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Mark Morrison (born 3 May 1972, in Hanover, 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 in jail, following a three month stint 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 number 1 slot in the UK Singles Chart 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 Chart. 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 appearances, he protested his innocence on stage by whipping out a gun with the "Not Guilty" message at an awards show.

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 to not drive. In 1998, Morrison was sentenced to a year's imprisonment for violating a community service order imposed in 1995. He had paid a double to complete the community work while he fled to Barbados.

In 2000, Morrison signed a deal with the Ron Winters headed Death Row UK (UK branch of Suge Knight's Death Row Records). The label eventually folded without releasing the then-in-production album, "Innocent Man". Morrison then signed a deal with new record label 2 Wiked Records founded by footballer Kevin Campbell. A unfinished album was released when Morrison left the label after the single Just A Man was promoted badly. The album of same name made little impact when released. A limited edition DVD of the new, "Innocent Man" album was released independently in 2006. The album is expected to be released in the U.S. this summer, and earmark the return of the Mack.

Discography

Albums

Singles

External links

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

• Death Row Records artists
• Incarcerated celebrities
• 1972 births
• Living people
• English male singers
• People from Leicester
• German-English people