User:Ruby Murray/Handzdown

Marcellus Andrew Dawson (born March 2, 1978) better known by his stage name Handzdown, is an American R&B composer, songwriter, record producer and singer. He is best known for his work with Keir “Kay Gee” Gist and The Trendsettas. Both “The River” and “Family Reunion” were featured on the original movie soundtracks for major motion pictures. “The River” was featured on the original soundtrack for the movie “Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins” and “Family Reunion” was featured on the original soundtrack for the movie “The Cookout’.

Early Life
Dawson was born in 1978 in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1978. He started to play music at eight years old.

He played the piano and organ for he Morgan Park, IL Apostolic Pentecostal Church, and conducted and did arrangements for a class band.

Dawson attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) on a track scholarship. While there he performed as a DJ on the school radio station, KCSF.

Career Beginnings
In 2000, Dawson met "BJ" and "Chuck" in Chicago. These men owned a no-name record label and recruited Marcellus to produce for them. In this capacity, he produced a song for the rappers known as Do or Die. Dawson also met Ola Joseph, the owner of Zoawe Records. After this, Dawson wrote music and did production for the artists signed with Zoawe.

In 2003 Dawson signed with"The Trendsettas", a production company. They were hired by Kay Gee at Divine Mill Records in New Jersey. In 2006, Urban Mystic’s song “It’s You”, was #1 for sales in Billboard, four weeks in a row. Before the album dropped, it had sold over 200,000 copies. Four of the songs on the album were produced by Dawson with Trendsettas.

Dawson has written and produced tracks for Jahiem and Syleena Johnson. He produced the theme song for the movie, The Cookout, entitled “The Cookout” and the featured song “Family Reunion”. In January of 2007, Stacie Orrico’s second album, Beautiful Awakening was released and included three tracks written and produced by Dawson: “I’m Not Missing You”, “Take Me Away” and “Don’t Ask Me to Stay”.

In 2009, Dawson worked with with Christian group James Grear and Company. Marcellus produced five songs on the group’s album Don't Waste Another Day, that included a live recording featuring Ann Nesby and Paris Bennett. That year, James Grear and Company was nominated for a Stellar Award, Soul Train Award and Dove Award.

Career: 2011-Present
In 2011, Dawson and R&B singer Noel Gourdin produced and wrote nine songs on his album City Heart, Southern Soul. Noel Gourdin will release his album on Shanachie/Top Notch Music in 2014 with the single "Heaven Knows" written and produced by Dawson.

Family
Marcellus currently resides in Atlanta with his wife and manager, Jocelyn, and their seven children.