P. M. Dawn
Encyclopedia
P.M. Dawn is an American
hip hop
/R&B
musical ensemble
, formed in 1988 by brothers Attrell Cordes (a.k.a. Prince Be, sometimes credited as Prince Be the Nocturnal) and Jarrett Cordes (a.k.a DJ Minutemix or J.C. the Eternal) in Jersey City, New Jersey
.
The Cordes brothers' father died of pneumonia
when they were children. Further family tragedy saw their baby brother Duncan drown
at the age of two. The two elder brothers were raised by their mother and their stepfather George Brown, a founding member of Kool & the Gang
.
The duo
is known for its smooth, artistic sound, which mixes hip-hop and classic soul with contemporary pop music.
. By then, he and his brother were putting in studio time as P.M. Dawn.
They first approached Tommy Boy Records
, the rap music subsidiary of Warner Brothers, with their demo, but they were told that they were too much like alternative hip-hoppers De La Soul
, and not hardcore enough, and were turned away. Eventually, Warlock, an independent record label
, issued a debut single, "Ode to a Forgetful Mind", in 1989, but it went unnoticed.
The record label
that released the single in the United Kingdom
, Gee Street Records
, found greater success. Gee Street mixed and marketed the song so that it earned considerable attention from music reviewers, and P.M. Dawn found themselves courted not just by Gee Street's head, John Baker, but also by most of the major UK record labels. Gee Street brought the brothers to London
in 1990 to record tracks for an album, however, the label found itself facing bankruptcy during the recording. The entire Gee Street operation, along with P.M. Dawn's recording contract
, was sold to the highest bidder, Island Records
. Island issued a few more singles in the United Kingdom before releasing their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience
.
", which sampled the Spandau Ballet
song "True", and featured a cameo by Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley
in the music video
of the song. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" hit #1 the week of November 30, 1991, and holds the distinction of being the first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100
chart following the introduction of Nielsen SoundScan
to the chart. The song also reached #3 in the United Kingdom
. "Paper Doll", which was one of the early singles Island released in the United Kingdom, was released in the U.S. as a follow-up to "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss," and peaked at #28 in early 1992. "Paper Doll" is said well over 100 times in the song, which makes it second only to MC Hammer
's "Pray" which holds the record for the most times a title is repeated in an U.S. Top 40 hit (147).
With the success of their debut album, the band embarked on a world tour. During this world tour, a statement Prince Be made in Details magazine
led Boogie Down Productions
' KRS-One
and his crew to storm the stage during a P.M. Dawn concert, forcing the group off the stage and performing three BDP classics. To warrant this reaction from KRS-One, Prince B had asked, "KRS-One wants to be a teacher, but a teacher of what?" Defending his motives to USA Today
' s James T. Jones IV, KRS-One remarked, "I answered his question. 'A teacher of what?' I'm a teacher of respect."
In 1992, PM Dawn appeared on the Red Hot Organization
's compilation CD Red Hot + Dance
, contributing a remix of "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
," "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (Richie Rich Mix)." The album, featuring George Michael
and Madonna
among others, was meant to raise money and awareness in support of the AIDS epidemic.
" to the 1992 Eddie Murphy
comedy Boomerang and its soundtrack
. The number one hit was also included on The Bliss Album…?, as was the Billboard
Top 10 single "Looking Through Patient Eyes
".
"Looking Through Patient Eyes" featured backing vocals by Cathy Dennis
and sampled George Michael
's hit "Father Figure". The music video
for the song was shot in a church, and featured Christian
images throughout — most notably, Prince Be wore a T-shirt
with "Thank you, Jesus" written across it in black lettering.
The Bliss Album…? also featured the Boy George
duet "More Than Likely" and a cover of The Beatles
' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
". On a less positive note, the album also included "So On and So On," which led to a 1999 sampling
lawsuit. In the lawsuit Batiste v. Island Records, Inc., Paul and Michael Batiste claimed that P.M. Dawn's song "So On and So On" used unauthorized samples from David Batiste & The Gladiators' "Funky Soul". The fifth Circuit Federal Appellate Court
found that the Batistes point to no evidence in the record demonstrating that consumers were confused or deceived by either the use of a digital sample of "Funky Soul" in "So On and So On", or the attribution to David Batiste as a co-author of the track. The Batistes' claim that Paul and Michael Batiste were improperly excluded from the liner notes
accompanying the album also failed to suggest that consumers were confused, especially because the liner notes do credit the name of the band in which both Paul and Michael Batiste performed.
