From The Bottom Up

"If You Love Me" is a song by American R&B group Brownstone, released in 1994 as the second single from their debut album From the Bottom Up (1995). The song became Brownstone’s biggest hit and is regarded as a standout track in 1990s contemporary R&B. Background Brownstone, formed in Los Angeles in 1993, was signed to Michael Jackson’s MJJ Music label. The group, originally composed of Monica Doby, Charmayne "Maxee" Maxwell, and Nichole "Nicci" Gilbert, quickly gained attention for their rich vocal harmonies and polished production. Read more on Last.fm.

Brownstone was a Grammy Award nominated female R&B group popular during the mid-1990s. They are best known for the 1995 hit single, If You Love Me. They also had some success with the singles Grapevyne, and I Can't Tell You Why, a song originally recorded by the Eagles. The three original members of Brownstone were Nicole Nicci Gilbert, Charmayne Maxee Maxwell and Monica Mimi Doby. The group was founded in Los Angeles after the three singers met each other after going to different auditions around the city. They formed the group, and less than a year later were signed to Michael Jackson's MJJ Music Record Label. They recorded their debut album, From the Bottom Up which spawned the hit If You Love Me. In 1995 the band was rewarded with a Grammy nomination and a Billboard Music Award. After extensive touring around the globe, Doby left the group after what was released in the media. In an interview with BET Video Soul host Donnie Simpson Doby cited a medical problem of bronchitis, but was later revealed to be because of internal strife with the other two members of the group[citation needed]. She was replaced by Kina Cosper and after a difficult transition period where their audience was not very receptive to the change, Brownstone had a brief showing with 5 Miles to Empty. However, the group never regained their popularity, and their subsequent albums were considered commercial failures. Since the group broke up Nicole Nicci Gilbert has acted in the 1998 film Woo, staring Jada Pinkett Smith and Dave Chappelle, as well as television shows Living Single, Sister, Sister, New York Undercover, and Martin and the 2004 Tyler Perry play Meet the Browns as Aunt Vera. Read more on Last.fm. User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License; additional terms may apply.