Mint Condition is an American R&B band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band fuses diverse genres such as jazz, hip hop, funk and dance into its music. Mint Condition has also been nominated for four Grammy and Soul Train Awards.[1][2][3][4][5]
(Redirected from Keri Lewis)
History[edit]Early years[edit]As a band, Mint Condition came into being during the early 1980s. At first, the band consisted of lead singer and (in-studio) drummer Stokley Williams, lead guitarist Homer O'Dell, and Larry Waddell on keyboards. Keyboardist/saxophonist Jeff Allen; keyboardist, percussionist, and rhythm guitarist Keri Lewis; and bass guitarist Rick Kinchen completed the original lineup.[1] They were discovered by music producers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis in 1989, during a performance at a club in downtown Minneapolis called First Avenue. Jam and Lewis signed Mint Condition to Perspective Records soon afterward.[1] Their debut album was entitled Meant to Be Mint and released on June 11, 1991 by Perspective. Despite their musical versatility, the band attempted to attract new jack swing listeners with their dance cut 'Are You Free', but it wasn't successful (the song hit #55 on the R&B charts). However, they did enjoy major success with the ballad 'Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)'. The song stayed on the charts for 34 weeks, hitting the R&B top 5 (#3), and the Pop Top 10 (#6) and was certified gold by the RIAA. The third single 'Forever In Your Eyes' was also a successful Top 10 R&B hit (#7 R&B). Two years later, they released their second album, From The Mint Factory (1993). They enjoyed success with the single 'U Send Me Swingin' which peaked at #2 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart for four weeks straight in the spring of 1994. The song was also a smash on the Rhythmic Top 40 charts where it reached #14. The band's next two singles, 'Someone to Love' and 'So Fine', were Billboard Top 30 R&B hits, reaching the #28, and #29 spots respectively.[6][7] 1996â2000[edit]In September 1996, the band released Definition of a Band. The album peaked in the R&B Top 15. The first successful single on this album was the Billboard R&B smash hit single 'What Kind Of Man Would I Be?' which was about remaining faithful in a relationship (#2 R&B, #17 Pop). The single crept up to the number 2 spot on the Billboard R&B charts in a matter of weeks and received a Gold certification by the RIAA that December. 'What Kind Of Man Would I Be?' was so popular that it stayed on the Billboard R&B Charts for a total of 41 weeks before it finally fell off. 'You Don't Have to Hurt No More' was the second single released from Definition of a Band and it was also a Top 10 R&B hit. (#10 R&B, #32 pop). The success of these two singles along with positive reviews of the album allowed Definition of a Band to reach Gold status as well.[8] Two years later, The Collection: 1991-1998, a greatest hits compilation, was issued. After Perspective Records/A&M folded, the group signed with Elektra Records in 1999, releasing their fourth full-length album, Life's Aquarium which also debuted in the Top 10 (#7 R&B). Its main single, 'If You Love Me', hit the R&B Top 5 while appearing on the R&B charts for 31 weeks. The second single, 'Is This Pain Our Pleasure', peaked at #42, while also peaking at #34 on the R&B Airplay Charts. 2000s: Livin' The Luxury Brown and E-Life[edit]After a six year hiatus, the group resurfaced as a quintet because keyboard player Keri Lewis left the group to produce for other artists, such as his wife, singer Toni Braxton, and then joined the entertainment division at Santa Fe Station Casino. In 2005, they released Livin' The Luxury Brown on their independent label Caged Bird Records. The album hit #1 on the Independent Album Charts. Live From The 9:30 Club, a performance of a concert at the 9:30 club in Washington DC, was issued in 2006. In 2008, they released a new album entitled E-Life which debuted at #8 on the Billboard R&B album chart, and spawned two singles, 'Baby Boy, Baby Girl' and 'Nothing Left To Say'. The second single, 'Nothing Left To Say', became the band's first Top 30 R&B single in almost a decade (#27 R&B) and also a Top 5 Billboard Urban Adult Contemporary hit, peaking at #3. 2010âpresent: 7.., Tour with Prince, TV appearances[edit]In December 2010, Mint Condition joined Prince and an ensemble cast of R&B and Jazz musicians for his Welcome 2 America tour. With the group's 20th anniversary approaching, Mint Condition celebrated with the release of their new album 7... Released April 5, 2011, it was produced by Shanachie Records contained several hits, including 'Caught My Eye' as well as their collaboration with Kelly Price, 'Not My Daddy'. The reported name, '7..', for this album was to mark the group's seventh studio album of their career.[9]During the month of February, Mint Condition appeared as the house band for TV One's program Way Black When, which celebrated the greatest African American music artists throughout the '70s, into the '90s. Towards the end of 2012 in December, Mint Condition was entered into the Soul Music Hall of Fame.[10]The group released a new album called Music At The Speed Of Life in September 2012. They were also featured in the 2013 season of TV One's 'Unsung'. On October 16, 2015, they released a Christmas CD called Healing Season. Discography[edit]
Awards and nominations[edit]Grammy Awards[edit]The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.
