Editing Color Me Badd (section)

==History==
===1985–1990: Formation===
Thornton and Abrams became friends in junior high school, and Watters and Calderon became friends in grade school.<ref name="cdarling">Cary Darling, [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1992/07/09/color-me-badd-finds-success-far-from-home/ "Color Me Badd Finds Success Far From Home,"] ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', July 9, 1992.</ref> The four met in the mid-1980s while attending [[Northwest Classen High School]] in Oklahoma City. They were all members of the school choir. The group originally formed in 1985 as Take One, but changed their name to Color Me Badd to avoid confusion with an a cappella band named Take 6. Watters selected the name, after a horse at the racetrack named Color Me Bad. They aimed to be a vocal group in the vein of [[New Edition]] and [[New Kids on the Block]].<ref name="rcollins"/> They first performed together in a school talent show, influenced by doo-wop a cappella groups of the past,<ref name="sholden">Stephen Holden, [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/08/arts/the-pop-life-994091.html "The Pop Life,"] ''[[The New York Times]]'', May 8, 1991.</ref><ref>Janice Page, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-06-25-ol-1483-story.html "Beyond the Bubble Gum,"] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'', June 25, 1992.</ref> such as [[Sam Cooke]], [[The Temptations]] and the [[Four Tops]].<ref name="ctaylor">Chuck Taylor, [https://books.google.com/books?id=EQoEAAAAMBAJ&dq=i+adore+mi+amor&pg=PA84 "Color Me Badd Finds New Shades Of Success With Mature 'Remember',"] ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', August 22, 1998.</ref>

The group came up with a plan to spontaneously audition for any big-name acts playing in Oklahoma City. They met [[Robert "Kool" Bell|Robert Bell]] of [[Kool & the Gang]] on May 27, 1987, when they were in Oklahoma City for a performance. They auditioned for him and he introduced them to his then-road manager, Adil Bayyan, who would become Color Me Badd's manager and convince them to move to New York City to pursue a record deal.<ref name="cdarling"/><ref>Dennis Hunt, [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-23-ca-4968-story.html "Hip-Hopping a Cappella in the Streets,"] ''Los Angeles Times'', February 23, 1992.</ref> They also sang for [[Huey Lewis and the News]], [[Sheila E.]] and [[Ronnie Milsap]],<ref name="rcollins"/> and opened for [[Tony! Toni! Toné!]] in Oklahoma City in 1988.<ref name="rennerbrown">Eric Renner Brown, [http://ew.com/article/2016/04/18/color-me-badd-i-love-90s-tour/ "Color Me Badd: I Love the 90s tour interview,"] ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', April 18, 2016.</ref> One afternoon in 1989, Thornton saw [[Jon Bon Jovi]] in a movie theater and called the other band members to join him. They waited for him to leave the theater and then sang the 1961 doo-wop hit "[[Daddy's Home (song)|Daddy's Home]]" a cappella for him. Bon Jovi invited them to be his band's opening act the following night, to perform in front of 20,000 audience members.<ref name="sholden"/>

They moved to New York City on September 23, 1989.<ref name="cdarling"/> In 1990, they bumped into Tony! Toni! Toné!, who got them into the [[ASCAP]] Music Awards. There, Color Me Badd approached producers [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]] and started singing for them. The producers advised that, being a multicultural group, they write a half-English, half-Spanish song. They wrote "[[I Adore Mi Amor]]" back in Oklahoma City with their producer and friend Hamza Lee.<ref name="rennerbrown"/> [[Giant Records (Warner)|Giant Records]] executive Cassandra Mills heard a tape of the band singing the song,<ref name="rcollins"/> and they signed with Giant on August 11, 1990.<ref name="cdarling"/>