).
" to the 1993 compilation album
Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
. Artists ranging from Pat Metheny
to Eric Clapton
to Ice T
's Body Count
were included.
Their 1995 album Jesus Wept
was unable to attain the success of their first two albums. The album's highest charting single was "Downtown Venus", which contained a sample of Deep Purple
's "Hush", and reached #48 on the Billboard chart. Also, in 1995, P.M. Dawn was credited with the remix
of White Zombie
's "Blood, Milk and Sky" (Miss September Mix) on the Supersexy Swingin' Sounds compilation album. In 1996, P.M. Dawn contributed "Non-Fiction Burning" to the AIDS-Benefit Album Red Hot + Rio
produced by the Red Hot Organization
. In 1998, Prince Be contributed the tracks "Perfect for You" and "Gotta Be...Movin' on Up" to the Marlon Wayans
and David Spade
comedy Senseless
, followed later in the year by P.M. Dawn's fourth album, Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad
. It was less successful again, with the album's single, "Being So Not For You (I Had No Right)" being only a minor chart hit. In 2000, they released the compilation, The Best of P.M. Dawn
.
Prince Be suffered a massive stroke
in early 2005 that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. Undeterred, P.M. Dawn appeared on NBC
's Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, performing "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", and covered Puddle of Mudd
's "Blurry". Despite the fact that Prince Be was still suffering the effects of this stroke, they beat Animotion
, Missing Persons
, Juice Newton
and Shannon
to claim the $20,000 charitable prize, which they contributed to the juvenile diabetes
foundation, as Prince Be is a diabetic.
Following their appearance on Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, Minutemix decided to leave P.M. Dawn to pursue an interest in a solo career. This led to the introduction of The Doc Of The Dawn-Doc.G, also known as 'Dr.Giggles' or 'Blissboy #2', who is the Cordes brothers' paternal first cousin.
In June 2006, P.M. Dawn commenced a summer tour called "Summer of Bliss, 2006", playing venues across the United States
in an effort to promote a new album planned for release in 2007, with a live album also expected to be recorded that year. P.M. Dawn Greatest Hits Live was finally released in early 2010. The Doc Of The Dawn-Doc.G released a new single on May 20, 2011 called "99 Bottle (The Stripe & Goose Song)" on iTunes, Amazon, and other mp3 websites. On May 24, 2011 The Doc Of The Dawn-Doc.G released his first solo album titled The Purr-Script-Shun.
On February 12, 2009, Prince Be had a second stroke and suffered a gangrenous infection in his right leg. As a result of this infection, his leg had to be amputated below the kneecap in December 2009. With Prince Be's blessing, Doc.G continues to tour and perform P.M. Dawn classics and his new material. On May 15, 2010 (Prince Be's 40th birthday), Doc.g performed at the Mall of Asia concert series in Manila, receiving a standing ovation from 50,000 fans and dedicating the performance to the memories of Guru from Gangstarr and Francis M.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hip hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
/R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
musical ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
, formed in 1988 by brothers Attrell Cordes (a.k.a. Prince Be, sometimes credited as Prince Be the Nocturnal) and Jarrett Cordes (a.k.a DJ Minutemix or J.C. the Eternal) in Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City, New Jersey
Jersey City is the seat of Hudson County, New Jersey, United States.Part of the New York metropolitan area, Jersey City lies between the Hudson River and Upper New York Bay across from Lower Manhattan and the Hackensack River and Newark Bay...
.
The Cordes brothers' father died of pneumonia
Pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung—especially affecting the microscopic air sacs —associated with fever, chest symptoms, and a lack of air space on a chest X-ray. Pneumonia is typically caused by an infection but there are a number of other causes...
when they were children. Further family tragedy saw their baby brother Duncan drown
Drowning
Drowning is death from asphyxia due to suffocation caused by water entering the lungs and preventing the absorption of oxygen leading to cerebral hypoxia....
at the age of two. The two elder brothers were raised by their mother and their stepfather George Brown, a founding member of Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang are an American jazz, R&B, soul, and funk group, originally formed as the Jazziacs in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1964.They went through several musical phases during the course of their recording career, starting out with a purist jazz sound, then becoming practitioners of R&B and...
.