Soul Train Music Award[edit]
[4][5] SoulTracks Readers' Choice Awards[edit]
SoulMusic Hall Of Fame at SoulMusic.com[edit]
References[edit]
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mint_Condition&oldid=893958543'
Toni Michelle Braxton (born October 7, 1967)[3][4] is an American singer, songwriter, pianist, record producer, actress, television personality, and philanthropist. She began performing with her sisters in a family group known as The Braxtons in the late 1980s, who were signed to Arista Records. Braxton attracted the attention of producers Antonio 'L.A.' Reid and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, later recording a series of songs for them before being signed to their Arista-distributed imprint, LaFace Records. Her self-titled debut studio album (1993) reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States, selling 10 million copies worldwide and seeing the international success of the singles 'Another Sad Love Song' and 'Breathe Again'. The album brought Braxton three Grammy Awards, including Best New Artist. Secrets (1996), Braxton's second studio album, saw continued commercial success, selling 15 million copies and generating the singles 'You're Makin' Me High/Let It Flow' and 'Un-Break My Heart', which became her first singles to reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. Un-Break My Heart is the second biggest single by a female artist in Billboard history, behind Whitney Houston's I Will Always Love You. Secrets brought Braxton an additional two Grammy Awards, for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. This is only the 2nd time in Grammy history that a female artist has won both Pop & R&B Vocal Performance awards at the same ceremony (Dionne Warwick achieved this feat in 1980). Her third studio album, The Heat (2000), opened at number 2 on the Billboard 200 and saw the success of its lead single, 'He Wasn't Man Enough', which reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and brought Braxton her sixth Grammy Award, for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Braxton's subsequent studio albums, More Than a Woman (2002), Libra (2005) and Pulse (2010), were released amid contractual disputes and health issues, including a lawsuit against her former manager for mismanaging her relationship with Arista Records. In 2014, Braxton and longtime collaborator Babyface released a duet album entitled Love, Marriage & Divorce, which earned the duo an additional Grammy Award for Best R&B Album in 2015. In 2018, Braxton released her eighth studio album Sex & Cigarettes. The album earned Braxton three Grammy Award nominations: Best R&B Album, and Best R&B Performance and Best R&B Song for the single 'Long as I Live'. Throughout her career, Braxton has sold over 67 million records, including 41 million albums worldwide, becoming one of the biggest selling female R&B artists in history. The Recording Industry Association of America lists Braxton as one of the top selling artists, with 19.5 million certified units in the United States. She has won seven Grammy Awards, nine Billboard Music Awards, seven American Music Awards, among numerous other accolades. Aside from her success in music, Braxton has become a television executive producer and personality, being involved in the seventh season of the reality competition series Dancing with the Stars and in a reality series entitled Braxton Family Values, where Braxton is executive producer and star since 2011 on We TV. Braxton is also an executive producer of its spin-off, starring her younger sister, Tamar, Tamar & Vince. In 2011, Braxton was inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
Early life[edit]Toni Michelle Braxton was born in Severn, Maryland.[5] Her father, Michael Conrad Braxton Sr., was a Methodist[6][7] clergyman and power company worker, and her mother, Evelyn Jackson, a native of South Carolina, was a former opera singer and cosmetologist, as well as a pastor.[8][9] Braxton's maternal grandfather was also a pastor.[10] Braxton is the eldest of six siblings.[11] She has a younger brother Michael Jr. (born 1968) and four younger sisters Traci (born 1971), Towanda (born 1973), Trina (born 1974), and Tamar (born 1977). They were raised in a strict religious household,[12] and Braxton's first performing experience was singing in her church choir.[12] Braxton attended Bowie State University to obtain a teaching degree,[13] but decided to sing professionally after she was discovered by William E. Pettaway Jr., who reportedly heard her singing to herself while pumping gas.[14] On her appearance May 24, 2014 broadcast of NPR's Wait Wait.. Don't Tell Me!, she stated that she was not singing to herself at the gas station. Pettaway, working as an attendant at the Annapolis service station where she was refueling, recognized her from local performances and introduced himself, saying he wanted to produce her. Although skeptical, Braxton decided to, in her words, 'take a chance' and accepted.[15] Career[edit]1989â1995: The Braxtons, Toni Braxton and breakthrough[edit]Braxton and her four sisters (Traci, Towanda, Trina, and Tamar) began performing as The Braxtons in the late 1980s and were signed to Arista Records in 1989. Their first single, 'Good Life', was released in 1990.[16] Though the song was not successful, it attracted the attention of Antonio 'L.A.' Reid and Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds.[16] Reid and Babyface recruited her to record a demo of 'Love Shoulda Brought You Home', a song that they had written for Anita Baker for the soundtrack of Eddie Murphy's film, Boomerang. Baker, who was pregnant at the time,[17] did not record the song but suggested, that Braxton record it. Her recording was later included on the soundtrack along with 'Give U My Heart', a duet by Braxton and Babyface. Braxton, meanwhile, was signed to Reid and Edmonds' Arista-distributed imprint, LaFace Records, and immediately began recording her solo debut album.[citation needed] On July 13, 1993, LaFace Records released Braxton's self-titled debut album, Toni Braxton.[18] The album, which was primarily produced by Reid, Babyface, and Daryl Simmons, peaked at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 albums chart.[19] The first single, 'Another Sad Love Song', peaked at number seven and number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and R&B Singles charts respectively.The song was also the very first #1 song on the newly created Adult R&B Charts. Billboard created the chart in September 1993.[20] The album's second single, 'Breathe Again', peaked in the top five of both the Hot 100 and R&B singles charts[20] and no 2 in the UK.