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Biography
It might surprise you to know that even Color Me Badd, an outfit that on the surface seem utterly tailor made, actually formed naturally. The original line-up of Bryan Abrams, Sam Watters, Mark Calderon and Kevin “K.T” Thornton met while singing in the same church choir in Oklahoma. They formed a band together just before high school after discovering their similar tastes in music and spent their high school years singing together, building a reputation with their doo-wop style harmonies. One of their early champions was Robert Bell of Kool and the Gang, who saw the groups potential and signed them up with a manager that he knew personally. This manager relocated the group to New York City, New York but found that in the big city, they were one of many, many acts trying to make a name for themselves.
After a year and a half’s worth of concerts and label showcases, the band signed to Giant Records in 1990. The band debuted in 1991 with the release of their debut single “I Wanna Sex You Up”, which came out on the soundtrack of a crime film called New Jack City and made a name for the group immediately. In time, the song became an astonishing hit, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100 and staying there for four weeks. It was also huge in the U.K and New Zealand, marking an international breakthrough for the band as well. July 1991 saw the release of their debut album “C.M.B” which spent a total of 77 weeks on the Billboard 200, selling a million copies in its first two months of release.
The band spent the years of 1991 and 1992 as one of the biggest names in pop music but it wasn’t to last. The band stayed at a more manageable level of fame for the rest of the decade, occasionally scoring top twenty hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and releasing albums that got far more critical acclaim than they ever did at their commercial peak. However they still weren’t selling, and after the commercial failure of 1998’s “Awakening”, the band split in 2000. However, Abrams and Calderon revived the band as a duo in 2010, and were soon able to convince Thornton back into the fold as well, they’ve been touring ever since, and they still come highly recommended.
Live reviews
If you’re not entirely sure exactly what it is that ‘Color Me Badd’ is supposed to mean, then I’d like to think you’re in good company - I’d be lying if I told you I knew, either. Thankfully, though, the R&B five-piece had the good manners to ensure that we wouldn’t encounter similar problems with their recorded output; I don’t think any deep philosophical debates are going to be required to ascertain the true meaning behind their smash hit, U.S. number two single ‘I Wanna Sex You Up’, or indeed their American chart-topper I Adore Mi Amor, even if they did do their best to confuse us by segueing into a different language on their 1991 debut album C.M.B. They emerged from their native Oklahoma City with that record into a degree of stardom that, in the nineties at least, afforded them an impressive fanbase on both sides of the Atlantic, with the group scooping the coveted Best New Group award at the Smash Hits Awards here in the United Kingdom back in 1992. By the mid-nineties, there’s no question that their star had begun to wane - their 1996 album Now and Forever failed to meet sales expectations despite high-profile production credits that included members of Boyz II Men - but all the same, they reunited in 2011 - minus two of their original number - for a concert in Hawaii that ultimately led to a slew of further dates being added across the U.S. They haven’t yet made it back to the UK, but with a new album slated to be released this year, it shouldn’t be too long until they launch a transatlantic comeback
Joeg_67
It seemed as though 90s R & B/pop outfit Color Me Badd were done for when they called time on the band in 2000 following on from dwindling commercial success that failed to match the chart hits of their first two albums. However in 2011 they defied critics and delighted fans by announcing a reunion and accompanying tour. Bryan Abrams, Mark Calderon and Kevin Thornton regrouped to continue the R & B stylings of Color Me Badd and whether it is nostalgia or enjoyment of the music, the fanbase returned in force to attend the shows.
They have not really left the 90s in a sense as they appear in animated fashion and attempt to hype up the whole room from the offset. It is an endearing quality though as they are intent on making sure the crowd have the best possible experience at their live show as opposed to just coming out, singing their tracks and collecting the paycheque. Most do not realise that the group achieved two US #1s and a #2 yet everybody in the venue goes suitably wild for 'I Adore Mi Amor' 'All 4 Love' and the infamous 'I Wanna Sex You Up'. It is great to have a band of classic 90s R & B performing again.
sean-ward
To whom it may concern,
Your article on the 90's group Color Me Badd was woefully inaccurate. You indicated that a former group member returned to the group and is currently touring . The 3rd member of the group is actually Chicago born Adam Emil. He has been with the group for 3 years. While correcting the article would be sufficient, it saddens me that you would publish a piece so devoid of facts. Even a cursory probe would have revealed a more accurate profile. As a fan of both your writings and Color Me Badd I sincerely hope you will revisit this article and make the necessary corrections. Thank You Henry E. Robertson
robertson630
