Ravinia 2019, Issue 3, Week 6

MAXWELL Brooklyn-born neo-soul pioneer Maxwell first got in touch with music as a member of his church choir, but didn’t consider it as a career until he began writing his own songs at age 17. He was soon performing in New York clubs, and by age 21 he had earned a recording contract with Columbia. Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite , his debut album, was released in 1996 to critical ac- claim and made the top 40 of the Billboard 200 chart, as well as the top 10 of the R&B chart, en route to a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album and double-platinum sales. Its second single, “Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder),” simi- larly made Billboard ’s top 40 and R&B top 10, and Maxwell won Soul Train Awards for both the album and the single, as well as Best New R&B/Soul Artist honors. Capitalizing on his breakthrough, Maxwell appeared on MTV Un- plugged in 1997 and released an EP of the live performances, including covers of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work,” which became a concert staple, and Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer.” For the soundtrack to the film Life , Maxwell performed the R. Kelly–penned “Fortunate,” which be- came a major mainstream hit and was named the number-one single of 1999 by Billboard . His 2001 album, Now , became his first chart-topping disc, featuring the singles “Lifetime” and a studio version of “This Woman’s Work.” After appear- ing on the 2008 BET Awards singing Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful,” Maxwell stormed back onto the music scene with the Grammy-winning al- bum BLACKsummers’night , featuring the hit single “Pretty Wings,” which was nominated for a further three Grammys, including Song of the Year, and won Best Male R&B Vocal hon- ors. The second installment in the album trilogy, blackSUMMERS’night , was released in 2016 and earned Maxwell his third Grammy, Best R&B Song for “Lake by the Ocean.” The final part, due to be released this year, was preceded by the single “Shame,” with a music video directed by the duo Bush+Renz. Tonight Maxwell makes his first return to Ravinia following his 2014 festival debut. JULY 8 – JULY 14, 2019 | RAVINIA MAGAZINE 91