Jam-Athon 2020 with Marc Nelson
Marc Nelson
Biography
Did you know he was the first to duet with the mega sensation Beyonce? Did you know he was the first to write a song for the most prolific writer ever, Baby Face? Did you know he is the co-founder of the biggest selling R&B group of all time, Boyz II Men? Did you know that between being the lead of a successful R&B group, a successful solo artist, and a song writer for many popular artist around the world this guy has sold more than 25 million records? Who is he? Marc Nelson!
Born and raised in the artistic city of Philadelphia, Marc Nelson cultivated his craft as a musician/actor in the very popular Creative & Performing Arts High School. His mother Phyllis Nelson, who in the 80’s became very successful, recording artist/songwriter, reared him in a musically driven family. Phyllis climbed the Billboard charts to the #1 spot with her hit song “I Like You” moving “We Are The World” from the thrown. She was most noted for her global hit “Move Closer.” This success showed Marc that all things were possible, and so he ran with it.
In 1989 Marc co-formed the mega group Boyz II Men with member Nathan Morris. Foreseeing an exciting future tragedy would strike Marc’s spirit by a deceptive move, which lead to his absence from the group’s world-renowned success. Though a very crushing blow, it would not take him out. He got up, dusted himself off, and kept going anyway.
Marc landed his first deal with Capital Records in 1991. The record “I Want You” had modest success. He then moved to Hollywood where he met and wrote is first profession song for MCA recording artist Pebbles. Pebbles being married to the mogul L.A. Reid and affiliated with Baby Face, Marc received his big break and joined the R& B group Az Yet. They went on to sell millions of records. He began to write more songs for A-List artist like Toni Braxton, Brandy, Michael McDonald, Aaron Neville, Tyrese, Jon B., and the writer of all writers Baby Face himself.
Being a protégé to Baby Face, Marc has sung under artist such as Michael Jackson, Whitney Huston, Kenny G. Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, and many more. Fulfilling every dream possible, so he thought, in 1997 Marc Nelson was nominated for Grammy (Best vocal by due or group), multiple Soul Train Awards, and NAACP awards just to name a few. In 1999 Marc would, again, try his hand in a solo project. With help from manager Benny Medina and attorney Fred Davis, he closed a million dollar deal with Columbia Records and scored a #1 Single “15 Minutes” and a Certified Gold CD “Chocolate Mood.” If things couldn’t better, with label mate Beyonce, Marc released a duet entitled “After All Is Said And Done” for a soundtrack to the block buster hit movie “The Best Man.” He would move on to opening up for TLC’s last tour “Fan Mail.”
Marc Nelson continues to write songs for the world over from Brian Culbertson, to Will Downing, to Japan’s current “boy band” multi-platinum sensation ShiNee! He is also in a new and very exciting faze of his career. For the past three years Marc has been developing his skills as an actor. He has studied under the Beverly Hills Play House, and The Acting Center. He has worked with actors from Richard Roundtree, Allen Payne, Tony Grant, to Tommy Lee Ford. Debbie Allen has taken notice of his abilities by casting him as the lead to her recent stage play “Twist,” but there was not enough time to teach Marc to tap dance. From this, Marc has begun sharpening his skills by taking tap, piano, and various other classes that will make him a force to reckon with. What ever he does, Marc Nelson is here, and is here to stay.