[21] More singles from Toni Braxton were released in 1994, including 'You Mean the World to Me', 'Seven Whole Days', and 'I Belong to You/How Many Ways'.[20] Toni Braxton Keri LewisBraxton's debut album won her several awards, including three Grammy Awards (for Best New Artist and two consecutive awards for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance in 1994 and 1995).[22] She won two American Music Awards (for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist and Favorite New Adult Contemporary Artist)[22] in 1994 and another one in 1995 (for Favorite Soul/R&B Album).[22]Toni Braxton was certified 8x platinum in USA and has sales of over 10 million worldwide.[23][24] 1996â1999: Secrets and financial issues[edit]In June 1996, Braxton released her second and most successful album, Secrets.[25] Braxton said of the album: 'The motivation for this album was to include a little bit of everything. Our aim was to come up with material, that would have a familiar 'feel' to the people, who bought the first album without being musically redundant.'[26] Along with Babyface, Braxton also worked with R. Kelly, Tony Rich, and David Foster on the album.[27] Braxton co-produced the album and co-wrote two of its songs, including the 1997 single 'How Could an Angel Break My Heart', which was also later included on Diana Princess of Wales Tribute, a Princess Diana memorial album.[28] With help from the album's first single, 'You're Makin' Me High', which became Braxton's first number-one hit on the Hot 100 singles chart,[20] the album peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart.[29] 'You're Makin' Me High' also topped the R&B singles chart for two weeks[20] and saw similar success in Europe and Asia.[citation needed] The album's second single, 'Un-Break My Heart', written and composed by Diane Warren, became the biggest hit of Braxton's career, spending 11 consecutive weeks at number one on the Hot 100[16] and also topping the Hot Dance Singles Sales chart for eleven weeks and the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart for four weeks.[30] as well as reaching no 2 in the UK[31] Other singles from the album included the double A-side 'I Don't Want To'/'I Love Me Some Him' (which peaked at number one on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart)[20] and 'How Could an Angel Break My Heart;' this last featured Kenny G, with whom Braxton later toured.[32] After 92 weeks in the charts, Secrets was certified 8x platinum, becoming Braxton's second straight 8 million seller. Internationally, Secrets sold more than 15 million copies, thus cementing Braxton's superstar status.[24] Braxton topped the Billboard Year-End Charts as the Top Hot 100 Singles Artist â Female,[33] Top R&B Artist â Female (singles and albums),[30] Top Hot R&B Singles Artist â Female,[30] Top Hot Dance Club Play Artist, and Top Hot Adult Contemporary Artist, while 'Un-Break My Heart' became the Top Hot Dance Club Play Single and the Top Hot Adult Contemporary Track of the year. She won two Grammy Awards; one for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance[22] for 'Un-Break My Heart' and Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for 'You're Makin' Me High' as well as two American Music Awards for Favorite Female Soul/R&B Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album.[22] By 1996, Braxton had sold more than 20 million records; unfortunately, she was still waiting on her financial rewards, eventually launching an unsuccessful lawsuit against Arista and LaFace Records. Soon after, she filed for chapter 7 bankruptcy. Public reaction to these events was very harsh, having been expressed most clearly in an interview on The Oprah Winfrey Show.[34] Upon successfully filing for bankruptcy, Braxton relinquished the rights to many of her valued possessions, including the Grammys and American Music Awards she had previously been granted.[citation needed] Braxton has appeared in two DisneyBroadway shows: She made her Broadway debut as Belle in Beauty and the Beast beginning September 9, 1998 when she replaced Kim Huber.[35] During her run in the show Alan Menken wrote and composed a new song for the musical, titled 'A Change in Me', which he specially wrote and composed for Braxton, and was still being used in the musical as of late July 2014.[36] She left the production on February 28, 1999 and was succeeded by Andrea McArdle.[37] Her role in Beauty and the Beast marked the first (and only) time a black woman commanded the leading role of Belle on Broadway. (In the UK, Michelle Gayle played the role in the West End.) It also marked the first time a black woman would star in a Disney musical on Broadway. In 1999, the lawsuit against LaFace Records was settled and Toni was given back all her possessions, giving her time to record The Heat, her first album in four years.[38] 2000â2001: The Heat[edit]After Braxton's three-year-long dispute with LaFace and Arista had been settled, Toni signed a new $20 million contract. In March 2000, LaFace Records released 'He Wasn't Man Enough', the first single from Braxton's third studio album, The Heat. By June 2000, the song peaked at number two on the Hot 100 chart and No. 1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The Heat was released on April 25, 2000, debuting at number two on the Billboard 200 albums chart with first week sales of 194,448 copies sold,[39] it remained in the top 20 for fifteen consecutive weeks. Braxton again worked with producers Babyface and Foster; also included in the staple were Rodney Jerkins, and new beau musician Keri Lewis. Braxton took a more hands-on approach, co-writing and co-producing a handful of the tracks. One selection on The Heat, titled 'Gimme Some', featured a rap verse from TLC star Lisa 'Left Eye' Lopes. The album's second single, 'Just Be a Man About It', peaked at number 32 on the Hot 100 and number six on the R&B Charts. The third single, 'Spanish Guitar', peaked at number 98 on the Hot 100 and number one on the Hot Dance & Club charts. The fourth single, 'Maybe', peaked at 74 on the R&B charts. The Heat was certified double platinum in the U.S. and, by 2002, had sold over 4 million copies worldwide.[24][40] The Heat was nominated for many awards. At the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, the album's lead-single, 'He Wasn't Man Enough', was nominated for Best R&B Song and eventually won a Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while the album itself was nominated for Best R&B Album.[41] She was also nominated for Best R&B/Soul album, Female on the Soul Train Music Awards,[41] but she lost to 'Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1' by Jill Scott. She won 2 American Music Awards for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B Album (The Heat).