Brownmark
Brownmark | |
---|---|
Birth name | Mark Brown |
Also known as | Brown Mark, BrownMark |
Born | March 8, 1962 |
Genres | R&B, Soul, Funk, Rock |
Occupation(s) | Musician, producer |
Instrument(s) | Bass guitar, vocals |
Years active | 1981–present |
Labels | Motown |
Mark Brown (born March 8, 1962), better known by the stage name Brown Mark, also styled Brownmark and BrownMark, is an American musician, bassist and record producer.
Life and career
Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Brown's early fame came when he was the bass guitarist of The Revolution,[1] musician Prince's original touring (and later also his recording) band. Noted for his unique, funk-based style of musicianship,[citation needed] he became a record producer and recording artist himself after parting company with Prince in 1986.
Brownmark joined the band in 1981 for the Controversy album recordings. One of his earliest shows with Prince was opening for the Rolling Stones. From then on he was connected to the Purple Rain album and movie, the Around the World in a Day album and the Parade album. As well as the music for the aborted Dream Factory album that became most of the Sign o' the Times album.
Brownmark discovered the funk-rock outfit Mazarati that were signed to the Paisley Park label in 1986. One infamous story was when Prince gave them a scratch demo of a song that became "Kiss". Brownmark, along with frequent Prince collaborator and producer David Z. including Mazarati, revamped the number into the version that became famous. When Prince did hear it, he wanted it back and the song became a massive success. Mazarati went on to release their self-titled debut album on Paisley Park, and although the album was not a major seller it subsequently became a cult classic and has grown in reputation as a hallmark of the Minneapolis sound.
He achieved minor success after leaving The Revolution.
After a lengthy absence from the music business he returned with a new project entitled Cryptic. After the release of the Cryptic CD entitled It's Been Awhile the group disbanded in 2002. Brown is currently working on a new project out of Tampa Florida with his newly formed group Syx Mil Breach. The CD was released late 2010 and is titled Syx mil Breach.
The Revolution was reformed in 2016 following Prince's death, and have been touring since, displaying their awesome powers of musical abilities. Brown Mark sings a majority of the songs now.
Discography
Albums
- Just Like That (1988), Motown
- Good Feeling (1989), Motown
- It's Been A While (2002)
- Syx Mil Breach (2010)
Singles
- "Next Time" (1988)
- "Bang Bang" (1989), Motown
References
- ^ "Brownmark". Allmusic. Retrieved August 15, 2011.
External links
- Brownmark on Myspace
- Brown Mark at IMDb
- 1962 births
- Living people
- Musicians from Minneapolis
- African-American rock musicians
- American funk bass guitarists
- American male guitarists
- The Revolution (band) members
- American rhythm and blues bass guitarists
- American rock bass guitarists
- Motown artists
- American record producers
- Guitarists from Minnesota
- 20th-century American guitarists
- American bass guitarist stubs