The duo
Duo
-Arts:*Duet , a musical piece performed by two people*Duo, a musical ensemble composed of two musicians*Comedy duo, also known as a double act*Duo , 2008*Duo , 1991...
is known for its smooth, artistic sound, which mixes hip-hop and classic soul with contemporary pop music.
Early history
Prince Be began DJing parties and composing songs in ninth grade. Within a few years, he had determined to make a demo tape of some of those pieces with the $600 he had set aside from his after school job as a security guard at a homeless shelterHomeless shelter
Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community...
. By then, he and his brother were putting in studio time as P.M. Dawn.
They first approached Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
, the rap music subsidiary of Warner Brothers, with their demo, but they were told that they were too much like alternative hip-hoppers De La Soul
De La Soul
De La Soul is an American hip hop trio formed in 1987 on Long Island, New York. The band is best known for their eclectic sampling, quirky lyrics, and their contributions to the evolution of the jazz rap and alternative hip hop subgenres...
, and not hardcore enough, and were turned away. Eventually, Warlock, an independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, issued a debut single, "Ode to a Forgetful Mind", in 1989, but it went unnoticed.
The record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
that released the single in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Gee Street Records
Gee Street Records
Gee Street Records was a British hip hop record label started by Jon Baker in 1985. The label's name came from its original location, a converted warehouse on Gee Street in London....
, found greater success. Gee Street mixed and marketed the song so that it earned considerable attention from music reviewers, and P.M. Dawn found themselves courted not just by Gee Street's head, John Baker, but also by most of the major UK record labels. Gee Street brought the brothers to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1990 to record tracks for an album, however, the label found itself facing bankruptcy during the recording. The entire Gee Street operation, along with P.M. Dawn's recording contract
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
, was sold to the highest bidder, Island Records
Island Records
Island Records is a record label that was founded by Chris Blackwell in Jamaica. It was based in the United Kingdom for many years and is now owned by Universal Music Group...
. Island issued a few more singles in the United Kingdom before releasing their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience
Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience
Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience is a 1991 album by P.M. Dawn.Warlock, an independent record label, issued a debut single, "Ode to a Forgetful Mind," in 1989, but it went unnoticed. The label that released the single in England, Gee Street Records, found greater...
.
"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss"
Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross featured the international hit "Set Adrift on Memory BlissSet Adrift on Memory Bliss
"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" is the signature hit by P.M. Dawn from their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience. Writing credit is given to Attrell Cordes and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet as the song is built around samples of their 1983 hit "True," as well...
", which sampled the Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet
Spandau Ballet are a British band formed in London in the late 1970s. Initially inspired by, and an integral part of, the New Romantic fashion, their music has featured a mixture of funk, jazz, soul and synthpop. They were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s, achieving ten Top Ten singles...
song "True", and featured a cameo by Spandau Ballet singer Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley
Tony Hadley is an English pop singer-songwriter, occasional stage actor and radio presenter who gained celebrity as the lead vocalist for the 1980s band Spandau Ballet.-Early life:...
in the music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
of the song. "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" hit #1 the week of November 30, 1991, and holds the distinction of being the first #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart following the introduction of Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan
Nielsen SoundScan is an information and sales tracking system created by Mike Fine and Mike Shalett. Soundscan is the official method of tracking sales of music and music video products throughout the United States and Canada...
to the chart. The song also reached #3 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. "Paper Doll", which was one of the early singles Island released in the United Kingdom, was released in the U.S. as a follow-up to "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss," and peaked at #28 in early 1992. "Paper Doll" is said well over 100 times in the song, which makes it second only to MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
's "Pray" which holds the record for the most times a title is repeated in an U.S. Top 40 hit (147).
With the success of their debut album, the band embarked on a world tour. During this world tour, a statement Prince Be made in Details magazine
Details (magazine)
Details is an American monthly men's magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, founded in 1982. Though primarily a magazine devoted to fashion and lifestyle, Details also features reports on relevant social and political issues.-History:...
led Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions was a hip hop group that was originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, months after the release of BDP's debut album, Criminal Minded. The name of the group, Boogie Down, derives from a nickname for the...
