Color Me Badd | |
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| Background information | |
| Also known as | C.M.B. |
| Origin | Oklahoma City,Oklahoma, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Years active |
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| Labels | Epic,Giant |
| Members |
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| Past members |
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| Website | colormebadd |
Color Me Badd is an AmericanR&B group formed in 1985 inOklahoma City,Oklahoma, by Bryan Abrams, Mark Calderon,Sam Watters and Kevin Thornton. Color Me Badd broke up in 1998 before reuniting in 2010, with various lineups since.
Best known for their singles "I Wanna Sex You Up", "I Adore Mi Amor", and "All 4 Love", the group has sold over 12 million records worldwide,[1] had two number one hit singles, nine Top 40 hits, and a triple-platinum album. They were nominated for twoGrammy Awards, won twoSoul Train Music Awards and oneAmerican Music Award, and were nominated for five others.[2] Their songs have been featured in movies and television programs includingNew Jack City,Mo' Money,No Strings Attached, andGlee. They made a cameo appearance as themselves on a 1992 episode ofBeverly Hills, 90210.
Thornton and Abrams became friends in junior high school, and Watters and Calderon became friends in grade school.[3] The four met in the mid-1980s while attendingNorthwest Classen High School in Oklahoma City. They were all members of the school choir. The group originally formed in 1985 as Take One but changed their name to Color Me Badd to avoid confusion with an a cappella band named Take 6. Watters selected the name after a horse at the racetrack named Color Me Bad. They aimed to be a vocal group in the vein ofNew Edition andNew Kids on the Block.[2] They first performed together in a school talent show, influenced by doo-wop a cappella groups of the past,[4][5] such asSam Cooke,The Temptations, and theFour Tops.[6]
The group came up with a plan to spontaneously audition for any big-name acts playing in Oklahoma City. They metRobert Bell ofKool & the Gang on May 27, 1987, when he was in Oklahoma City for a performance. They auditioned for him, and he introduced them to his then-road manager, Adil Bayyan, who would become Color Me Badd's manager and convince them to move to New York City to pursue a record deal.[3][7] They also sang forHuey Lewis and the News,Sheila E., andRonnie Milsap,[2] and opened forTony! Toni! Toné! in Oklahoma City in 1988.[8] One afternoon in 1989, Thornton sawJon Bon Jovi in a movie theater and called the other band members to join him. They waited for Bon Jovi to leave the theater and then sang the 1961 doo-wop hit "Daddy's Home" a cappella for him. Bon Jovi invited them to be his band’s opening act the following night, performing in front of 20,000 audience members.[4]
They moved to New York City on September 23, 1989.[3] In 1990, they bumped into Tony! Toni! Toné!, who got them into theASCAP Music Awards. There, Color Me Badd approached producersJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and started singing for them. The producers advised that, being a multicultural group, they write a half-English, half-Spanish song. They wrote "I Adore Mi Amor" back in Oklahoma City with their producer and friend Hamza Lee.[8]Giant Records executive Cassandra Mills heard a tape of the band singing the song,[2] and they signed with Giant on August 11, 1990.[3]
After signing with the group, Mills asked producerDr. Freeze for a song for Color Me Badd to record for theNew Jack City soundtrack, similar to "Do Me!" byBell Biv DeVoe. Freeze offered "I Wanna Sex You Up," which would become Color Me Badd's debut single, released on March 2, 1991.[9] The song was not originally intended to be a single and had been turned down by other acts including Bell Biv DeVoe,Keith Sweat, andChristopher Williams.[2] The biggest hit on theNew Jack City soundtrack,[4] it peaked at number 2 on theBillboard Hot 100 and hit number 1 on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[6][10] Due to the song's popularity, Giant Records wanted Color Me Badd to quickly record an album. At the time, they only had four or five finished songs. They were flown out to Los Angeles to work in the studio, recording the album in two or three weeks.[2]
