There are, at least, three artists known as Mike Marshall: 1) The lead singer in a loosely organized collective known, Timex Social Club, in 1985. They were bound together simply; they started with the limited ambition of creating a song or two for the types of multicultural parties that they frequented. But in less than a year, they would have a top-ten single and be loudly announcing the birth of a new musical form: Hip-Hop Soul. Neither Michael nor the other members had any way of knowing that in less than two decades this sound would become far more than just the sound of their parties, but sound of the planet; the soundtrack to everything from fast food to vacation. ...show more

There are, at least, three artists known as Mike Marshall: 1) The lead singer in a loosely organized collective known, Timex Social Club, in 1985. They were bound together simply; they started with the limited ambition of creating a song or two for the types of multicultural parties that they frequented. But in less than a year, they would have a top-ten single and be loudly announcing the birth of a new musical form: Hip-Hop Soul. Neither Michael nor the other members had any way of knowing that in less than two decades this sound would become far more than just the sound of their parties, but sound of the planet; the soundtrack to everything from fast food to vacation.

And today, though Mary J. Blige and P. Diddy collect a disproportionate share of the credit, it was years earlier that the genre first came to national prominence. This came with the release of the hit single "Rumors" and was cemented during the summer of 1986 as the song and a nascent musical form gained traction in the national conscious.

Radio programmers were perplexed. It was urban and had an edge. But it wasn't rap. The song that Michael sang helped Timex chart into the top ten and gain national momentum with heavy radio play. ...show less