' KRS-One
KRS-One
Lawrence Krisna Parker , better known by his stage names KRS-One , and Teacha, is an American rapper...
and his crew to storm the stage during a P.M. Dawn concert, forcing the group off the stage and performing three BDP classics. To warrant this reaction from KRS-One, Prince B had asked, "KRS-One wants to be a teacher, but a teacher of what?" Defending his motives to USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
In 1992, PM Dawn appeared on the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
's compilation CD Red Hot + Dance
Red Hot + Dance
Red Hot + Dance is an album produced by the Red Hot Organization, an organization dedicated to raising money and awareness to fight the onslaught of HIV/AIDS....
, contributing a remix of "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
Set Adrift on Memory Bliss
"Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" is the signature hit by P.M. Dawn from their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience. Writing credit is given to Attrell Cordes and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet as the song is built around samples of their 1983 hit "True," as well...
," "Set Adrift On Memory Bliss (Richie Rich Mix)." The album, featuring George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
and Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
among others, was meant to raise money and awareness in support of the AIDS epidemic.
The Bliss Album…?
Before releasing their follow-up album, The Bliss Album…? (Vibrations of Love and Anger and the Ponderance of Life and Existence), P.M. Dawn contributed the single "I'd Die Without YouI'd Die Without You
"I'd Die Without You" is a number three Billboard Hot 100 hit from 1992 by P.M. Dawn. It also peaked at number 16 on Billboards Hot R&B Singles in 1992....
" to the 1992 Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
comedy Boomerang and its soundtrack
Boomerang (soundtrack)
-Album:-Singles:"—" denotes releases that did not chart.-Personnel:Information taken from Allmusic.*bass – Kayo, Debra Killings*composing – Jonathan Davis, Ali Shaheed Muhammad, Malik Taylor*coordination – Constance Armstrong, Sharliss Ashbury...
. The number one hit was also included on The Bliss Album…?, as was the Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Top 10 single "Looking Through Patient Eyes
Looking Through Patient Eyes
"Looking Through Patient Eyes" is a 1993 song by American hip hop/R&B group P.M. Dawn, released as a single from their album The Bliss Album…? ....
".
"Looking Through Patient Eyes" featured backing vocals by Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis
Cathy Dennis is a British dance-oriented pop singer-songwriter, record producer and actress...
and sampled George Michael
George Michael
George Michael is a British musician, singer, songwriter and record producer who rose to fame in the 1980s when he formed the pop duo Wham! with his school friend, Andrew Ridgeley...
's hit "Father Figure". The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was shot in a church, and featured Christian
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
images throughout — most notably, Prince Be wore a T-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
with "Thank you, Jesus" written across it in black lettering.
The Bliss Album…? also featured the Boy George
Boy George
Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...
duet "More Than Likely" and a cover of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
"Norwegian Wood " is a song by The Beatles, first released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul....
". On a less positive note, the album also included "So On and So On," which led to a 1999 sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
lawsuit. In the lawsuit Batiste v. Island Records, Inc., Paul and Michael Batiste claimed that P.M. Dawn's song "So On and So On" used unauthorized samples from David Batiste & The Gladiators' "Funky Soul". The fifth Circuit Federal Appellate Court
Appellate court
An appellate court, commonly called an appeals court or court of appeals or appeal court , is any court of law that is empowered to hear an appeal of a trial court or other lower tribunal...
found that the Batistes point to no evidence in the record demonstrating that consumers were confused or deceived by either the use of a digital sample of "Funky Soul" in "So On and So On", or the attribution to David Batiste as a co-author of the track. The Batistes' claim that Paul and Michael Batiste were improperly excluded from the liner notes
Liner notes
Liner notes are the writings found in booklets which come inserted into the compact disc jewel case or the equivalent packaging for vinyl records and cassettes.-Origin:...
accompanying the album also failed to suggest that consumers were confused, especially because the liner notes do credit the name of the band in which both Paul and Michael Batiste performed.
Film
Prince Be appears in a Jersey based documentary film "Jerseyboy Hero" as an industry professional and close friend of the director/artist (Chris VaughnChris Vaughn
Chris Vaughn is an American songwriter, recording artist, filmmaker/producer/director from Neptune, New Jersey. He is best known for his original song "Fallen Angel", was featured in the film Stiletto; and as a filmmaker for his documentary film Jerseyboy Hero, which he wrote, produced, directed,...
).
Jesus Wept to present
P.M. Dawn contributed a cover of "You Got Me Floatin'You Got Me Floating
"You Got Me Floating" is a song composed by Jimi Hendrix. The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded it in 1967 and released it on their album Axis: Bold as Love....