===1991–1992: ''C.M.B.''===
After signing the group, Mills asked producer [[Dr. Freeze]] for a song for Color Me Badd to record for the ''[[New Jack City]]'' soundtrack, similar to "[[Do Me!]]" by [[Bell Biv DeVoe]]. Freeze offered "[[I Wanna Sex You Up]]", which would become Color Me Badd's debut single, released on March 2, 1991.<ref>Fred Bronson, ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=PgGqNrqfrsoC&dq=color+me+badd&pg=PT811 The Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits]'', New York: Billboard Books, 2004, p. 802.</ref> The song wasn't originally intended to be a single, and had been turned down by other acts including Bell Biv DeVoe, [[Keith Sweat]] and [[Christopher Williams (singer)|Christopher Williams]].<ref name="rcollins"/> The biggest hit on the ''New Jack City'' soundtrack,<ref name="sholden"/> it peaked at number 2 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] and hit number 1 on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs]] chart.<ref name="ctaylor"/><ref name="hiphopchart">[http://www.billboard.com/artist/299542/color-me-badd/chart?f=367 Color Me Badd Chart History], ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, ''Billboard''. Accessed March 22, 2017.</ref> Due to the song's popularity, Giant Records wanted Color Me Badd to quickly record an album. At the time, they only had four or five finished songs. They were flown out to Los Angeles to work in the studio, recording the album in two or three weeks.<ref name="rcollins"/>

Their debut album, ''[[C.M.B.]]'', was released on July 23, 1991. It would go on to sell over 6 million copies worldwide and become certified triple-platinum in the US, spending 77 weeks on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]], peaking at number 3.<ref name="ctaylor"/><ref name="billboard200">[http://www.billboard.com/artist/299542/color-me-badd/chart?f=305 Color Me Badd Chart History], ''Billboard'' 200, ''Billboard''. Accessed March 22, 2017.</ref> "I Wanna Sex You Up" was included on the album. The follow-up single "I Adore Mi Amor" hit number 1 on the Hot 100 and on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, "[[All 4 Love]]" hit number 1 on the Hot 100,<ref name="ctaylor"/><ref name="hiphopchart"/> "Thinkin Back" reached number 16 on the Hot 100 and number 31 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and "[[Slow Motion (Color Me Badd song)|Slow Motion]]" reached number 18 on the Hot 100.<ref name="hiphopchart"/><ref name="hot100">[http://www.billboard.com/artist/299542/color-me-badd/chart?f=379 Color Me Badd Chart History], ''Billboard'' Hot 100, ''Billboard''. Accessed March 22, 2017.</ref>

Color Me Badd performed at the 1991 [[Smash Hits Poll Winners Party|Smash Hits Poll Winners' Awards]] in the [[United Kingdom]], winning the Best New Group trophy. They won the Best R&B/Soul Single and R&B/Soul Song of the Year in the Group, Band or Duo categories for “I Wanna Sex You Up” at the sixth annual [[Soul Train Music Awards]]. They were nominated for [[Best New Artist]] and [[Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal]] ("I Wanna Sex You Up") at the [[1992 Grammy Awards]]. They won Favorite Soul/R&B Single at the [[1992 American Music Awards]] for "I Wanna Sex You Up", and were also nominated in that category for "I Adore Mi Amor". They were also nominated for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group, Favorite Pop/Rock Single, Favorite Pop/Rock New Artist and Favorite Soul/R&B New Artist at the 1992 American Music Awards.<ref name="ayoung">Alex Young, [http://consequenceofsound.net/2010/05/whatever-happened-to-color-me-badd/ "Whatever Happened To: Color Me Badd,"] ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'', May 15, 2010.</ref> Color Me Badd opened for [[Paula Abdul]] on her 1991 tour, singing some of their set a cappella. ''[[The New York Times]]'' described the group as "somewhere between [[George Michael]]'s pop-soul and the group dynamics of The Temptations."<ref>Jon Pareles, [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/21/arts/review-pop-high-tech-toys-make-old-fashioned-show-biz.html "High-Tech Toys Make Old-Fashioned Show Biz,"] ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 21, 1991.</ref> At halftime of [[Super Bowl XXVI]] between the [[Washington Redskins]] and [[Buffalo Bills]] on January 26, 1992, the group performed "I Wanna Sex You Up" on ''[[In Living Color]]'' as part of [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]'s counter-programming special live-from-Hollywood football-themed edition of the show.<ref>John J. O’Connor, [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/28/news/critic-s-notebook-the-super-bowl-on-tv-too-much-pumping-up.html "The Super Bowl on TV: Too Much Pumping Up?"] ''[[The New York Times]]'', January 28, 1992.</ref>

