LeMarvin

Smooth R&B singer Lemarvin survived a number of career setbacks before landing his breakthrough hit, "Around My Way," in 2009. Born in San Francisco but raised in Inglewood, CA, Lemarvin got his start in high school, singing in the New Edition-styled group Last Minute. Upon graduation, he was working toward a solo career with the help of an artist management firm, but after much urging from his mother he landed in the Navy, eventually going AWOL and serving two months in military jail. Discharged in 2002, he began shopping his demos and signed a contract with the Edmonds Entertainment Group, which would soon dissolve. A subsequent deal with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' Flyte Tyme label was even shorter, and then in 2007 he made the big jump to Motown. An album was recorded but never released and so, frustrated with the pace, Lemarvin worked his way out of the Motown contract and shifted to another Universal property, Republic Records. With Republic he recorded "Around My Way," featuring West Coast rapper the Game. A second single, "Too Many Patrons," was released soon afterwards. ~ David Jeffries