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Veteran
Background:
“My aim has always been to make music that can make a
difference in someone's life, and my greatest joy has always been
knowing that a song I wrote or sung touched someone else. I felt
really passionate about making this record and now I want everyone
else to 'feel' it.” Marques Houston
American R&B singer and actor Marques Houston became famous as
the founding member of the group Immature/Imx before launching a solo
career in 2003. He has released three solo albums, most notably
“Veteran” (2007), which peaked at No. 1 on Billboard's
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and produced several Billboard's
100 singles, including “That Girl,” “All Because of
You” and “Naked.” As an actor, 5'10” Houston
is probably best remembered as Roger Evans on the popular TV series
“Sister, Sister” (1994-1997, 1999), from which he took
home a Young Artist Award, and for playing Elgin in a hit comedy film
directed by Chris Stokes, “You Got Served” (2004), in
which he netted an MTV Movie nomination, and Dumb Donald in the Kenan
Thompson vehicle “Fat Albert” (also 2004).
“My manager Chris Stokes has been my mentor since I first
started out in this business and when we were preparing to do the
album, we agreed that it should be an opportunity for me to show my
strength as a singer.” Marques Houston
Houston, who is of African-American and Mexican descent, was
engaged to actress Jennifer Freeman in November 2007. They broke up
in January 2008. The Ebony Magazine “Most Eligible Bachelors of
2005” is good friends with Mario, Bow Wow, and Nick Cannon. He
idolizes Michael Jackson and Boyz II Men.
Batman
Childhood and Family:
Marques Barrett Houston was born on August 4, 1981, in Los
Angeles, California. His mother, Caroline, died of cancer when he
was nine years old. The lost impacted Marques deeply and led to the
creation of the songs “Alone” and “Please Don't
Go.” Marques has a sister named Danielle and is considered
singer/actor Omarion Grandberry (born on November 12, 1984) his
brother due to their very close relationship.
Marques Houston has the nicknames Batman and MH. He cites the
first as his favorite and got the name on stage after a tour. In his
leisure time, Marques enjoys racing cars, reading books and playing
basketball.
Marques is the cousin of Jarell Houston (aka. J Boog), one of the
members of the now defunct group Boys of the New Millennium (B2K).
Roger Evans of Sister, Sister
Career:
Marques Houston started his musical career with the R&B group
Immature. Managed by Chris Stokes, he and bandmates Jerome “Romeo”
Jones and Kelton “LDB” Kessee released four albums,
namely “On Our Worst Behavior” (1992), “Playtyme Is
Over” (1994), “We Got It” (1995) and “The
Journey” (1997), before they changed their name to IMx in 1999.
Under the new name, the group went on to launch “Introducing
Imx” in 1999 and “IMx” in 2001, but has since gone
their own separate ways to pursue solo careers.
Houston made his debut as a solo artist with Interscope/Elektra by
releasing “MH” on October 21, 2003. The self
executive-produced album reached No. 18 on the Billboard 200 and was
a Top 5 hit at the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It produced
such singles as “That Girl” (No. 63 on Billboard's 100),
“Clubbin',” which was penned and produced by R Kelly,
“Pop That Booty” and “Because of You.”
“Clubbin'” and “Pop That Booty” marked the
singer's hits in both the US and the UK.
The Los Angeles native resurfaced on May 24, 2005 with the release
of the sophomore effort “Naked,” featuring guest
appearances from Joe Budden, Rufus Blaq and fellow Immature/IMx
member, Young Rome. The album reached No. 13 on Billboard's 200 and
No. 5 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The first single
“All Because of You,” featuring Young Rome, debuted at
No. 69 on the Billboard Hot 100, while the second single and the
title track “Naked” peaked at No. 47 on the same charts.
“Sex Wit You” was released as the album's third single.
On March 20, 2007, Houston released his third solo studio album,
“Veteran.” Released under TUG/Universal, the album became
his first No. 1 solo album when it successfully topped the Billboard
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. “Veteran,” which spawns
such singles as “Like This,” Circle,” “Favorite
Girls” and “Wonderful,” debuted at No. 5 on
Billboard's 200.
Although busy with his solo projects, Houston still found time
working with other artists. In 2004, he contributed to the songs
“Sexapade” and “What Cha Doin' Tonight,”
which were included in the “Food for Thought” album by
ex-bandmate Jerome “Romeo” Jones. He also made guest
appearances in Mila J's single “Good Lookin' Out,” Yung
Joc's single “1st Time” and 50 Cent's remix to the
popular single “Candy Shop,” which also featured Dame
Four.
In addition to his success as a musician, Houston has also been
known as an actor. Making his debut in 1990 when he was cast as Roger
in Tim Allen's comedy series, “ABC TGIF,” he went on to
provide the voice of Kahlil in the 1992 animated film “Bébé's
Kids,”directed by Bruce W. Smith, and play the recurring role
of Eli Black in two episode of “A Different World”
(1993). Houston and fellow Immature/IMx bandmates made
self-appearances in the independent comedy “House Party 3”
(1994), starring Christopher Reid, but he did not get his breakout
role until he was cast in the recurring role of Roger Evans, the next
door neighbor of Tia and Tamera, on the WB hit TV series “Sister,
Sister.” He was on the show from 1994 to 1997 and was invited
back to make a final cameo appearance on the show's final episode in
1999. The role brought Houston a 1995 Young Artist for Best Youth
Comedian in a TV Show.
After appearing in the comedy film “Good Burger”
(1997), Houston resumed his film career with a starring role role as
John-John in the independent film “House Party 4: Down to the
Last Minute” (2001), along side Meagan Good. The film was
directed and written by Immature/IMx manager Chris Stokes. He
returned to TV by appearing in an episode of “American Dreams”
in 2003 and later that same year hosting the family series “The
Center.”
Houston experienced success on the big screen in 2004 when he
reunited with Chris Stokes for the hit comedy “You Got Served.”
Costarring as Elgin, along side Omarion Grandberry as David and Lil'
Fizz as Rashann, he picked up an MTV Movie nomination for Best Dance
Sequence. He also offered a fine turn as Dumb Donald in the 2004
comedy “Fat Albert,” directed by Joel Zwick and starring
Kenan Thompson.
Next up for Houston, he appeared as Kevin in three episodes of
“One on One” (2004-2006) and reprised the role for the
spin-off show “Cuts” (2005-2006), for which he received a
2005 Teen Choice nomination for Choice TV Actor: Comedy. In 2007, he
was cast as Brendan Young in the Chris Stokes horror film “Somebody
Help Me,” which reunited him with Omarion.
Awards:
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