The group made a cameo appearance on a 1992 episode of ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' (season two, episode 26).<ref name="ayoung"/><ref>Rembert Browne, [https://grantland.com/hollywood-prospectus/rembert-explains-the-90s-color-me-badd-visits-90210/ "Rembert Explains the ‘90s: Color Me Badd Visits 90210,"] [[Grantland]], May 17, 2013.</ref> The episode revolved around Color Me Badd, beginning with a clip from the "I Adore Mi Amor" music video. Later in the episode, the 90210 gang stakes out the Bel Age Hotel in hopes of meeting the group, and [[Kelly Taylor (90210)|Kelly]] visits their penthouse suite. She invites them to join her at the Peach Pit, where they serenade the gang a cappella.<ref name="ayoung"/>

On November 24, 1992, Color Me Badd released a remix album entitled ''[[Young, Gifted & Badd: The Remixes]]''. It contained the single "[[Forever Love (Color Me Badd song)|Forever Love]]", which reached number 15 on the Hot 100 and was also featured on the ''[[Mo' Money]]'' soundtrack.<ref name="hot100"/> The remix album peaked at number 189 on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref name="billboard200"/>

===1993–1995: ''Time and Chance''===
Color Me Badd's second studio album, ''[[Time and Chance (Color Me Badd album)|Time and Chance]]'', was released in November 1993. An ambitious project, with 19 new tracks, the album represented a shift in musical style for the group. Working with producers including [[David Foster]], [[DJ Pooh]], and [[Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis]], it was more soulful and funky than their previous work, but lacked a cohesive sound. With the music industry at the time embracing grunge music and West Coast hip hop, it was difficult for Color Me Badd to deliver the same success on the singles charts as they had done before, and the group started to lose momentum.<ref name="rcollins"/>

The album peaked at number 56 on the ''Billboard'' 200, spending 17 weeks on the chart.<ref name="rcollins"/><ref name="billboard200"/> [[Ice Cube]] directed the music video for the lead single, the title track "Time and Chance",<ref name="rcollins"/> which peaked at number 23 on the Hot 100 and number 9 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts.<ref name="hiphopchart"/><ref name="hot100"/> The follow-up single, "Choose", also peaked at number 23 on the Hot 100.<ref name="hot100"/>

===1996–1998: Later albums and breakup===
The group re-emerged in 1996 with their third studio album, ''Now & Forever''. Producers included [[Narada Michael Walden]], [[Babyface (musician)|Babyface]], [[Jon B.]] and [[Boyz II Men]]'s [[Nathan Morris]].<ref name="rcollins"/> ''Now & Forever'' reached number 113 on the ''Billboard'' 200, spending 14 weeks on the chart and eventually going platinum.<ref name="billboard200"/> It went to number 1 in Japan.<ref name="ctaylor"/> The album produced one hit single, "The Earth, the Sun, the Rain", which peaked at number 21 on the Hot 100, remaining on the chart for 22 weeks,<ref name="hot100"/> and reached number 69 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.<ref name="hiphopchart"/> The second single, "Sexual Capacity", produced and co-written by [[Robin Thicke]] under the name Rob Thicke,<ref>{{cite AV media notes |title=Now and Forever |others=Color Me Badd |year=1996 |type=liner notes |publisher=Giant Records |location=United States}}</ref> was a minor hit, appearing on the soundtrack to the [[Demi Moore]] film ''[[Striptease (film)|Striptease]]''.<ref name="rcollins"/> Album sales for ''Now & Forever'' weren't as strong as their previous albums, and the group was released from their contract with Giant to sign with [[Epic Records]].<ref name="ctaylor"/>

After moving to Epic (under [[Sony Music Entertainment]]), Color Me Badd's fourth studio album, ''Awakening'', was released on July 28, 1998. Behind Sony head [[Tommy Mottola]], the label chose "Remember When" as the album's lead single, which Abrams and Calderon objected to.<ref name="rcollins"/><ref name="ctaylor"/> The song peaked at number 48 on the Hot 100.<ref name="hot100"/> Around this time, Abrams had developed an alcohol problem, and the group was beginning to fall apart. The newly married Thornton decided to leave the band to pursue a religious ministry, and Watters wanted to go off on his own to write and produce. With Abrams and Calderon the only remaining members, the group split up.<ref name="rcollins"/>

===1998–2010: Solo years===
Kevin Thornton left the group in October 1998 to pursue a Christian ministry. He became a licensed minister and has since served as an evangelist, youth pastor, and worship leader at his home church, Without Walls Church, in Fort Worth, Texas. He operates Kevin Thornton Ministries in Texas. In 2008, he released a solo album, ''Conversions'', blending contemporary hip-hop/rap with gospel and soul music.<ref name="rcollins"/>

