Mary J.Blige

Mary J.Blige

Her full name Mary Jane Blige, but commonly referred to as Mary J.Blige is a repute American recording artist, record producer and actress, said to be one of the greatest's singers of our time. Born on January 11th 1971 in The Bronx, New York. Second of four children by the parents Cora and Thomas Blige. Her father a jazz musician taught Mary to sing. However due to her father's abusive behaviour towards her mother, Thomas Blige deserted the family leaving Mary to spread her early years in Savannah, Geogia. There she sang in a Pentecostal church. Later on, she moved to Scholbohm Houses in Yonkers, New York where she stayed with her mother, older sister, five cousins and two aunts. It was at the age of five Mary experienced a sexual abuse from one of her own family members. By 11th grade, Mary dropped out of school. At the age of 17, Mary recorded a unrehearsed cover of Anita Baker's "Caught Up in the Rapture" at a recording booth in White Plains, New York. Recording artists and A&R runner for Uptown Records, Jeff Redd' s casette was played by Mary's mothers boyfriend at the time, he sent it to the President and CEO of the label Andre Harrell. Andre Harrell in 1989 met with Mary and signed her to a label where she became the company's youngest and first female artist.

The record label focused their attention on more established acts which meant Mary's early years upon signing to Uptown were very inactive. From time to time she did some 'session' work as a background singer for her label friends. In 1990, Mary was introduced as a background singer for Jeff Reff, at the Apollo Theatre. Mary appeared in a concert-themed music video, the very same year she sang "I'll Do 4 U" by rapper and label mate Father MC. She also appeared on he sydicated show "Showtime at the Apollo". Mary was guest with Grand Puba with his single "Check It Out" in 1992. Mary's first appearence was in the summer of 1992, where she appeared on MTV.

On July 28th 1991, Uptown Records released "You Remind Me" which was the albums lead off single from "Whats The 411?". It successfully came number one on the 'R&B' singles chart that summer. A second single was released, "Real Love". Another successful single which also reached the top of the 'R&B' singles chart. This single also became Mary's top ten hot 100 single at number seven. Both of these single's were certified Gold.

Many more single's were released from "Whats the 411?" one of which included 'Sweet Thing' and 'Love No Limit', by the end of 1993 they sold a staggering amount of three million copies. "You Don't Have to Worry" was successfully released by Mary J.Blige. Sean 'Puffy' Combs quotes "the queen of hip-hop soul", a title Mary has since retained. Later on Mary admitted to this title being nothing more than a 'marketing tool'. "What the 411" album (Remix) was a success used to extend the life of the Whats The 411 single's on radio, whilst Mary J.Blige recorded her follow up album in the year 1994.



Mary j.Blige - 'You Don't Have to Worry'

'My Life', Mary J.Blige's second album was released by Uptown Records on November 29th 1994. This album described as "darker, moodier and slightly less uptempo" was overseen by Sean 'Puffy' Combs who co-produced all but one of the album tracks, this then resulted to him being Mary's manager. The album's single "Be Happy" came to number twenty-nine and number six on the Hot 100 and 'R&B' single's chart. Mary's first top 20 hit in the UK was 'Im Goin' Down' a 1976 big hit which was a cover of Rose Royce's. 'You Bring Me Joy', 'I Love You' and 'My Life' were other single's included in her album. They recieved a heavy radio play eventhough they were never really released as single's apart from in the UK, where Mary J.Blige successfully became part of the top 20 hit. This album allowed Mary to grow her fame and talent, as it recieved certified triple platinum. However, Mary came forward during this period of time and admitted she was dealing with a drug addiction, a drink problem- alcoholism and depression. Ontop of all these issue's, Mary was also going through an abusive relationship with then boyfriend K-Ci Hailey of Jodeci.

Following this, Mary J.Blige got herself involved with several different projects. She recorded a cover of Aretha Franklin's "You make me feel like a natural woman" for the soundtrack to the FOX series 'New York Undercover'. Mary also recorded a cover of Faith Evan's "Everyday It Rain's" for the soundtrack to the hip-hop biopic show. Mary J.Blige won a Gammy award after she deuted with rapper Method Man on his song, "I'll Be There For You/You're All I Need To Get By". In the early 1996, Mary's recording of 'Babyface', "Not Goin' Cry" soundtrack was a platinum selling single. On the Billboard Hot 100 and on the hot 'R&B'/Hip-Hop songs came number two making it her biggest ever commercial hit. It was with Method Man Blige won her first ever Grammy Award- "Best Rap Perfomance by a Duo or Group".

Mary's third album was released on 22nd April 1997. "Share My World" released by MCA Records. Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Chucky Thompson, Babyface, R.Kelly and Rodney Jenkins were all Mary's new working partners, rather than Combs. Mary was trying to get her life together during these years, after the ending of her relationship with Hailey. "Love Is All We Need" and "Share My World" were happier and more upbeat songs produced by Mary at this time of her life as she tried to live a more jolly lifestyle rather than depressing.





"Love Is All We Need" featuring Nas, "I Can Love You" featuring Lil Kim "Everything", "Missing You" and "Seven Days" were single's debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. "Share My World" was one of Mary's successfull albums. selling three million copies in the U.S. Mary won an American Music Award for "Favourite Soul/R&B Album" in 1998. During the summer of 1998, Mary J.Blige went on the 'Share My World Tour' which resulted to her achieving a Gold-certified live album.


Fourth album named "Mary" was released on August 17th 1999. On the 28th August 2001, Mary's fifth album "No More Drama" was also released. In 2003, August 26th Blige's sixth album "Love and Life" was released on Geffon Records. "The Breakthrough" Mary's seventh album came out on December 20th 2005. "Growing Pains", Mary J.Blige's eighth album released on December 18th 2007. During these several different releases Mary received 9 Grammy awards and 8 multi-platinum records. Mary J.Blige still continues her outstanding work, releasing single's today. Not only does she release single's but also plays different roles in several films. These film's include:

• The Jamie Foxx Show (1998)


• Angel: One More Road to Cross (1998)


• Prison Song (2001)


• Strong Medicine (2001)


• Ghost Whisperer (2007)


• I Can Do Bad All By Myself (film) (2007)


• Untitled Nina Simone Project (2009)


• 30 Rock (2009)