[41] In 2001, she made her movie acting debut in the feature film Kingdom Come.[42] In 2002, while gearing up for the release of her fourth studio album, Braxton discovered she was pregnant with her second child. Knowing that she would be unable to promote the album properly, she unsuccessfully lobbied Arista Records to get the label to postpone its release until after she was to give birth. Arista Records refused, and the album was released as planned in November 2002. It received very little promotion from either Arista or Braxton herself, due in Braxton's case to the complicated pregnancy that had confined her to bed rest. Braxton accused the company of being unwilling to compromise and punishing her for not putting her career over family.[citation needed] 2002â2005: More Than a Woman and Libra[edit]In November 2002, Braxton's fourth studio album More Than a Woman was released. Opening to an instant commercial disappointment, the album peaked at number 13. The first single, The Neptunes -produced 'Hit the Freeway', failed at radio and peaked at number 86 on the Hot 100. The two singles, that followed ('A Better Man', 'Lies, Lies, Lies') were scrapped, failed to make a dent and missed the Hot 100 completely. More Than a Woman was certified gold by RIAA and sold more than 800,000 copies worldwide.[43] Prior to the release of the album, a dispute erupted between Braxton and Irv Gotti, when he played a rough cut of 'No More Love', a song that he produced for the album, that was to be the first single. Disapproving of Gotti broadcasting the unfinished track, Braxton withheld it from being released. The same year, Braxton was further annoyed, when Jay-Z used the same sample of 2Pac's 'Me and My Girlfriend', that she had already used on her track 'Me & My Boyfriend' for his and Beyoncé's '03 Bonnie & Clyde'.[citation needed] She then starred in Aida as Aida beginning June 30, 2003 when she replaced Simone[44] and left the cast on November 16, 2003 where she was replaced by Michelle Williams.[45] In April 2003, Braxton abruptly left Arista Records, having been there for 14 years, and immediately signed with Blackground Records, headed by Barry Hankerson, her manager at the time. She was to star in a half-hour sitcom pilot where she would play a version of herself for The WB Television Network's fall 2006â07 lineup, though plans to put the show into full-production fell through once The WB announced it would cease to exist in fall 2006.[46] She has also starred in the TV sitcom, Kevin Hill.[47] In April 2005, Braxton's new label, Blackground/Universal, released 'Please', the first single from her fifth album, Libra. The album was originally planned for a June release, but it was pushed back several times and was finally issued on September 27. Unfortunately for Braxton, her troubles with weak album promotion and lack of label commitment weren't over. 'Please' peaked at number 36 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, while altogether missing the Hot 100. Libra still managed to debut at number four on the Billboard 200 selling 114,593 copies in the first week. Libra also peaked at number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Although that is strong for an album with little to no promotion, it became yet another commercial disappointment for Braxton. The album's second single, 'Trippin' (That's the Way Love Works)', received less airplay and peaked at number 67 on the R&B chart. The failure was ascribed to the non-video presence of the single and lack of label support. The album was certified gold in late 2005 and has since sold 679,000 copies worldwide.[43] 2006â2007: Toni Braxton: Revealed and label conflicts[edit]Braxton recorded a song in 2006 with Il Divo, titled 'The Time of Our Lives'. The song was used as the official 2006 FIFA World Cup anthem and was performed at the opening ceremony in Berlin, Germany, on June 9. The song was also performed at the closing ceremonies making Braxton and Il Divo the first artists to be asked to perform for the opening and closing ceremonies.[48] Braxton made an appearance on the season finale of American Idol 5, where she performed Elvis Presley's 'In the Ghetto' with soon-to-be winner Taylor Hicks.[49] On May 19, 2006, the Flamingo Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas announced that Braxton would replace Wayne Newton as the casino's new headlining act from August 3, 2006.[50] The show, entitled Toni Braxton: Revealed, was to be performed six nights a week and was scheduled to run through to March 2007. Braxton later confirmed that she was extending her show through to August 2007. Due to its success, it was reported that Braxton would extend her show through to August 2008. The show was later cancelled in order for Braxton to focus on her health.[51] In an October 2006 concert at the Flamingo Las Vegas, Braxton broke down in tears while announcing to the audience that just before the concert began she had been told that her son, Diezel, had been diagnosed with autism.[52] Braxton has been outspoken regarding her doctor's failure to diagnose Diezel's condition earlier, contending that if he had been diagnosed earlier he could have received treatment earlier.[53] As well as becoming a spokeswoman for Autism Speaks,[54] she is also a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association. On January 12, 2007, Braxton filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York against her former manager Barry Hankerson for $10 million, alleging 'fraud, deception and double dealing', in addition to mismanaging her relationship with Arista Records.[55] According to Braxton's lawsuit, Hankerson placed his personal financial interests ahead of hers by using 'double-talk' to compromise the relationship between Braxton and her former recording label, Arista Records, with Hankerson allegedly telling Arista that 'Braxton no longer wanted to record for Arista', and telling Braxton that 'Arista was not interested in working with her anymore'.[55] The suit was settled with Braxton being forced to return a $375,000 advance to Hankerson, who would also receive a percentage of the sales of her next album, and Hankerson releasing Braxton from her contract with him. The settlement also temporarily limited the companies with which Braxton can sign.[56][57] Hankerson claimed that the problems initially arose due to a number of disputes with Braxton and her wish to include her husband in her music.[58] 2008â2010: Pulse[edit]Braxton appeared on the seventh season of Dancing with the Stars; her partner was Alec Mazo.[59] They were voted off in the fifth week of the competition.