Their debut album,C.M.B., was released on July 23, 1991. It went on to sell over 6 million copies worldwide and became certified triple platinum in the U.S., spending 77 weeks on theBillboard 200, peaking at number 3.[6][11] "I Wanna Sex You Up" was included on the album. The follow-up single "I Adore Mi Amor" hit number 1 on the Hot 100 and on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, "All 4 Love" hit number 1 on the Hot 100,[6][10] "Thinkin Back" reached number 16 on the Hot 100 and number 31 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and "Slow Motion" reached number 18 on the Hot 100.[10][12]
Color Me Badd performed at the 1991Smash Hits Poll Winners' Awards in theUnited Kingdom, winning the Best New Group trophy. They won Best R&B/Soul Single and R&B/Soul Song of the Year in the Group, Band, or Duo categories for “I Wanna Sex You Up” at the sixth annualSoul Train Music Awards. They were nominated forBest New Artist andBest R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal ("I Wanna Sex You Up") at the1992 Grammy Awards. They won Favorite Soul/R&B Single at the1992 American Music Awards for "I Wanna Sex You Up" and were also nominated in that category for "I Adore Mi Amor." They were additionally nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group, Favorite Pop/Rock Single, Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist, and Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist at the 1992 American Music Awards.[13] Color Me Badd opened forPaula Abdul on her 1991 tour, performing some of their set a cappella.The New York Times described the group as "somewhere betweenGeorge Michael's pop-soul and the group dynamics of The Temptations."[14] At halftime ofSuper Bowl XXVI between theWashington Redskins andBuffalo Bills on January 26, 1992, the group performed "I Wanna Sex You Up" onIn Living Color as part ofFox's counterprogramming special live-from-Hollywood football-themed edition of the show.[15]
The group made a cameo appearance on a 1992 episode ofBeverly Hills, 90210 (season two, episode 26).[13][16] The episode revolved around Color Me Badd, beginning with a clip from the "I Adore Mi Amor" music video. Later in the episode, the 90210 gang stakes out the Bel Age Hotel in hopes of meeting the group, andKelly visits their penthouse suite. She invites them to join her at the Peach Pit, where they serenade the gang a cappella.[13]
On November 24, 1992, Color Me Badd released a remix album entitledYoung, Gifted & Badd: The Remixes. It contained the single "Forever Love," which reached number 15 on the Hot 100 and was also featured on theMo' Money soundtrack.[12] The remix album peaked at number 189 on theBillboard 200.[11]
Color Me Badd's second studio album,Time and Chance, was released in November 1993. An ambitious project featuring 19 new tracks, the album marked a shift in musical style for the group. Working with producers includingDavid Foster,DJ Pooh, andJimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, it was more soulful and funky than their previous work but lacked a cohesive sound. With the music industry at the time embracing grunge music and West Coast hip hop, it was difficult for Color Me Badd to achieve the same success on the singles charts as before, and the group began to lose momentum.[2]
The album peaked at number 56 on theBillboard 200, spending 17 weeks on the chart.[2][11]Ice Cube directed the music video for the lead single, the title track "Time and Chance,"[2] which peaked at number 23 on the Hot 100 and number 9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.[10][12] The follow-up single, "Choose," also peaked at number 23 on the Hot 100.[12]
The group re-emerged in 1996 with their third studio album,Now & Forever. Producers includedNarada Michael Walden,Babyface,Jon B., andBoyz II Men'sNathan Morris.[2]Now & Forever reached number 113 on theBillboard 200, spending 14 weeks on the chart and eventually going platinum.[11] It reached number 1 in Japan.[6] The album produced one hit single, "The Earth, the Sun, the Rain," which peaked at number 21 on the Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 22 weeks,[12] and reached number 69 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[10] The second single, "Sexual Capacity," produced and co-written byRobin Thicke under the name Rob Thicke,[17] was a minor hit, appearing on the soundtrack to theDemi Moore filmStriptease.[2] Album sales forNow & Forever were not as strong as their previous albums, and the group was released from their contract with Giant to sign withEpic Records.[6]
