Harvey Mason Jr.

Harvey Jay Mason Jr. (born June 3, 1968) is an American record producer, songwriter, film producer, and current CEO of The Recording Academy.

He is known for having written and produced songs for artists including Aretha Franklin, Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, Ariana Grande, Elton John, Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Richie, Justin Timberlake, Whitney Houston, and Chris Brown.

In addition, he has produced music for television and films, including Dreamgirls (with Beyoncé and Jennifer Hudson), Sparkle (with Whitney Houston), Pitch Perfect (with Hailee Steinfeld and Anna Kendrick), Sing (with Reese Witherspoon, Scarlett Johansson and Tori Kelly), Straight Outta Compton (with Dr. Dre and Ice Cube), and The Wiz Live! (with Mary J. Blige and Neyo).

Mason was born in June 3,1968 in Boston, Massachusetts to Harvey Mason Sr., a jazz drummer and Sally Mason, who both attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

As a child, Harvey moved with his family to Los Angeles and followed his father to many recording sessions with such greats as Quincy Jones, the Brothers Johnson and Herbie Hancock.

Mason Jr. penned his first song at the age of eight for Grover Washington Jr. titled "Love Makes It Better".

After attending the University of Arizona on a basketball scholarship from 1986 to 1990 and playing in the 1988 Final Four, he began working as a songwriter/record producer.

He also played college basketball with several post season appearances, including appearing with the 1987–88 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team in the 1988 Men's Final Four.

Some early work included tracks for British pop artist Michelle Gayle's album "Sensational" in 1997 and the jazz/soul duo Imprompt2.

He co-produced the jazz album "Ratamacue" with his father in 1997.

In 1997, Mason Jr. also penned the track "Truthfully" which caught the attention of record producer Rodney Jerkins.

He also worked with Mason Sr.'s group Fourplay, In 1998 he produced the track called "Sexual Healing" featuring El DeBarge in 1998.

The track was produced for Brandy's 1998 album "Never Say Never".

Mason Jr. then worked with Jerkins over the next three years on projects including "Say My Name" by Destiny's Child, "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" by Whitney Houston, and "He Wasn't Man Enough" by Toni Braxton.

He also worked on the album Invincible by Michael Jackson.

In 2000, Mason Jr. co-wrote the track "I Like Them Girls" with Damon Thomas for Tyrese's album "2000 Watts".

The success of the song led to a partnership and the formation of Underdog Entertainment.

In 2001, he collaborated with British designer and former member of the Spice Girls Victoria Beckham on her debut album including tracks like "Girlfriend" and some B-sides.

The Underdogs produced R&B and pop hits like "How You Gonna Act Like That" by Tyrese, "Gots Ta Be" by B2K, "O" by Omarion, "More To Life" by Stacie Orrico, "Sorry 2004" by Ruben Studdard, and "No Air" by Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown.

In 2004, The Underdogs signed a label deal through BMG under Clive Davis and created Underdog Music Publishing, a joint venture with Rondor/ Universal Music.

In 2006, The Underdogs produced the soundtrack to the motion picture "Dreamgirls" which won the Critic's Choice Award in 2007 for best movie soundtrack.

Mason Jr. formed his independent company Harvey Mason Media in 2008.

It encompasses his film and record productions, music publishing, and website ventures.

Record productions include the 2008 releases of Chris Brown, "Superhuman" from the album Exclusive, Britney Spears', "Mannequin" from the album Circus and Jennifer Hudson's, "You Pulled Me Through" from her self-titled debut album.

Harvey Mason Media produced the feature film More than a Game in 2008.

The movie documents the rise of LeBron James and his high school teammates from their early AAU basketball days to the high school national championship stage.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2008, where it won first runner up to best film, "Slumdog Millionaire".

He produced the title track "I Look To You" along with Tricky Stewart and the cover of "Song for You" along with Stargate for Whitney Houston's 2009 album "I Look To You".

Lions Gate Films distributed the film, which was released during the fall of 2009.

Harvey Mason Media and Interscope Records distributed the soundtrack album titled "Music Inspired by More Than a Game".

In 2010, Mason Jr. produced the updated version of "One Shining Moment" featuring Jennifer Hudson for CBS Sports to be featured during the Final Four.

Mason Jr. produced and worked as A&R on Toni Braxton's Pulse.

After a three-year hiatus, The Underdogs reunited in 2011 to produce "Up 2 You" for Chris Brown's album "F.A.M.E.".

The Underdogs wrote and produced the song "The Living Proof" performed by Mary J. Blige for the movie "The Help".

The Underdogs wrote and produced the second single from Chris Brown's album Fortune titled "Turn Up the Music".

In 2011, Mason Jr. produced the first single "Where You At" along with R. Kelly for Jennifer Hudson's album "I Remember Me"

In 2012 The Underdogs produced the vocals for the film Pitch Perfect, starring Anna Kendrick and Brittany Snow.

In 2014, they produced South Korean girl group Girls' Generation's hit "Mr. Mr." & its labelmate Exo's "Overdose", as well as the music for biopic "Get on Up" about the life of James Brown.

In 2015, The Underdogs produced the music for the sequel to the moderately successful "Pitch Perfect" movie, "Pitch Perfect 2" and the highly acclaimed film "Straight Outta Compton" about the rap group N.W.A.

He was elected as the chairman of The Recording Academy in June 2019, became its interim president and CEO on January 16, 2020, and then assumed the permanent role of CEO on May 13, 2021.