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Portrait (band)

{{Short description|American vocal group}}

{{More citations needed|date=June 2013}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

{{Infobox musical artist

|name = Portrait

|background = group_or_band

|image =

|caption =

|genre = New jack swing, R&B

|years_active = 1991–1996; 2000–2005; 2018–present

|origin = Los Angeles, California, U.S.

|label = Capitol (1992-1996)
Soul Japan Records (2005)

|website =

|current_members = Michael Angelo Saulsberry (1991–present)
Phillip Johnson (1991–present)
Ruben "R.C." Monge (2005–present)

|past_members =
Eric Kirkland (1991–1996)
Irving Washington III (1991–1996)
Kurt Jackson (1995–1996)
PJ DeMarks (2005)

|associated_acts = Black Men United
Shanice
Quincy Jones
Tribal Jam

}}

Portrait is an American R&B and hip hop vocal quartet, consisting of members Michael Angelo Saulsberry, Irving Washington III, Eric Kirkland and Philip Johnson. The quartet group's music sound was influenced by the new jack swing style of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Career

The group, which hailed from Los Angeles, California debuted in 1992 with a self-titled album riding on the end of the new jack swing era.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/portrait-mn0000853472/biography|title=Portrait Biography|first=Andy|last=Kellman|website=AllMusic|access-date=August 18, 2019}} Their debut single "Here We Go Again!", which sampled Michael Jackson's Off the Wall track "I Can't Help It", reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #3 on the R&B chart in early 1993, and the second single "Honey Dip" also reached the R&B top 20.

The group was featured in an episode of Family Matters, titled "Stormy Weather", performing "Here We Go Again!". In that episode, they were performing at a high school prom, where Waldo mentions that he got them to do it because one of the members happens to be his cousin—Waldo adds that his cousin says he'll do whatever Waldo asks him to do as long as he doesn't tell people that they're related. Although Steve Urkel ends up correctly guessing which of the members is Waldo's cousin.

Throughout 1993 and 1994, Portrait could be heard lending their voices to various projects, appearing on the soundtracks to the movies, Addams Family Values and Blankman, as well as singing on the Black Men United song, "U Will Know" for the Jason's Lyric Soundtrack. Portrait also provided backing vocals on the Quincy Jones single "Slow Jams", which featured Babyface and Tamia on lead vocals, in 1995. The song reached #68 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Also in 1995, the group released their second album, All That Matters. The album had a few minor hits, with "I Can Call You" reaching #22 on the R&B charts and "How Deep Is Your Love", a cover of the Bee Gees song, briefly appearing on the Hot 100.

In 2018, the group returned as a trio consisting of Michael Angelo Saulsberry, Phillip Johnson, and new member Ruben "R.C." Monge (former lead singer of R&B band Po' Broke 'N Lonely?) with a new single entitled "In The Moment" off of their forthcoming project entitled "Beach Music" which landed them opportunities to tour in Germany and the United Kingdom respectively.{{cite web|url=https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/90s-group-portrait-talks-comeback-premieres-new-single-1823009810 |title='90s Group Portrait Talks Comeback, Premieres New Single in Time for Valentine's Day |publisher=TheRoot |date=February 14, 2018 |access-date=July 21, 2019}}

Discography

=Albums=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Album

! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| US
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/portrait/chart-history/tlp/|title=Portrait Billboard Chart History - Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

! width="35"| US
R&B
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/portrait/chart-history/blp/|title=Portrait Billboard Chart History - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

! width="35"| AUS

! width="35"| NZ

1992

| align="left"| Portrait

| 70

16100—
1995

| align="left"| All That Matters

| 131

26469
1996

| align="left"| Picturesque

| —

———
2005

| align="left"| Share My Love

| —

———
2020

| align="left"| Afro Trees

| —

———

=Compilation albums=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
YearAlbum
2000Greatest Hits

=Singles=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="6"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Certifications

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| US
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/portrait|title=Portrait Billboard Chart History - Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

! width="35"| US
R&B
{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/portrait/chart-history/bsi/|title=Portrait Billboard Chart History - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

! width="35"| AUS
Australian (ARIA Chart) peaks:

  • Top 50 peaks: {{cite web|url=https://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Portrait+%5BUS%5D|title=Discography Portrait|website=australian-charts.com|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=August 18, 2019}}
  • Top 100 peak: {{cite Ryan|page=222}}

! width="35"| FRA
{{cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Portrait+%5BUS%5D|title=Discographie Portrait|website=lescharts.com|language=fr|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

! width="35"| GER
{{cite web|url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/suche?artist_search=Portrait&do_search=do|title=Suchen nach "Portrait"|website=offiziellecharts.de|language=de|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

! width="35"| NZ
{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Portrait+%5BUS%5D|title=Discography Portrait|website=charts.nz|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

1992

| align="left"| "Here We Go Again!"

| 11

341——48

|

| align="left" rowspan="3"| Portrait

rowspan="2"| 1993

| align="left"| "Honey Dip"

| —

18————

|

align="left"| "Day by Day"

| —

42————

|

1994

| align="left"| "Be Thankful for What You've Got"

| —

59————

|

| align="left"| Addams Family Values: Music from
the Motion Picture

rowspan="2"| 1995

| align="left"| "I Can Call You"

| —

22———16

|

| align="left" rowspan="2"| All That Matters

align="left"| "How Deep Is Your Love"

| 93

511524791

|

  • RMNZ: Gold{{cite certification|region=New Zealand|type=single|title=How Deep Is Your Love|id=1995-11-03|source=newchart|access-date=2024-11-20|artist=Portrait}}

=Featured singles=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
rowspan="2"| Year

! rowspan="2"| Single

! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions

! rowspan="2"| Album

style="font-size:smaller;"

! width="35"| US

! width="35"| US
R&B

! width="35"| FRA
{{cite web|url=https://lescharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Tribal+Jam|title=Discographie Tribal Jam|website=lescharts.com|language=fr|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=August 18, 2019}}

rowspan="2"| 1996

| align="left"| "Slow Jams" (Quincy Jones featuring Babyface and Tamia
with Portrait and Barry White)

| 68

19—

| align="left"| Q's Jook Joint

align="left"| "Je te donne mon cœur" (Tribal Jam featuring Portrait){{Discogs release|2274139|type=single|name=Je te donne mon cœur}}

| —

—30

| align="left"| Démarre le show

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.rnbhaven.com/artist.php?artistid=100 Portrait Bio]
  • [http://billboard.com Billboard]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Portrait (group)}}

Category:American contemporary R&B musical groups

Category:American boy bands

Category:Musical groups from Los Angeles

Category:Musical groups established in 1991

Category:New jack swing music groups