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112 (pronounced “one-twelve”) are an American R&B quartet from Atlanta, Georgia. Formerly artists on Bad Boy Records, the group signed to the Def Soul roster in 2002. They had great success in the late 1990s and early 2000s with hits such as “Only You”, “Anywhere” and the Grammy-nominated single, “Peaches and Cream”. The group most notably won a Grammy Award in 1997 for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, for featuring in the song “I’ll Be Missing You” with Sean Combs and Faith Evans.

112 formed in Atlanta, Georgia and consists of Marvin Eugene “Slim” Scandrick – born on September 25, 1977, one of three siblings, Scandrick plays all of the concert strings, including viola, cello, double bass, and violin; Michael Marcel Keith was born on December 18, 1978- one of three brothers, plays the keyboard; Quinnes “Q” Parker, born on March 24, 1976, is credited with the mellow vocals; and vocalist Daron Jones – who often doubles as the record producer for 112, was born on December 28, 1976, the youngest of four children. As a student he joined the middle school chorus and the Atlanta Boys Choir. Strong, smart, and athletic, he maintained a B+ average in high school while playing receiver on the varsity football team and shooting guard for the varsity basketball club. He was also seen running cross country and track, and played tennis in high school.

The group had its start when the members met while attending high school. They original group consisting of Daron Jones, Michael Keith, & Reginald Finley sang together while Jones & Keith were in middle school & Finley was in high school. Once they joined Finley in high school they met fellow schoolmate Aldon Lagon who was working at a local McDonald’s in Atlanta & added him due to his deep bass voice. They then met a gifted high tenor vocalist Marvin Scandrick they sang with in the school chorus. Known as “Forte” at the time, the group performed talent shows and performed at churches and schools around Atlanta. Things started to fall apart as they got older as Lagon was forced to leave the group due to his inability to keep up with the group’s harmonies & not being focused. He eventually went into the Navy, did voice over work including some for the group once they became 112 & toured. He is now a solo artist & producer in Atlanta. Scandrick’s mother started using her son to jerk the other members around & the group decided to move on & replace him with fellow schoolmate Quinnes Parker in 1994 but when she saw the move Rev. Scandrick stopped jerking the boys & Marvin stayed with the group. However due to the issues & lack of seriousness at the time Reginald Finley the oldest member left the group as he was forced to join the military & was deployed to Germany. While on leave Finley performed in a talent show with Michael, Daron, & Marvin however Quinnes did not perform at this show & they gained the attention of music managers Kevin Wales & Courtney Sills who were connected in the business with a lot of execs including Tim & Bob, Bad Boy Records CEO Sean “Puffy” Combs, New Edition & Bell Biv DeVoe member Michael Bivins & Dallas Austin. Sills brought the guys to his good friends producers Tim & Bob who eventually developed the group and did demos that eventually got them signed.. Wales & Sills agreed to work with the boys & manage them & Wales sought to set up an audition for the boys with his Combs however Finley had to return to Germany & Parker would continue with the group. An Atlanta native & friend of the group Richard Wingo was originally tapped to replace Finley as the new fifth member but his friend Xscape member Kandi Burruss brought him into another Atlanta group Jagged Edge instead. After Wales was able to secure an audition for the group outside of Atlanta’s Club 112 in the Buckhead of town the boys sang for Combs & impressed him & after another audition for Combs in front of Bad Boy producer Chucky Thompson, Bad Boy Records artist Faith Evans & Combs protégé Usher & a co-sign from Thompson & Evans, Combs signed the now quartet of Michael Keith, Marvin Scandrick, Daron Jones, & Quinnes Parker to Bad Boy Records. The group then changed their name from Forte to 112 after the Atlanta club where Combs first had the boys to audition.

Soon afterwards they found themselves living in New York City, recording their debut album 112. Released in 1996, the album eventually went double platinum. The album which was primarily produced by Tim & Bob entered into the top 5 on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart, and went on to sale over two million copies. It featured the hit singles “Only You” and “Cupid”, both of which peaked at #13 on the Hot 100 and #3 and #2 on the R&B charts respectively.[1] The group also contributed to records by artists including The Notorious B.I.G, Sean Combs (as Puff Daddy) and Mase. The group eventually went on the road as the opening act for the Isley Brothers at Ron Isley’s request, the first of four separate tours that saw the group criss-crossing the U.S. with Keith Sweat, New Edition and finally Puff Daddy and the Family, over an 18 month period. In the years that followed, they toured with other performers such as Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson.[2]

During March 2010, it was announced via Q. Parker that 112 had returned to the studio and was recording new material. He broke the news via Twitter, “In the studio with my boys Mike and Daron! New 112 album comin soon!” The news of the group’s reunion was also confirmed by member Daron Jones in an interview published on Sound-Savvy.com.[8] Jones confirmed that the reunion will include Mike and Q, and possibly Slim. He commented, “Slim just didn’t want to be a part of it” But there are rumors that Slim might have had a change of heart. He recently recorded a song with the group called “One More Try” it has not been confirmed if it will be on their new album or if Slim will be either.[9] The yet-to-be titled album currently doesn’t have a release date.[10][11]

In January 2011, Q Parker released a 12-month fitness calendar, and announced that his solo project will be released sometime this year.[12] In March 2012, Daron confirmed that all 4 members of the group reconciled and have gotten back together for a tour titled For The Fans Tour which kicked off in the summer of 2012 and is still going.