After moving to Epic (underSony Music Entertainment), Color Me Badd's fourth studio album,Awakening, was released on July 28, 1998. Under Sony headTommy Mottola, the label chose "Remember When" as the album's lead single, which Abrams and Calderon objected to.[2][6] The song peaked at number 48 on the Hot 100.[12] Around this time, Abrams had developed an alcohol problem, and the group was beginning to fall apart. The newly married Thornton decided to leave the band to pursue a religious ministry, and Watters wanted to go off on his own to write and produce. With Abrams and Calderon the only remaining members, the group split up.[2]
Kevin Thornton left the group in October 1998 to pursue a Christian ministry. He became a licensed minister and has since served as an evangelist, youth pastor, and worship leader at his home church, Without Walls Church, in Fort Worth, Texas. He operates Kevin Thornton Ministries in Texas. In 2008, he released a solo album,Conversions, blending contemporary hip-hop/rap with gospel and soul music.[2]
Sam Watters pursued a career as a record producer, achieving success producing forJessica Simpson,Celine Dion,Fantasia,Anastacia,Natasha Bedingfield,Kelly Clarkson,98 Degrees,Blake Lewis, and others.[2][13][18] Watters is a member of the production/songwriting team The Runaways, which also includesRico Love,Wayne Wilkins,Ryan Tedder, andLouis Biancaniello. He married R&B singer and formerAmerican Idol contestantTamyra Gray in 2006.[2]
Mark Calderon worked with artists such asStevie Brock, whose 2002 remake of "All 4 Love" reached number 1 on the Disney charts; and with IPV, who is signed with Wright Entertainment and had songs played on the television seriesHouse andKnight Rider. Calderon married Color Me Badd’s former stylist Lisa Smedley in 1992. They have two children.
In 2001, Bryan Abrams released a solo album entitledWelcome to Me.[2] In 2007, he co-starred on theVH1 reality TV seriesMission: Man Band, which also included former boy band membersJeff Timmons of98 Degrees,Chris Kirkpatrick of*NSYNC, andRich Cronin ofLFO. The show documented the former boy band members' attempt to create a new group while living together.Mission: Man Band was ultimately canceled after seven episodes.[13] In 2007, after being approached byViolent J andShaggy 2 Dope, Abrams co-wrote and recorded an appearance on theInsane Clown Posse song "Truth Dare," which was released on the compilationsPsychopathics from Outer Space 3 (2007) andFeaturing Freshness (2011).[19] In 2010, Abrams wrote three songs forKool & the Gang, singing lead on all three tracks.[2]
On August 22, 2000, Giant Records released the compilation albumThe Best of Color Me Badd.[20]
In July 2010, Color Me Badd re-emerged as a duo consisting of Bryan Abrams and Mark Calderon. They headlined a concert in Hawaii, which also featuredAll-4-One andShai.[2] Later that year, Kevin Thornton rejoined Color Me Badd.[21] In early 2012, Calderon and Abrams collaborated with the Insane Clown Posse on the song "Ghetto Rainbows (Soft Ass R-N-B Remix)" onThe Mighty Death Pop! bonus CD calledMike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium. Credited to Insane Clown Posse and Color Me Badd, the song features Abrams and Calderon and was also co-written by the duo.[19] In June 2013, the group released "Skywalkin'," their first new song in nearly 15 years.[21] On August 16, 2013, Abrams announced his departure from Color Me Badd through a post on his website. The group continued with Calderon and Thornton.[21] Abrams was replaced by Martin Kember. Color Me Badd performed with the lineup of Calderon, Thornton, and Kember at the2014 BET Awards.[22]