" to the 1993 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix
Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix is a 1993 album recorded by various artists in tribute to Jimi Hendrix. The artists were drawn from many genres of popular music. Contributors include his classic rock contemporaries Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, blues man Buddy Guy, classical violinist Nigel...
. Artists ranging from Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects...
to Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
to Ice T
Ice T
Tracy Marrow , better known by his stage name Ice-T, is an American musician and actor.He was born in Newark, New Jersey and moved to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles when he was in the 7th grade. After graduating from high school he served in the United States Army for four years...
's Body Count
Body Count
Body Count is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1990. The group is fronted by rapper and actor Ice-T, who founded the group out of his interest in heavy metal music, taking on the role of vocalist and writing the lyrics for most of the group's songs. Lead guitarist...
were included.
Their 1995 album Jesus Wept
Jesus Wept
Jesus Wept is an album by American hip hop group P.M. Dawn. It was released in October 1995 via Gee Street Records, and was unable to attain the success of the group's first two albums, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience and The Bliss Album...? ...
was unable to attain the success of their first two albums. The album's highest charting single was "Downtown Venus", which contained a sample of Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
's "Hush", and reached #48 on the Billboard chart. Also, in 1995, P.M. Dawn was credited with the remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
of White Zombie
White Zombie
White Zombie was a Grammy Award-nominated American heavy metal band. Based in New York City, White Zombie was originally a noise rock band. White Zombie are better-known for their later heavy metal-oriented sound...
's "Blood, Milk and Sky" (Miss September Mix) on the Supersexy Swingin' Sounds compilation album. In 1996, P.M. Dawn contributed "Non-Fiction Burning" to the AIDS-Benefit Album Red Hot + Rio
Red Hot + Rio
Red Hot + Rio is a compilation album produced by Paul Heck as part of the Red Hot AIDS Benefit Series intended to promote AIDS awareness. This installment is a contemporary tribute to the Bossa nova sound, especially the music of Antonio Carlos Jobim...
produced by the Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
. In 1998, Prince Be contributed the tracks "Perfect for You" and "Gotta Be...Movin' on Up" to the Marlon Wayans
Marlon Wayans
Marlon L. Wayans is an American actor, model producer, comedian, writer, and director of movies, beginning with his role as a pedestrian in I'm Gonna Git You Sucka in 1988...
and David Spade
David Spade
David Wayne Spade is an American actor, comedian and television personality who first became famous in the 1990s as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, and from 1997 until 2003 when he starred as Dennis Finch on Just Shoot Me!. He also starred as C.J...
comedy Senseless
Senseless
Senseless is a 1998 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Greg Erb and Craig Mazin. The film stars Marlon Wayans, David Spade, and Matthew Lillard as college students.-Plot:...
, followed later in the year by P.M. Dawn's fourth album, Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad
Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad
Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad is a 1998 album by P.M. Dawn.The album title refers to bandmember Attrell Cordes's newborn son, named Christian.-Track listing:...
. It was less successful again, with the album's single, "Being So Not For You (I Had No Right)" being only a minor chart hit. In 2000, they released the compilation, The Best of P.M. Dawn
The Best of P.M. Dawn
The Best of P.M. Dawn is a 2000 compilation album by P.M. Dawn. Along with the group's most successful recordings, it includes remixes of some of their minor hits, and "Gotta Be...Movin' on Up" from the Marlon Wayans and David Spade 1998 comedy Senseless performed by Prince Be featuring...
.
Prince Be suffered a massive stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
in early 2005 that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body. Undeterred, P.M. Dawn appeared on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, performing "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss", and covered Puddle of Mudd
Puddle of Mudd
Puddle Of Mudd is an American rock band from Kansas City, Missouri, USA. To date the band has sold over 7 million albums, and have had a string of #1 mainstream rock singles in the United States. Their major-label debut Come Clean has sold over 5 million copies...
's "Blurry". Despite the fact that Prince Be was still suffering the effects of this stroke, they beat Animotion
Animotion
Animotion is a 1980s U.S. New Wave/synthpop band from Los Angeles, California best known for their songs "Obsession" , "Let Him Go", "I Engineer" and "Room to Move"...
