Brownstone

Brownstone were an American R&B trio that rose to prominence in the mid-1990s, part of the wave of vocal groups that defined the era's smooth, harmony-driven R&B sound. The founding lineup consisted of Nicci Gilbert, Monica «Mimi» Doby, and Charmayne «Maxee» Maxwell, who signed to Michael Jackson's MJJ Music label and broke through with their debut album «From The Bottom Up». Its lead single «If You Love Me» topped the R&B charts and became the group's signature record, showcasing the layered harmonies and mellow, adult-contemporary R&B style that set them apart from the more hip-hop-inflected girl groups of the period.

Before their second album, Doby was replaced by Kina Cosper, and the retooled trio released «Still Climbing», anchored by the hit «5 Miles to Empty». Despite continued critical goodwill, the group disbanded before completing a third record. Their catalog remains a touchstone of 90s R&B vocal-group harmony.

After Brownstone, Maxee married producer Soulshock and released dance-oriented singles overseas before her death in 2015; Cosper pursued a solo career as an alternative artist on Dreamworks Records, and Gilbert recorded a solo album for MCA that was later released independently.