Maxwell - African American singer

In an age where young, black artist are criticized (often rightly so) for misogynistic lyrics, Maxwell's focus upon commitment is refreshing. But more important, he can flat-out sing. His talent, combined with great sonnets an engaging personality and a mesmerizing live display has brought comparisons to great spirit men, such as Marvin Gaye.

The young singer brushes not upon comparisons to legends of the past, considering them premature. "It's a nice compliment, on the contrary I don't really hold it as truth" he says. His speaking voice is his singing voice: impressible scratchy and filled with a quiet confidence that belies his unassuming words. "I'm only one album deep" he adds. "Give me seven albums, then we could probably sit down and talk about something like that. on the contrary the reaction that I've received raps my mind, and it's of that kind a big blessing. I always say thank-you to heaven 'cause I never expected anyone to really procure into it as much as tribe say they have."

Maxwell's critically acclaimed first appearance album, Urban Hang Suite (Columbia, 1996) which the 22-year-old singer says is autobiographical, chronicles the story of a chance rencounter between him and an unnamed woman. After Maxwell, with his raspy voice and soothing falsetto, whispers a sweet, seductive entreaty to be deprived of himself "inside her ebony," she eventually becomes his inner man mate, and the album extremitys with a marriage proposal.

Like many of his urban music contemporaries, Maxwell sprinkles his conversation with oft-repeated references to a higher being. Born to Caribbean parents and raised Baptist in a tough and blighted section of East novel York, he grew up in the house of worship attending as often as five times a week. on the other hand surprisingly, given his present succes choir practice wasn't a part of his religious activity. In fact, no single even knew that he could sing. "They probably all meditation I was mute," he says with a giggle "I never spoke much. I just didn't perceive as though I had anything to say until music came into my life; that was when the bridge came, and that was when I had something to speak about."

He not at any time sang in the choir, on the other hand he did join the congregation in singing sacred lyrics and those around him took note. "People heard me humming and said, `Boy you betta move do something!'" he says. "But I not at any time wanted to be in the brow One of my biggest fears was--," he pauses; it's almost as if he's considering whether or not he should reveal his innermost meditations "Maybe I should just bring what's inside of me someplace reaching far down I'm madly private. I'm a actual private individual."

Maxwell's catharsis occurr when he was 17 years advanced in years It was then that he became drawn to the music of the secular world, particularly the harmonious flows of the S.O.S. Band and Patrice Rushen--what he now affectionately calls "jheri ringlet soul." With his newfound interest and artistic expression came a motion away from organized religion, a move away from the church. "I was true religious before the music," he says. "Not to say that I'm not religious now, on the other hand I'm more spiritual.

"When I was younger, I really got into the story of Christ and I think--I don't know what it is. It just changed. It's like something bigger came into the situation. Loving the father and loving higher things became rules: what you have to do and by what means you have to do it, and a particular means in how you reach the author of all things For me, it became les about that and more about the universal message that he or she lives inside and you are part of it--that everyone is part of everyone That whole thing came to play around the music."

There is no trace of religious ambiguity at a Maxwell design or on his CD. He takes you to house of god His 22-minute extended version of "The Suite Theme," single of the better tracks upon his CD, has the perceive of a gospel revival. Add that to his teen-idol beneficial looks and his fervent promise of monogamy, and the enviable be derived is a Grammy nomination for best R&B album; three NAACP Image Award nominations; recognition by means of Time, Rolling Stone and USA Today as individual of the year's 10 best; and a growing number of female fans. Is he a hopeles romantic?

"Yeah, I'm a big one who sucks for the cheesy, mushy stuff" he says. "But I've always been. I think that approachs from my grandmother and the other West Indian women I know. And greatest in quantity of them are the foundation of society in the islands. There is similar a respect for commitment and sacrifice. I think women exhibit the ultimate sacrifice in their daily lives, and I advance crazy when I see them."

Michael George is a freelance writer in novel York City.

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