Braxton at the 2009 VH1 Divas Red Carpet
In October 2008 Braxton signed to Atlantic Records. The DJ Frank E produced song 'Yesterday' premiered on September 11, 2009 and features Trey Songz.[60] It was released as the lead single from her sixth studio album Pulse.[61] 'Yesterday' peaked at No. 12 on the U.S. BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart making it her highest chart performance since her 2000 single 'Just Be a Man About It', which peaked at No. 6. The single has been released worldwide on May 3, 2010.[62] In the UK, 'Yesterday' became Braxton's first hit single since the release of 'Hit the Freeway', peaking at No. 50 on the UK Singles Chart and at No. 17 on the UK R&B Singles Chart. The song also became a moderate hit in Europe, peaking at No. 20 on the German Singles Chart, at No. 17 on the Swiss Singles Chart and charting at No. 50 on the European Hot 100. By November 2009 Braxton had separated from Lewis.[63] Two songs were released from her upcoming album, 'Hands Tied' and 'Make My Heart'. The former peaked at No. 29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, the latter was sent to dance/club radio.[64]She performed 'Make My Heart' on The Wendy Williams Show. Braxton released her sixth studio album Pulse on May 4, 2010 in the US[65] and on May 10, 2010 in the UK.[66]Despite the fact that 27 songs were leaked, the album consisting of only 11 tracks, debuted at No. 9 on the US Billboard 200 chart and hit No. 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming Braxton's fifth US top-ten album. It also achieved moderate chart success around the world. In Canada it debuted at No. 72 on the Top 100 Albums chart and in the United Kingdom it debuted at No. 28 on the Top 40 Albums and at No. 7 on the R&B Albums chart. It entered at No. 18 on the German Album Chart. In Switzerland, the album hit No. 9. Pulse, although a commercial flop, became Toni's first album to chart inside the European Top 100 Albums since her 2000 album The Heat. On June 28, 2010, Braxton posted a video for Woman.[67] Braxton was included as part of the 'We Are the World 25 for Haiti' remake of the 1985 hit 'We Are the World' to help benefit the people of Haiti following the January 12, 2010 magnitude 7.0 MW earthquake in Haiti. The new version of the song was recorded on February 1, 2010. Music legends Quincy Jones and Lionel Richie act as Executive Producers as well as Wyclef Jean. Artists involved included Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, Janet Jackson, Tony Bennett, Wyclef Jean, Josh Groban, Pink, Usher, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Adam Levine, Justin Bieber, LL Cool J, among others. According to Braxton, via a lawsuit, TMZ, and VH1's Behind the Music, after her Toni Braxton: Revealed show was abruptly cancelled back in 2008, the insurance agency, Lloyd's of London refused to honor her policy that she purchased for upwards of $70,000 that included financial compensations for financial losses that occurred as results of concert cancellations.[68] The policy was reported to insure Braxton up to $2.8 million.[69][70] Lloyd's of London responded with a counter-suit seeking damages against Braxton and remarked that Braxton's policy was null and void because of an unrelated heart condition that the company was not made aware of at the time the application was filed.[71] Braxton responded to the counter-suit by saying that she did disclose her full medical history at the time.[69][72][73] As a result of the insurance company nullifying Braxton's contract, Braxton has said that she was on the hook for all damages because of the cancelled shows, being sued by multiple companies, and had to once again file for bankruptcy.[74] As of 2013, Braxton has completed required financial management courses and most of her debt has been discharged.[70][75] Later that year rumors began circulating that Braxton was in talks to star in her own reality show with Bravo. Braxton would later confirm the rumors during an appearance on Ellen after a performance of her single 'Make My Heart'.[76] 2011â2012: Television success and initial retirement[edit]
Braxton performing in Romania during New Year's Eve 2011
Braxton signed with WE tv for a reality series, Braxton Family Values, and the series debuted April 12, 2011, with Braxton, her mother, and her four sisters; Trina, Tamar, Traci and Towanda.[77] Toni parted ways with her long-time manager Vincent Herbert, who is also husband of sister Tamar Braxton, and signed a new management deal with Los Angeles -based entertainment/production company 'The Collective'.[78] Braxton completed filming of The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure alongside Jaime Pressly and Cloris Leachman which was released in 2012. Her character â Rosalie Rosebud â is a singer, whose over-the-top personality was apparently inspired by Mariah Carey.[79][80] Later that year Braxton confirmed work on her eighth studio album.[81] Braxton announced at Mercedes-Benz 2012 Fall/Winter Fashion Week in an interview with Rocco Leo Gaglioti as a part of 'Fashion News Live', that she would be releasing a new single titled 'I Heart You' in March 2012.[82] Braxton premiered 'I Heart You' on March 9, 2012.[83] The song has peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Dance/Club play chart.[84] The music video for 'I Heart You' was directed by Bille Woodruff. Shortly after the release of I Heart You rumors began circulating that Braxton would soon retire. These rumors would later be confirmed by Braxton herself on February 7, 2013. Braxton flew to Canada to begin shooting for her lead role in Twist of Faith later that year. Braxton appeared on Good Morning America to promote her new movie when she also confirmed the rumors of her retirement revealing that she is retiring from music and stated that she would like to focus on acting: 'I have to do shows here and there, but I'm not gonna do any albums, I'm falling out of love with it, it's weird. I don't know what to say when I hear songs. They don't impact me. I've been trying to listen to songs, record companies have been calling me, so it's a good situation to be in, but I'm not really interested at all'.