[[Sam Watters]] pursued a career as a record producer, achieving success producing for [[Jessica Simpson]], [[Celine Dion]], [[Fantasia Barrino|Fantasia]], [[Anastacia]], [[Natasha Bedingfield]], [[Kelly Clarkson]], [[98 Degrees]], [[Blake Lewis]], and others.<ref name="rcollins"/><ref name="ayoung"/><ref name="maushenker">Michael Aushenker, [http://www.independent.com/news/2016/jun/30/color-me-badd-part-i-love-90s-tour/ "Color Me Badd Part of I Love the '90s Tour,"] ''[[Santa Barbara Independent]]'', June 30, 2016.</ref> Watters is a member of the production/songwriting team The Runaways, which also includes [[Rico Love]], [[Wayne Wilkins]], [[Ryan Tedder]], and [[Louis Biancaniello]]. He married R&B singer and former ''[[American Idol]]'' contestant [[Tamyra Gray]] in 2006.<ref name="rcollins"/>

Mark Calderon worked with artists such as [[Stevie Brock]], whose 2002 remake of "All 4 Love" reached number 1 on the Disney charts; and with IPV, who is signed with Wright Entertainment and had songs played on the television series ''[[House (TV series)|House]]'' and ''[[Knight Rider (2008 TV series)|Knight Rider]]''. Calderon  married Color Me Badd’s former stylist Lisa Smedley in 1992. They have two  children.

In 2001, Bryan Abrams released a solo album entitled ''Welcome to Me''.<ref name="rcollins"/> In 2007, he co-starred on the [[VH1]] reality TV series ''[[Mission: Man Band]]'', which also included former boy band members [[Jeff Timmons]] of [[98 Degrees]], [[Chris Kirkpatrick]] of [[*NSYNC]] and [[Rich Cronin]] of [[LFO (American band)|LFO]]. The show documented the former boy band members attempt to create a new group while living together. ''Mission: Man Band'' was ultimately canceled after seven episodes.<ref name="ayoung"/> In 2007, after being approached by [[Violent J]] and [[Shaggy 2 Dope]], Abrams co-wrote and recorded an appearance on the [[Insane Clown Posse]] song "Truth Dare", which was released on the compilations ''[[Psychopathics from Outer Space 3]]'' (2007) and ''[[Featuring Freshness]]'' (2011).<ref name="rmartin">Robey Martin, [http://richmondmagazine.com/arts-entertainment/music/q-a-color-me-badd/ "Q&A: Color Me Badd,"] ''Richmond Magazine'', November 1, 2016.</ref> In 2010, Abrams wrote three songs for [[Kool & the Gang]], singing lead on all three tracks.<ref name="rcollins"/>

On August 22, 2000, Giant Records released the compilation album ''The Best of Color Me Badd''.<ref>Devon Powers, [http://www.popmatters.com/review/colormebadd-best/ "Color Me Badd: The Best of Color Me Badd,"] [[PopMatters]], 2000.</ref>

===2010–present: Reunion===
In July 2010, Color Me Badd re-emerged as a duo consisting of Bryan Abrams and Mark Calderon. They headlined a concert in Hawaii, which also featured [[All-4-One]] and [[Shai (band)|Shai]].<ref name="rcollins"/> Later that year, Kevin Thornton rejoined Color Me Badd.<ref name="partways">[http://oklahomarock.com/bryan-abrams-color-me-badd-part-ways/ "Bryan Abrams & Color Me Badd Part Ways,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170323233236/http://oklahomarock.com/bryan-abrams-color-me-badd-part-ways/ |date=2017-03-23 }} Oklahoma Rock, August 22, 2013.</ref> In early 2012, Calderon and Abrams collaborated with the Insane Clown Posse on the song "Ghetto Rainbows (Soft Ass R-N-B Remix)" on ''[[The Mighty Death Pop!]]'' bonus CD called ''[[Mike E. Clark's Extra Pop Emporium]]''. Credited to Insane Clown Posse and Color Me Badd, the song features Abrams and Calderon, and was also co-written by the duo.<ref name="rmartin"/> In June 2013, the group released "Skywalkin'", their first new song in nearly 15 years.<ref name="partways"/> On August 16, 2013, Abrams announced his departure from Color Me Badd through a post on his website. The group continued on, with Calderon and Thornton.<ref name="partways"/> Abrams was replaced by Martin Kember. Color Me Badd performed with the lineup of Calderon, Thornton and Kember at the [[2014 BET Awards]].<ref>Stacy Carey, [http://www.axs.com/color-me-badd-regroups-aims-to-give-fans-fresh-taste-of-classic-style-23655 "Color Me Badd regroups, aims to give fans fresh taste of classic style,"] AXS, October 16, 2014.</ref>

