Blessed - Music

Mint Condition Is An R&B Band From The Twin Cities. Formed In The Late 1980s Its Members Are Lead Singer And In-Studio Drummer/percussionist Stokley Williams Bassist Ricky Kinchen Guitarist Homer O'Dell Pianist Larry Waddell And Keyboardist/saxophonist Jeffrey Allen Keri Lewis Keyboards Synthseizer . The Group Is Well Known For Its Highly Diverse Musical Style Able To Play Anything From Traditional Jazz Stylings To Mainstream R&B And Rock-Based Music To Funk Grooves And Even Latin And Jamaican-Based Rhythms And Also Its Captivating Live Performances. Discovered And Originally Signed To Perspective Records By Music Producers Jimmy Jam And Terry Lewis In 1989 After Being Heard At A Performance At A Club In Downtown Minneapolis Called First Avenue Their Debut Album Was Entitled Meant To Be Mint Released In 1991 . Despite Their Musical Versatility The Band Attempted To Attract New Jack Swing Listeners With Their Dance Cut "Are You Free" But It Wasn't Successful The Song Hit #55 On The R&B Charts . However They Did Enjoy Major Success With The Stunning Ballad "Breakin' My Heart Pretty Brown Eyes ". The Song Stayed On The Charts For 34 Weeks Hitting The R&B Top 5 #3 And The Pop Top 10 #6 . Forever In Your Eyes Was Also Successful #7 R&B . Two Years Later They Released Their 2nd Platinum Album From The Mint Factory 1993 . They Enjoyed Success With The #2 Hit "U Send Me Swingin'" While "Someone To Love" And "So Fine" Hit The R&B Top 30. 1996 Saw The Release Of "Definition Of A Band". The Album Hit The R&B Top 20. Some Successful Singles On This Album Are "What Kind Of Man Would I Be" #2 R&B And "You Don't Have To Hurt No More" #10 R&B . Two Years Later The Collection 1991-1998 A Greatest Hits Compilation Was Issued. After Perspective Records/A&M Folded The Group Signed With Elektra Records In 1999 Releasing Their Fourth Full-Length Album Life's Aquarium #7 R&B . It's Main Single If You Love Me Hit The R&B Top 5. As The 21st Century Came Around Mint Condition Was The Only R&B/Funk Band Signed To A Major Record Label. After A Six Year Hiatus The Group Resurfaced As A Quintet Due To Former Member And Keyboard Player Keri Lewis Leaving The Group To Produce For Other Artists Such As His One-Time Wife Singer Toni Braxton . During The Same Year They Released Living The Luxury Brown On Their Independent Label Caged Bird Records. The Album Hit #1 On The Independent Album Charts. Live From The 9 30 Club A Performance Of A Concert At The 9 30 Club In Washington DC Was Issued In 2006. read less