[85]Twist of Faith premiered on the Lifetime Movie Network February 9, 2013. 2013â2014: Love, Marriage and Divorce, Broadway return, and memoir[edit]Love, Marriage & Divorce was released on February 4, 2014, under Motown Records. The 2013 Summer Tour kicked off in Las Vegas on August 9, 2013 and ended in Atlanta on August 31, 2013. The lead single from Love, Marriage & Divorce was titled 'Hurt You;' it premiered on August 17, 2013.[86][87] The song attained success, claiming the No. 1 spot on two charts: the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart for four weeks, and the Urban Adult Contemporary (Urban AC) for the week ending December 14, 2013. This marked Braxton's seventh No. 1 hit on the Adult R&B Songs chart and first since her 2000 release 'Just Be a Man About It.'[88] The song also hit number 16 on Billboard Hot R&B/ Hip Hop Airplay chart.[89][90] The second single from the album was called 'Where Did We Go Wrong?' It peaked at No. 11 on the Adult R&B Songs chart.[91] The album was nominated for World's Best Album at the 2014 World Music Awards. The album won for Best R&B Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards in 2015.[92] In September 2013, it was announced that Braxton would make her return to Broadway alongside collaborator Babyface in Broadway's After Midnight. They were scheduled to perform from March 18 to March 31, 2014 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. In succession, they would be third in rotation in the role of 'Special Guest Star' following Fantasia Barrino and KD Lang.[93] On January 20, 2014, Braxton announced that she would publish a memoir, titled Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir, through Harper Collins Publishers. In it, Braxton said, she would discuss her career success and struggles and the self-healing she took charge of after her own diagnosis with the auto-immune disease lupus and her son's diagnosis with autism. Unbreak My Heart: A Memoir was published on May 20, 2014.[94] 2015â2016: Braxton Family Christmas, Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart and The Hits Tour[edit]On May 14, 2015, Braxton said she was headed back to the studio for an upcoming eighth album. She promised that a new single would be released before the end of the year.[95] In September 2015, Lifetime greenlighted a biographical film on Braxton's life, Toni Braxton: Unbreak My Heart.[96] The film's premiere generated 3.6 million viewers, earning the highest rating for an original movie with adults ages 25â54, women 25-54 and women 18-49 since 'Whitney,' the January 2015 biopic on Whitney Houston.[97] The film has a IMDb raiting of a 6.5 out of 10 stars.[98] In October 2015, The Braxtons released Braxton Family Christmas.[99][100]Braxton Family Christmas debuted at number 27 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[101] number 10 on the US R&B Chart and number 12 on US Top Holiday Albums on November 21, 2015.[102][103] The album charted at number 1 on the US Heatseekers Albums on December 12, 2015.[104] Braxton announced in an interview with Sway in the Morning on January 22, 2016 that she and Babyface will collaborate again with Love, Marriage & Divorce Pt. II.[105] On July 25, 2016, Braxton announced that she would be embarking on a tour in late 2016 titled 'The Hits Tour' in North America.[106] On October 3, five days before the first date of the tour Braxton was hospitalized due to complications with Lupus resulting in cancelling the first two dates of the tour. The dates cancelled were rescheduled for January 28 and 29, 2017 and kicked off the tour on in Detroit at the MotorCity Casino Hotel on October 12, 2016.[107][108][109] On October 15, 2016, Braxton was admitted once again to hospital with complications with Lupus resulting to cancel another tour date October 15, 2016, which was later scheduled to November 14, 2016.[110][111] On October 16, 2016, Braxton posted a photo of herself leaving the hospital on her Instagram, announcing that she was on her way to that night's performance in Chicago.[112] 2016âpresent: Sex & Cigarettes movies and Pride Performance[edit]On December 1, 2016, Braxton announced a short statement via Twitter that the dates for The Hits Tour in January 2017 were cancelled, a new album would be coming soon and back touring in the summer, 'Hey Guys, Unfortunately, Under doctorâs recommendation, I'm going to have to cancel my shows in Oakland on January 28th and Los Angeles on January 29th, 2017. I'm feeling better and better every day and I want to be at my best when performing for you all. Iâm excited to say that I will be completing my new record this spring / summer of 2017 and can't wait to share it with you. Stay tuned for more details. I look forward to seeing everyone back on tour in the summer of 2017!!!'[113][114][115][116] On September 14, 2017, Braxton released the lead single 'Deadwood'[117] from her eighth studio album Sex & Cigarettes. The single reached #7 on the Adult R&B Charts.[118] A remix EP for the song 'Coping' was released on November 10, 2017. The single reached #1 on the Billboard Dance Charts, marking Braxton's 6th single to reach #1 on that chart.[119] The album was nominated for three Grammy Awards: Best R&B Performance, Best R&B Song for 'Long as I Live', and for Best R&B Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards.[120] Faith Under Fire premiered on the Lifetime Movie Network January 22, 2018.[121] The second single 'Long as I Live' was released on February 9, 2018. The single reached #1 on the Adult R&B Charts, giving Braxton her eigth #1 on the chart. Braxton also broke a tie with Maxwell and R. Kelly to give her sole possession of the second-most No. 1s in the chart's 24-year history.[122] On April 20, 2018, Trina, Towanda and Toni appears as featuring on their sister Traci's single 'Broken Things'[123][124][125] On October 23, 2018, Braxton announced a joint tour with SWV, As Long As I Live Tour for 2019.