American singer born February 5, 1969, in Boston. First gained prominence as a member of New Edition (1981-1985) before launching a solo career.
Released eight solo studio albums between King of Stage (1986) and The Masterpiece (2012). Commercial peak: Don't Be Cruel (1988), the second-best-selling album of 1989, featuring the singles "Don't Be Cruel," "Roni," "Every Little Step," and "My Prerogative." Subsequent peak: Bobby (1992, featuring "Humpin' Around"). Brown's much-publicized 1992-2007 marriage to Whitney Houston and recurring substance-abuse issues defined the public's perception of his later career.
