Revision as of 16:31, 21 January 2007

Mark Morrison (born May 3, 1972, in Hannover, Germany) is a British musician raised in Leicester, most famous for his hit "Return of the Mack". He is also known for his string of criminal convictions, notably a one year sentence for getting someone else to do his community service for another offence and protesting his innocence.

Career

Morrison first recorded professionally in 1995, following a three month stint in jail during which he decided to become a vocalist. His first release was "Crazy", in spring 1995; the single reached the Top 20 in the UK, with the minor hit "Let's Get Down" following in the autumn. "Return of the Mack" followed in spring 1996, and was the first single by a solo British black male artist to reach the UK number 1 slot in the 1990s. A reissue of "Crazy" hit the Top 10 in summer 1996, with further single releases "Trippin'", "Horny" and "Moan and Groan" also making the Top 10. Morrison's first album, also titled Return of the Mack, reached number 4 in the UK album charts. As a result of these works, Morrison was nominated for four Brit Awards, though he won none, but when he performed, like many of his TV appearance, he protested his innocence on stage by wearing a black top with the "Not Guilty" message.

Despite his career success, Morrison continued to be accused of various crimes, and in 1997 he was convicted of attempting to bring a stun gun onto an aircraft. He was jailed for three months for this offence in early 1997, at about the same time that the single "Return of the Mack" began its climb to the #2 slot in the US charts and later was banned from driving when he was caught driving unsupervised in his Mercedes whilst in his provisional license. In 1998, Morrison was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for violating a community service order imposed in 1995 following a nightclub brawl: he had paid a double to complete the community work while he fled to Barbados. In 2004, he was falsely accused of rape.

An attempted 2002 comeback came into trouble with the record company he was signed to at the time, Death Row UK. Mark then signed to 2Wikid records owned by footballer Kevin Campbell, but this ended fairly quickly in litigation. Mark signed for Mona Records in 2004. In 2006 Mark released a single featuring rapper DMX entitled Innocent Man, from the album "Innocent Man". As of April 16 it was at No. 46 on the UK Singles Chart. Mark's next and last single with Mona records will be released on January 29th 2007 entitled Dance 4 Me featuring Tanya Stephens. Mark will then sign a distribution deal with Universal in the United States.

Miscellaneous

In 2005 Morrison's single "Return of the Mack" was featured in a commercial for the Ford Explorer.

Discography

Albums

Singles

From Return Of the Mack

• April 1995: Crazy - #19 UK
• September 1995: Let's Get Down - #39 UK
• March 1996: Return Of the Mack - #1 UK
• July 1996: Crazy (re-mix) - #6 UK
• October 1996: Trippin' - #8 UK
• December 1996: Horny - #5 UK
• March 1997: Moan & Groan - #7 UK

From Only God Can Judge Me

• September 1997: Who's the Mack! - #13 UK

From Innocent Man

• August 1999: Best Friend (Mark Morrison & Conner Reeves) - #23 UK
• August 2004: Just A Man / Backstabbers - #48 UK
• April 2006: Innocent Man (Mark Morrison featuring DMX) - #46 UK
• Febuary 2007: Dance 4 Me (Mark Morrison featuring Tanya Stephens)

External links

• Mark's official website
• Interviews on the Leicester Bands website