[126] Toni and her sister Towanda are the stars on the Christmas TV movie Every Day is Christmas which premiered on the Lifetime Movie Network November 24, 2018.[127][128][129][130] In April 2019, it was announced that Braxton would be headlining the 2019 Pittsburgh Pride festival on Saturday, June 8. This is a first for Braxton to perform in a Pride festival. https://www.post-gazette.com/ae/music/2019/04/09/Toni-Braxton-Walk-the-Moon-will-headline-Pittsburgh-Pride-2019/stories/201904090096 Artistry[edit]Braxton has been recognized for her distinctive contralto voice.[131][132] Her voice has been called 'husky, sultry, elegant and sexy.'[133] Due to the huskiness of her voice, Braxton often used male singers such as Michael McDonald, Luther Vandross and Stevie Wonder as vocal style models.[1]Chaka Khan and Anita Baker were two of the few female singers that she could stylize. Steve Huey of AllMusic cites a key to Braxton's success is the versatility of her voice, which he states as being 'soulful enough for R&B audiences, but smooth enough for adult contemporary; sophisticated enough for adults, but sultry enough for younger listeners; strong enough in the face of heartbreak to appeal to women, but ravishing enough to nab the fellas.'[1] Braxton began her career singing traditional R&B and soft rock ballads and love songs on her debut and second albums. However, hip-hop soul and dance music elements begun to get spun into her sound on The Heat,[134]More Than a Woman,[135] and Pulse. She also showcased her classical training while performing in Broadway plays Beauty and the Beast and Aida as well as her duet with Il Divo, 'The Time of Our Lives'. Legacy[edit]Toni Braxton became an immediate R&B superstar after the release of her first album. LA Reid stated during an interview with VH1: 'We called her the first lady of LaFace. She was our Diva. Clive had Whitney, Tommy had Mariah and we had Toni.' BBC called the album 'spiritedly, mature soul at its best â and just urban enough to make it the bedroom album for the hip hop generation.'[136] Braxton had the sound of R&B greats like Anita Baker and the sex appeal to compete with fellow superstars Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. Over the span of her career Braxton has sold over 66 million records,[citation needed] including 40 million albums,[137] worldwide. Braxton's musical catalog contains many classics that have won her many accolades. Her greatest is 'Un-Break My Heart', the Diane Warren-penned ballad that spent 11-weeks at number 1. Bob McCann, author of Encyclopedia of African American Actresses in Film and Television (2010), considered it 'simply one of the most haunting R&B records ever made.' Reviewer Mark Edward Nero named it one of the best R&B break-up songs and considered it Braxton's 'finest moment'. He further commented, 'damn, this song is so sad it can make people cry for hours at a time.' It's Braxton's ability to capture her audience that plays a factor in her continuous success.[citation needed] Braxton is a recipient of seven Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and nine Billboard Music Awards.[citation needed] Throughout Braxton's career she made several impacts on fashion mostly for her legendary high splits in her dresses. Her now famous Richard Tyler white satin gown has gone down in history as one of the most revealing and sexiest dresses. In 2011, Braxton topped the list for the Grammy Award's best dressed of the decade.[138] 'I've always gone a little risque with all my other award show outfits.'[139] In 2012, Braxton made the list for VH1's 50 Greatest Women in Music. Braxton's 2000 performance at Super Bowl XXXIV is ranked as one of the most memorable Super Bowl performances.[140] Braxton cemented her diva status in the music industry in 2006, with her Las Vegas residency Toni Braxton: Revealed, by becoming the first African American performer in Las Vegas to have her act enter the top ten Vegas shows charting.[citation needed] Braxton also made headlines for her signature and legendary Giantto Million Dollar Microphone that she performed every show with. Braxton said: 'I think it's a great element to the show. You have to have a little sprinkle of Liberace and this is my little sprinkle of that.' Braxton's famous prop was made up of white gold and encrusted with 650 karats of diamonds.[141] The microphone reportedly cost $1 million.[citation needed] Personal life[edit]Braxton met musician Keri Lewis when his group, Mint Condition, opened for her on tour; they married on April 21, 2001. In 2001, she gave birth to their first child, a son named Denim Cole Braxton-Lewis. In 2002, while gearing up for the release of her fourth studio album, Braxton discovered she was pregnant with her second child; the complicated pregnancy confined her to bed rest. The couple's second son, Diezel Ky Braxton-Lewis, was born in March 2003. As Diezel has been diagnosed with autism, Braxton has become very involved with Autism Speaks, serving as their International Spokesperson. In November 2009 Braxton announced that she and her husband had separated. The couple later divorced in July 2013.[142] In her early 30s, Braxton had an abortion after discovering she was pregnant with then-boyfriend Keri Lewis. In her memoir Unbreak my Heart, Braxton discusses her abortion and guilt, saying that her son Diezel's autism was 'God's payback.'[143] Braxton was dating rapper Birdman in May 2016, and the couple announced their engagement in February 2018.[144] In January 2019, the couple have called off the engagement.[145] However, in April 2019, both Braxton and Birdman confirmed that they were still together.[146] On July 8, 2015, Braxton's attorney, Antavius Weems, announced that Braxton had settled her contentious child support case with her former husband, Keri Lewis.[147] On June 2, 2016, the city and county officials of Atlanta, Georgia, named June 2 as Toni Braxton Day.