In 2015, Abrams and Calderon reunited as Color Me Badd, without Thornton and Kember, and began a tour in [[Singapore]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/BryanAbrams/status/564832794371555328|title=Bryan Abrams Verified Account Tweet}}</ref> Thornton was briefly back in Color Me Badd in 2015, before leaving the group that same year. In the winter of 2015, Adam Emil joined the group, and they went on a US tour with [[Bell Biv DeVoe]].<ref name="swhite"/> By 2016, the group was officially a trio, with Calderon, Abrams, and Emil. That year, they recorded a new song, "In Case You Didn't Know".<ref name="maushenker"/> On April 30, 2016, Color Me Badd played a concert for [[U.S. Armed Forces]] at Okuma Beach, [[Okinawa, Japan]]. In the fall and winter of 2016, Color Me Badd was on the inaugural I Love the ‘90s Tour, a year-long tour across the US that also featured [[Vanilla Ice]], [[Salt-N-Pepa]], [[Tone Loc]] and [[Young MC]].<ref name="rmartin"/><ref>James Grebey, [http://www.spin.com/2016/03/vanilla-ice-salt-n-pepa-coolio-i-love-the-90s-tour-youre-getting-old/ "Vanilla Ice, Salt-N-Pepa, Coolio, and More to Embark on 'I Love the '90s Tour' Because You're Getting Old,"] ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', March 29, 2016.</ref>

On July 22, 2018, Abrams was arrested for assaulting Calderon on stage during a concert in [[Waterloo, New York]]. A video shows Abrams walk across the stage at the completion of the song "I Wanna Sex You Up" and firmly shoves Calderon to the floor. Abrams allegedly screamed, “I’m motherfucking Color Me Badd!” as he pushed Calderon to the floor. Officers stated that alcohol may have been a factor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/color-me-badd-singer-bryan-abrams-arrested-for-attempted-assault-following-concert/ar-BBL0gC3?ocid=spartanntp|title=Color Me Badd Singer Bryan Abrams Arrested for Attempted Assault Following Concert|website=www.msn.com|access-date=2019-09-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724032346/https://www.msn.com/en-us/music/news/color-me-badd-singer-bryan-abrams-arrested-for-attempted-assault-following-concert/ar-BBL0gC3?ocid=spartanntp|archive-date=2018-07-24}}</ref> In 2019, Abrams, along with his wife Kim and bandmate Calderon appeared on ''[[Dr. Phil (talk show)|The Dr. Phil]]'' talk show to  discuss the events surrounding the incident and of Abrams past addictions, arrests and relationship issues. The two were interviewed separately due to the [[restraining order]] that was filed after the event occurred, even though Abrams admitted that contractually they have still performed together after the fact, but stated that it felt painful they never exchange words other than sharing the stage together professionally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MaGee |first=Ny |date=2019-05-09 |title=Lead Singer of Color Me Badd Talks Alcohol Addiction w/ Dr. Phil: 'I'm Worried For My Life' [VIDEO] |url=https://eurweb.com/2019/05/09/lead-singer-of-color-me-badd-talks-alcohol-addiction-w-dr-phil-im-worried-for-my-life-video/ |access-date=2022-11-14 |website=EURweb |language=en-US}}</ref>

On August 31, 2019, Color Me Badd performed at a ''[[Beverly Hills, 90210]]'' charity event to benefit [[List of water-related charities|Generosity Water]] organized by [[Brian Austin Green]] and his podcast's cohost Derek Russell.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B0meo_Zndub/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B0meo_Zndub |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|title=...with Brian Austin Green on Instagram: "We are SO excited to have @realcolormebadd as our special musical guest at #BAGLive90210. @bh90210 fans across the globe love their…"|website=Instagram|language=en|access-date=2019-09-16}}{{cbignore}}</ref>