Mark Morrison facts for kids

Mark Anthony Joseph Morrison (born 3 May 1972) is a British R&B singer. He is most famous for his 1996 hit song "Return of the Mack". The song was a massive success in Europe and later climbed to number 2 on the music charts in the United States.

Early Life and Background

Mark Morrison was born in Hanover, West Germany. He has Barbadian roots through his parents. When he was young, his family moved to Leicester, England.

At age 11, he moved to West Palm Beach, Florida, in the United States. He went to Palm Beach Lakes High School and graduated in 1990. After high school, he moved back to Leicester.

In 2020, Morrison announced he was thinking about running for Mayor of Leicester, but he ended his campaign in 2022. He has since bought homes in Florida, showing his continued success.

Music Career

Morrison's music journey began in 1993 with his first recording, "Where Is Our Love". He released it on his own record label.

Rise to Fame

In 1995, Morrison released his first official single, "Crazy". It became a top 20 hit in the United Kingdom and was very popular in clubs. His next song, "Let's Get Down", also made it into the top 40.

In the spring of 1996, he released "Return of the Mack". The song was a huge international hit. It stayed at the number one spot on the UK Singles Chart for two weeks.

Debut Album Success

Following the hit single, Morrison released his first album, also called Return of the Mack. The album was a great success, selling 3 million copies around the world and reaching number four in the UK charts.

The album had several more hit songs, including "Crazy", "Trippin'", and "Moan & Groan". With five top 10 hits from his first album, Morrison made British pop history. He was the first artist ever to achieve this.

Awards and US Success

In 1997, Morrison's career was celebrated with many award nominations. He received four Brit Award nominations, a Mercury Prize nomination, and five MOBO Award nominations.

"Return of the Mack" also became a huge hit in America. It reached number 2 on the Billboard charts and was on the charts for 40 weeks. Morrison performed at the 1997 Brit Awards, a major music event in the UK.

Later that year, he released an EP (a short album) called Only God Can Judge Me. It included live songs, interviews, and new tracks.

Later Career and Collaborations

In 1999, Morrison released the single "Best Friend" with singers Conner Reeves and Gabrielle. It became his ninth top 40 hit in the UK.

The next year, he signed a deal with Death Row Records, a famous American record label. This made him the first and only European artist to sign with the label.

Over the years, Morrison has worked with many other artists.

• In 2006, he released the album Innocent Man on his own label. The title song featured the rapper DMX.
• In 2007, his voice was sampled on the song "Innocent Man (Misunderstood)" by the rapper Cassidy.
• In 2012, he was a guest on the song "I'm On 2.0" by rapper Trae tha Truth. The track featured many famous rappers like J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar.
• In 2021, he was featured on G-Eazy's single "Provide" with Chris Brown, which sampled "Return of the Mack".

The Legacy of "Return of the Mack"

"Return of the Mack" has remained popular for decades. It is often remixed and used in commercials.

In 2016, for the song's 20th anniversary, DJ Nevada created a new version called "The Mack". It featured new vocals from Morrison and rapper Fetty Wap.

In 2017, Burger King used a remix of the song in a commercial for their Mac and Cheetos. In 2020, McDonald's featured the original song in a UK television ad.

In 2022, a new version of the song was released as a mashup with Post Malone's song "Cooped Up". The track became very popular on social media.

Discography

Studio albums

• Return of the Mack (1996)
• Innocent Man (2006)

See also

In Spanish: Mark Morrison para niños

• List of one-hit wonders in the United States