In 2015, Abrams and Calderon reunited as Color Me Badd, without Thornton and Kember, and began a tour inSingapore.[23] Thornton briefly rejoined Color Me Badd in 2015 before leaving the group that same year. In the winter of 2015, Adam Emil joined the group, and they went on a US tour withBell Biv DeVoe.[1] By 2016, the group was officially a trio, consisting of Calderon, Abrams, and Emil. That year, they recorded a new song, "In Case You Didn't Know".[18] On April 30, 2016, Color Me Badd played a concert for theU.S. Armed Forces at Okuma Beach,Okinawa, Japan. In the fall and winter of 2016, Color Me Badd was on the inaugural I Love the ‘90s Tour, a year-long tour across the US that also featuredVanilla Ice,Salt-N-Pepa,Tone Loc, andYoung MC.[19][24]
On July 22, 2018, Abrams was arrested for assaulting Calderon on stage during a concert inWaterloo, New York. A video shows Abrams walking across the stage at the completion of the song "I Wanna Sex You Up" and firmly shoving Calderon to the floor. Abrams allegedly screamed, “I’m motherfucking Color Me Badd!” as he pushed Calderon to the floor. Officers stated that alcohol may have been a factor.[25] In 2019, Abrams, along with his wife Kim and bandmate Calderon, appeared onThe Dr. Phil talk show to discuss the events surrounding the incident, as well as Abrams's past addictions, arrests, and relationship issues. The two were interviewed separately due to therestraining order filed after the event, even though Abrams admitted that contractually they still performed together after the fact but stated that it felt painful that they never exchanged words other than sharing the stage professionally.[26]
On August 31, 2019, Color Me Badd performed at aBeverly Hills, 90210 charity event to benefitGenerosity Water, organized byBrian Austin Green and his podcast cohost Derek Russell.[27]
Along withBoyz II Men,Hi-Five,Shai,Silk, andAll-4-One, Color Me Badd were considered the leaders of a resurgence of post-doo-wop harmony group singing in the early 1990s.[28] Color Me Badd invented the term "hip-hop doo-wop" to describe their sound, which combines four-part pop-soul harmonies with a hip-hop influence.[4] In the 1990s, they were known for wearing bright-colored suits and for their choreography, as well as for being a racially diverse group, which was rare at the time.[2] Calderon is Latino, Abrams is White and Native American, Watters is White, and Thornton is Black.[19] The group was inducted into theOklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2000.[29]
Color Me Badd has had a lasting influence on R&B music. TheJustin Timberlake andAndy SambergSaturday Night Live Digital Short "Dick in a Box", which debuted on December 16, 2006, is a parody of early 1990s R&B and is considered a spoof of the style of Color Me Badd in particular.[30] "I Wanna Sex You Up" was performed by cast members on an episode of the first season ofGlee in 2009.[1] The music video for "I Wanna Sex You Up" was featured on an episode ofBeavis and Butthead onMTV. The song has appeared in numerous films and television shows, including New Jack City,You Don't Mess with the Zohan, andNo Strings Attached.[2][31] On a November 2015 episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live!, Color Me Badd's Abrams, Calderon, and Watters joined country singerBrad Paisley in a performance of "I Wanna Sex You Up" for Kimmel's "Mash-Up Monday" series. The artists were renamed Color Me Bradd for the occasion.[32]
| Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Color Me Badd | Grammy Award for Best New Artist | Nominated |
| "I Wanna Sex You Up" | Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal | Nominated | |
| "I Wanna Sex You Up" | Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single – Group, Band or Duo | Won | |
| "I Wanna Sex You Up" | Soul Train Music Award for R&B/Soul Song of the Year | Won | |
| "I Wanna Sex You Up" | American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Single | Won | |
| "I Adore Mi Amor" | Nominated | ||
| Color Me Badd | American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist | Nominated | |
| Color Me Badd | American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group | Nominated | |
| "I Wanna Sex You Up" | American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock Single | Nominated | |
| Color Me Badd | American Music Award for Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist | Nominated |
{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)| International | |
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