[148] Health problems[edit]As of August 2007, rumors surfaced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Braxton stated to Access Hollywood, that the breast cancer rumors were false and that her health is in great condition. However, in 2008, she had a benign lump removed from her breast. On April 8, 2008, near the end of her two-year run at the Flamingo Hotel, Braxton was briefly hospitalized and the remaining dates on the show, which was scheduled to end on August 23, 2008, were cancelled.[149] Later, while appearing on Season 7 of Dancing with the Stars, she stated, that she has been diagnosed with microvascular angina (small vessel disease).[150] On November 18, 2010, Braxton admitted to CBS News that she had been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease.[151] Braxton's brother is also a carrier of the disease, and her uncle died of complications from lupus.[151] While taping her reality series Braxton Family Values, she went in for surgery. Braxton was hospitalized in Los Angeles in December 2012 because of 'minor health issues' related to lupus.[152] Discography[edit]
Tours[edit]
Residency show[edit]
Awards and nominations[edit]Filmography[edit]Film[edit]
Television[edit]
Music videos[edit]
See also[edit]References[edit]
External links[edit]
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Toni_Braxton&oldid=899211597'
Looks like Toni Braxton and Birdman are planning to tie the knot! See full article at PEOPLE.com »
In a trailer for the new season of Braxton Family Values, which premieres in March, the singer excitedly tells her sisters, âI have an announcement to make â Iâm engaged!â while showing off a canary yellow diamond ring. The pair had previously sparked engagement rumors in November, after the diva, 50, made an appearance at the Soul Train Awards wearing a sizable diamond ring on that finger, which appears to be the same ring she showed off to her sisters after announcing her engagement news. Reps for Braxton did Keri Lewis Reacts To Toni Braxtonâs Red Table TalkToni Braxton visited Jada and Adrienne for a Red Table Talk about divorce and things got transparent, as usual. Toni talked about her divorce with Keri Lewis and feeling angry that it was over money and she ended up paying alimony. Apparently, Keri watched and DIDNâT like her choice of words. You can find Toniâs thoughts on divorcing over money at the 2:55 mark. The alimony comments are at the 4:08 mark, ICYMI. Toni said: âI went through this phase of, âoooh, men are the new b*tches!â Thatâs how I felt. Thatâs what I was so angry about,â she said. âI felt shallow because my ex-husband and I broke up for money issuesâ¦I found out I had lupus at the time, I couldnât make money because I had lupus, I had to cancel the show. That was my personal contribution to the marriage failing, because who wants to take care of a person whoâs sick all the time? I remember a few times being in the hospital ill and he would come later in the day and I would think, heâs not coming because Iâm sick.â In response, Keri wrote this long passage on Instagram. âIn light of my ex-wifeâs @ToniBraxton comments on @RedTableTalk regarding our divorce; men receiving alimony from women;⦠I feel the need to address and shed light on the matter, as the impression is being made that I came for her finances and/or wasnât there for Toni. Let me start by saying that I really loved Toni!⦠Anyone who was around during the time of our marriage would attest to that. In addition, when she became ill, I did everything I could to take care of her, and we tried for a long time to put things back together, but in the end, we could not. Keri Lewis NowTo give insight on the alimony payments, Toniâs attorneys suggested she have a prenuptial agreement put in place prior to our wedding, and they drafted one as they saw fit. Because of my love for her and being optimistic of marriage lasting forever, I didnât feel the need to have an attorney, as I wasnât going to contest anything in the prenup. Fast-forward to 2012 after separating, I moved out and at some point later, Toni mentioned to me that the payments set in the prenup would start being deposited into my account. I received alimony for around 3 years between 2012 and 2014. Now, intentionally or not, Toniâs comments have left people with the feeling that we had some sort of legal battle that resulted in her having to pay alimony, and therefore share the likes of @halleberry, @therealmaryjblige, and @britneyspears. With all due respect, I donât see our situation in the same light. I didnât even use an attorney in our divorce (I also donât recommend that to anyone). In addition, while I often did not agree with the creative liberties that were taken in representing our relationship (Toniâs Book, Lifetime movie, Braxton Family Values, RedTableTalk), we are raising two sons and it can NEVER be to the degree of her referencing ME as a b*tch⦠thatâs a problem! Iâm definitely open for the discussion on women paying alimony to men, and vice versa, as I do have mixed feelings about it, and at the end of the day, every situation is different. As for @RedTableTalk, Congratulations @JadaPinkettSmith. The show is INCREDIBLE, and the conversations are needed!!â Keri seems hooked on the fact Toni used the âb*tchâ in reference to paying alimony. Interesting! Rajesh khanna songs youtube. Do you think heâs in his feelings or is his reaction justified? Keri Lewis BiographyMore Stories From BossipCommentsBossip Comment Policy Toni Braxton joined Jada Pinkett Smith on Red Table Talkto discuss the difficulties posed by divorce. During their conversation, the singer made some remarks about her ex-husband, Keri Lewis, that would be interpreted negatively. Some viewers were left with the impression that the Mint Condition had divorced her for becoming sick and unable to bring in the loot as she had in her prime. It also seemed as if she was then forced to pay alimony to the man who abandoned her during a time of weakness. Lewis has since expressed his disagreement with her choice of words to set the record straight.
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