A WORD FROM HERB MIDDLETON

Herb Middleton, also known as “Big Herb,” is a multi-Grammy-nominated, multi-platinum record producer, songwriter, musician, and arranger with over 26 years of experience in the music industry. Born and raised in the South Bronx, New York, Middleton developed an ear for music early on, influenced by the birth of hip-hop and his brother David Middleton, who introduced him to R&B classics and encouraged him to play bass guitar. He began his musical journey at age nine, learning drums, and later mastered multiple instruments, including bass, keyboards, and percussion.

Middleton’s career took off under the mentorship of producer Loris Holland, who taught him the fundamentals of producing and songwriting. His big break came when he was discovered by Teddy Riley, leading to a collaboration on Bobby Brown’s song “One More Night” with Riley and Bernard Bell. Middleton’s first major hit was producing “Telling Me Stories” for Big Bub, formerly of the New Jack Swing group Today. This success caught the attention of Sean “Puffy” Combs, leading to Middleton becoming one of the first producers at Bad Boy Entertainment. There, he contributed to the iconic track “Can’t You See” by Total featuring The Notorious B.I.G. and produced ballads like “You Gotta Believe” and “I Never Wanna Live Without You” for Mary J. Blige’s seminal album My Life (1994).

As an independent producer, Middleton worked with legendary artists such as Al Green, Teddy Pendergrass, Usher, Faith Evans, SWV, Nas, Will Smith, and Kenny Lattimore, earning Grammy nominations for Blige’s My Life (Best R&B Album) and Ann Nesby’s Make Me Better (Contemporary Soul Gospel). He also produced for UK artists, signing talent to his label NuVybe Records, and was named “Producer of the Year” by a London magazine. Middleton’s work spans R&B, hip-hop, soul, and gospel, and he’s known for his “out-of-the-box” creativity and ability to cross genres, as seen in his production of “Let’s Do It Again” for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Currently, Middleton serves as CEO of NuVybe Records and VP of A&R for BeYofi Entertainment Group (UK and USA). He is passionate about nurturing young talent, launching initiatives like The Next, a contest to develop emerging R&B artists, alongside collaborator Jacci McGhee. A man of faith, husband, father, and grandfather, Middleton emphasizes producing music with a positive message and empowering youth through mentorship and education, with aspirations to establish a production school. His discography includes collaborations with major labels like Bad Boy, Motown, and Def Jam, and he remains a respected figure for his professionalism and timeless sound.