Michael J. Powell

Michael J. Powell is an American R&B musician, record producer and arranger who is best known for his work as producer for eight time Grammy Award-winning soul / R&B vocalist Anita Baker.^[1]

Powell was born in Chicago and lived there until his family moved to Detroit when he was 9 years old. In 1974, he formed a band called Chapter 8. A year later, Anita Baker joined Chapter 8 in Detroit. They eventually got a record deal with Ariola.^{[citation needed]}

The self-titled album came out in fall of 1979. Two singles hit the R&B charts: "Ready for Your Love" and "I Just Wanna Be Your Girl". Ariola Records was bought by Arista. In 1983, Powell reunited with Baker and had a hit single with “No More Tears” featured on her album The Songstress.^{[citation needed]}

In 1986, choosing her friend Powell as her producer, he, along with Sir Dean Gant (who remains unpaid and uncredited as producer), created 3 multi-million selling albums: Rapture, Giving You the Best That I Got and Compositions.^{[citation needed]}

Together, again with producer Sir Gant,^[2] Powell worked in 1987 as producer and arranger of the song "Without You",^[2][3] a composition of Lamont Dozier,^[2] that was recorded as a duet by the R&B singers Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle.^[2] The song was the love theme from the comedy film Leonard Part 6,^[2] released the same year,^[4] starred Bill Cosby,^[4] and was also recorded for the Bryson's album Positive,^[3] released in 1988.^[3]

Powell also worked on "Without You" as guitarist.^[3] The song was released as a single and peaked at #8 on the Adult Contemporary Tracks,^[5] #14 on the R&B chart,^[6] #85 on the UK Singles,^[7] and #89 on the Billboard Hot 100,^[8] between 1987 and 1988.

He, along with Sir Gant produced the multi-platinum Baker albums Rapture in 1986, Giving You the Best That I Got in 1988 (which reached Number 1 on The Billboard 200) and Compositions in 1990.

In 1991, Powell helped produce Patti LaBelle's Grammy-winning album, Burnin' and Gladys Knight's solo album Good Woman, both on MCA Records.

References

1. Smith, Jessie Carney (1996). Notable Black American women. VNR AG. pp. 19–. ISBN 978-0-8103-9177-2. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
2. 45cat. "Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle – "Without You" (Love Theme From "Leonard Part 6") (1987)". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
3. Discogs. "Peabo Bryson – Positive (1988)". Discogs. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
4. Cineplex. "Leonard Part 6 - (December 18, 1987)". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
5. Billboard. "Peabo Bryson - Adult Contemporary Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
6. Billboard. "Peabo Bryson - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
7. The Official UK Charts. "Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle - UK Charts". Official Charts. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
8. Billboard. "Peabo Bryson - The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2018.