, Missing Persons
Missing Persons
Missing Persons is an American band who plays a blend of New Wave and Pop rock. The band was founded in 1980 in Los Angeles by guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, vocalist Dale Bozzio, and drummer Terry Bozzio. They went on to add bassist Patrick O'Hearn and keyboardist Chuck Wild. Dale's quirky voice...
, Juice Newton
Juice Newton
Judith Kay "Juice" Newton is an American Pop music and Country singer, songwriter and guitarist...
and Shannon
Shannon (singer)
Shannon is an American singer. She is best known for her 1983 million-selling record, "Let the Music Play". The record re-defined the electro funk sound that would eventually be called freestyle music.-Biography:...
to claim the $20,000 charitable prize, which they contributed to the juvenile diabetes
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
foundation, as Prince Be is a diabetic.
Following their appearance on Hit Me, Baby, One More Time, Minutemix decided to leave P.M. Dawn to pursue an interest in a solo career. This led to the introduction of The Doc Of The Dawn-Doc.G, also known as 'Dr.Giggles' or 'Blissboy #2', who is the Cordes brothers' paternal first cousin.
In June 2006, P.M. Dawn commenced a summer tour called "Summer of Bliss, 2006", playing venues across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in an effort to promote a new album planned for release in 2007, with a live album also expected to be recorded that year. P.M. Dawn Greatest Hits Live was finally released in early 2010. The Doc Of The Dawn-Doc.G released a new single on May 20, 2011 called "99 Bottle (The Stripe & Goose Song)" on iTunes, Amazon, and other mp3 websites. On May 24, 2011 The Doc Of The Dawn-Doc.G released his first solo album titled The Purr-Script-Shun.
On February 12, 2009, Prince Be had a second stroke and suffered a gangrenous infection in his right leg. As a result of this infection, his leg had to be amputated below the kneecap in December 2009. With Prince Be's blessing, Doc.G continues to tour and perform P.M. Dawn classics and his new material. On May 15, 2010 (Prince Be's 40th birthday), Doc.g performed at the Mall of Asia concert series in Manila, receiving a standing ovation from 50,000 fans and dedicating the performance to the memories of Guru from Gangstarr and Francis M.
Studio albums
| Year | Album details | Peak chart positions | Certifications Music recording sales certification Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,... (sales thresholds) |
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| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
CAN RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
UK UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
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| 1991 | Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience is a 1991 album by P.M. Dawn.Warlock, an independent record label, issued a debut single, "Ode to a Forgetful Mind," in 1989, but it went unnoticed. The label that released the single in England, Gee Street Records, found greater...
|
48 | 29 | — | 41 | 45 | 8 |
Recording Industry Association of America The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States... : Gold Music Canada Music Canada was a Canadian music television miniseries which aired approximately monthly on CBC Television from 1966 to 1967.-Premise:This series featured various special productions of music and dance, from classical to modern styles.-Scheduling:... : Gold British Phonographic Industry The British Phonographic Industry is the British record industry's trade association.-Structure:Its membership comprises hundreds of music companies including all four "major" record companies , associate members such as manufacturers and distributors, and hundreds of independent music companies... : Gold |
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| 1993 | The Bliss Album…?
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30 | 23 | 38 | 32 | — | 9 |
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| 1995 | Jesus Wept Jesus Wept Jesus Wept is an album by American hip hop group P.M. Dawn. It was released in October 1995 via Gee Street Records, and was unable to attain the success of the group's first two albums, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience and The Bliss Album...? ... |
119 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1998 | Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad is a 1998 album by P.M. Dawn.The album title refers to bandmember Attrell Cordes's newborn son, named Christian.-Track listing:... V2 Records V2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI.... |
— | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2000 | F*cked Music
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— | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. | |||||||||
Compilation albums
- 2000: The Best of P.M. DawnThe Best of P.M. DawnThe Best of P.M. Dawn is a 2000 compilation album by P.M. Dawn. Along with the group's most successful recordings, it includes remixes of some of their minor hits, and "Gotta Be...Movin' on Up" from the Marlon Wayans and David Spade 1998 comedy Senseless performed by Prince Be featuring...
(V2V2 RecordsV2 Records is a record label that is owned by Universal Music Group as of October 2007. The label was founded in 1996 by Richard Branson, five years after he sold Virgin Records to EMI....
