Mark Pitts

Mark Pitts
Background information
Birth name Mark Pitts
Also known as Mark "Gucc" Pitts
Born Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Origin Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s) Music Executive, President of RCA Records., Urban Executive Producer
Years active 1993–present
Labels RCA Records, ByStorm Entertainment, Bad Boy Entertainment, Arista Records
Website bystormentertainment.com

Mark Pitts is an American record producer, manager, and President of Urban Music at RCA Records.[1] He has managed and produced musical tracks for a number of artists and performers including Notorious B.I.G, Faith Evans, Miguel, J. Cole, Jawan Harris, Kardinal Offishall, Ciara, Chris Brown, Usher, TLC, Anthony Hamilton, Cee Lo Green and Ro James. Pitts co-produced Notorious (2009), Blue (2009) and I Got a Story to Tell: The Lyrics of Biggie Smalls.[2] He is currently the CEO of ByStorm Entertainment and President at RCA Records.[3]

Early life and career

Pitts was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was first introduced to music by his grandmother, a classically trained piano teacher who began giving Pitts lessons at the age of four. Pitts spent eight years of his childhood at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, and later continued learning music at the High School of Music and Performing Arts, where he also studied art.

His professional music career started in the early 90s, prior to entering Howard University, when he formed a rap group called Three Left. He intended to pitch the rap group to his friend Sean Combs who was working at Uptown Records at the time.[4] After a meeting with Combs, Pitts decided that he wanted to work behind the scenes. In 1993, he started working with his friend Combs at the recording company Bad Boy Entertainment, where he managed the Notorious B.I.G., Faith Evans, and Changing Faces.[5]

In 2000, Pitts was Senior Vice President of A&R for Arista Records, where he worked with Usher, TLC, Anthony Hamilton, and Cee Lo Green. In 2004 Pitts joined Zomba Label Group as an A&R executive and rose to the position of president of A&R. He signed Chris Brown and Miguel.

In 2008 Pitts was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy, which paralyzed the left side of his face.

In 2011, he became President of Urban Music at RCA Records. The ByStorm Entertainment's current roster includes Kardinal Offishall, J. Cole, Jawan Harris, Miguel and Ro James.[6][7] As president of RCA Records in 2013, Pitts gained major success with Miguel’s Kaleidoscope Dream which grabbed 5 Grammy Award nominations.[8] Same year, he had also shepherded Usher’s Looking 4 Myself and Brown's Future which topped the charts for the year.[9]

Recognition and honors

Pitts was featured in Crain Magazine's "40 under 40" after his diagnosis.[10]

Based on worldwide chart data in 2005, he was named "world's No.8 A&R of 2005" by the music industry A&R site HitQuarters for that year after success in breaking new artists Ciara and Chris Brown.[11]

Selected discography

  • "We Got It Goin' On" - Changing Faces - Atlantic
  • "Gitty Up" - Salt 'N Pepa - London Records
  • Lisa Left Eye Lopes - Supernova-Arista
  • "Life After Death" - Bad Boy Entertainment
  • "New Flame" - Chris Brown
  • "Acting Like That" - Jennifer Lopez - A.K.A-Capitol Records
  • "Permission" - Ro James - Bystorm/RCA

References

  1. ↑ Caitlin Carter (February 11, 2015). "Miguel New Album: RCA Records President Reveals Working Title, Release Date & More". Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  2. ↑ "Mark Pitts". Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Shenequa Golding (February 11, 2015). "RCA's Mark Pitts Gives Details About Miguel's New Album And Title". Vibe. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  4. ↑ "Mark Pitts". Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  5. ↑ "My Day: Mark Pitts, President of Urban Music, RCA Records & CEO of Bystorm Entertainment". September 20, 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  6. ↑ "Grammys 2015: Beyonce, Jay Z, Kanye, Pharrell Hit Up Roc Nation Pre-Awards Brunch". Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  7. ↑ "Hudson Mohawke says he's working with Miguel". Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  8. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (September 26, 2012). "Grammys Deadline Spurs Early Vinyl Releases From Cher Lloyd, Muse". Billboard. Los Angeles. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  9. ↑ Richard Conte. "Watch Usher And Nicki Minaj Tear The Club Up In 'She Came To Give It To You' Video". Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  10. ↑ "Mark Pitts". October 12, 2012. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Interview with MARK PITTS, A&R at Jive Records for Ciara (US No.1), Chris Brown (US No.1)". Retrieved 12 March 2015.
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