Showtime at the Apollo, Soul Train and The Soul Train Music Awards, the Grammys and the American Music Awards, Will Smith's Fresh Prince of Bel Air and ABC's Magic Johnson Special from Hawaii. Al also hosted MTV Jams.
In 2000, Al's ABS Entertainment launched a television development division, and he served as co-executive producer of the HBO Comedy Special starring Jamie Foxx, filmed at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, California.
Recently Al teamed with the ABC Radio Network to produce a romantic nighttime show, The Secret Garden, hosted by Al and featuring a blend of music and celebrity guests.
He participated in the Bless the Children Foundation celebrity auction along with NFL stars Charles Woodson and Anthony Dorsett. Al was presented with the key to the city of Oakland by city council member Laurence E. Reid in recognition of the work of Al's ABS Ken-Struk-Shen in refurbishing parts of the city. Reid proclaimed October 19th "Al B Sure! Day."
He is now working as the midday DJ at KHHT in Los Angeles.
Discography
Albums
- In Effect Mode, 1988 Warner Bros. Records
- Private Times...and the Whole 9! 1990 Warner Bros. Records
- Sexy Versus, 1992 Warner Bros. Records
- The Very Best of Al B. Sure! 2003 Warner Bros./Rhino/Atlantic Records
Singles
- "Secret Garden"
- "Nite and Day"
- "Off On Your Own Girl"
- "Rescue Me"
- "If I'm Not Your Lover" (feat. Slick Rick)
- "No Matter What" (feat. Diana Ross)
- "Had Enuf"
- "Right Now"
- "Misunderstanding"
- "Natalie"
- "I'm Still In Love"
- "Black Tie/White Noise" (feat. David Bowie)
External links