) - 2008: Most Requested (Sheridan Square Records)
- 2010: P.M. Dawn: Greatest Hits Live! (Sbcmg)
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak chart positions | Album | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B |
US Pop |
US Dance |
AUS ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
CAN RPM (magazine) RPM was a Canadian music industry publication that featured song and album charts for Canada. The publication was founded by Walt Grealis in February 1964, supported through its existence by record label owner Stan Klees. RPM ceased publication in November 2000.RPM stood for "Records, Promotion,... |
GER Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
NZ Recording Industry Association of New Zealand The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand is a non-profit trade association of record producers, distributors and recording artists who sell music in New Zealand... |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
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| 1989 | "Ode to a Forgetful Mind" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| 1991 | "A Watcher's Point of View (Don't 'Cha Think) A Watcher's Point of View (Don't 'Cha Think) "A Watcher's Point of View " is a single by P.M. Dawn that peaked at 44 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in 1991. Song writing credit is given to Attrell Cordes "A Watcher's Point of View (Don't 'Cha Think)" is a single by P.M. Dawn that peaked at 44 on Billboard's Hot Dance... " |
— | — | — | 44 | — | — | — | — | 36 | Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience |
| "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss Set Adrift on Memory Bliss "Set Adrift on Memory Bliss" is the signature hit by P.M. Dawn from their debut album, Of the Heart, of the Soul and of the Cross: The Utopian Experience. Writing credit is given to Attrell Cordes and Gary Kemp of Spandau Ballet as the song is built around samples of their 1983 hit "True," as well... " |
1 | 16 | — | 6 | 7 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 3 | ||
| "Paper Doll" | 28 | 35 | — | 37 | — | 31 | 42 | — | 49 | ||
| 1992 | "Reality Used to Be a Friend of Mine" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 29 | |
| "I'd Die Without You I'd Die Without You "I'd Die Without You" is a number three Billboard Hot 100 hit from 1992 by P.M. Dawn. It also peaked at number 16 on Billboards Hot R&B Singles in 1992.... " |
3 | 16 | — | — | 42 | 10 | — | 38 | 30 | The Bliss Album…? | |
| 1993 | "Looking Through Patient Eyes Looking Through Patient Eyes "Looking Through Patient Eyes" is a 1993 song by American hip hop/R&B group P.M. Dawn, released as a single from their album The Bliss Album…? .... " |
6 | 62 | 2 | — | 20 | 1 | — | 11 | 11 | |
| "More Than Likely" (featuring Boy George Boy George Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by... ) |
— | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 40 | ||
| "The Ways of the Wind" | 54 | — | 21 | — | — | 24 | — | — | — | ||
| "Plastic" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "You Got Me Floatin' You Got Me Floating "You Got Me Floating" is a song composed by Jimi Hendrix. The Jimi Hendrix Experience recorded it in 1967 and released it on their album Axis: Bold as Love.... " |
115 | — | — | — | 43 | — | — | — | — | Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix Stone Free: A Tribute to Jimi Hendrix is a 1993 album recorded by various artists in tribute to Jimi Hendrix. The artists were drawn from many genres of popular music. Contributors include his classic rock contemporaries Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, blues man Buddy Guy, classical violinist Nigel... |
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| 1995 | "Downtown Venus" | 48 | — | 21 | — | — | — | — | — | 58 | Jesus Wept |
| "Sometimes I Miss You So Much (Dedicated to the Christ-Conciousness)" | 95 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 58 | ||
| 1998 | "I Had No Right" | 44 | 82 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad |
| "Faith in You" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Gotta Be...Movin' on Up" (featuring Ky-Mani Ky-Mani Marley Ky-mani is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall artist whose east African name means Adventurous Traveler. The only child of table tennis champion Anita Belnavis and reggae icon Bob Marley, Ky-mani Marley was born in Falmouth, Jamaica... ) |
— | — | — | — | 13 | — | 74 | 33 | 68 | Senseless Senseless Senseless is a 1998 American comedy film directed by Penelope Spheeris and written by Greg Erb and Craig Mazin. The film stars Marlon Wayans, David Spade, and Matthew Lillard as college students.-Plot:... soundtrack |
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| 1999 | "Art Deco Halos" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Dearest Christian, I'm So Very Sorry for Bringing You Here. Love, Dad |
| 2000 | "Night in the City" | — | — | — | 15 | — | — | — | — | — | A Case of Joni |
| 2002 | "Amnesia" | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Non-album single |
| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released. | |||||||||||