Color Me Badd Original Lead Singer Opens Up About Struggles In Film At deadCenter Festival

In the early 90’s one of the biggest bands on the planet was Oklahoma’s Color Me Badd. While being a famous band has its perks, it also has its drawbacks. 

The group came together in the late 80’s at Northwest Classen High School.  

“It was back in the “breakin” days, everybody was break dancing and we couldn’t break, or at least I couldn’t, so we started hitting the do-wop,” said Bryan Abrams.  

They would find a way to talk to anyone in recording business that came through Oklahoma City.  

“We ditched to go and meet Kool and the Gang,” said Abrams.  

That connection would lead to other connections and eventually making the group world superstars.  

“It was very surreal, I mean because it happened so fast, that a lot of the people that I was watching on television and buying records for we ended up touring with some of these people,” said Abrams.  

The group were regulars on awards programs, and it was common for them to take the stage with Boyz II Men, Celine Dion, Peabo Bryson and many others.  

They even made a cameo appearance on Beverly Hills, 90210.  The foursome, however, would soon find themselves in situations they were not equipped to handle.  

“I had lost my voice and my bus driver introduced me to a hot toddy, it was hot tea, honey, with a shot of whiskey in it,” said Abrams.  

“I was predisposed because I had a family that had a lot of alcoholics and addicts and people that struggled with that type of thing,” said Abrams.  

He would struggle with alcoholism for close to 30 years.  

“One of the last times I drank, I ended up acting kind of crazy and it ended up on TMZ,” said Abrams.  

It was the disappointment of his wife and kids that would ultimately push Bryan to get help.  

After his appearance on The Dr. Phil Show, Abrams went to inpatient treatment at Oceans Recovery, and got the help he needed.  

“It was three years ago and some change, yeah I’m in my fourth year of sobriety so April 12 this last year I had three years,” said Abrams  

His story is now being told in a docufilm.  

“It’s basically about my story and addiction and how it affected my family and career,” said Abrams.  

It’s titled “Flowers in the Addict”, named after his nonprofit. It’s got Bryan back in the studio to record the closing soundtrack for the movie.  

“Finishing up some music that I’m working on. I’m going to release some new music. I’m going to put out an album but there’s going to be some messages in that record,” said Abrams.  

With his new music Abrams isn’t concerned about sales or charts, he simply wants to record a project the way he knows it should be done.  

Abrams’ movie “Flowers in the Addict” can be seen this weekend at the Dead Center Film Festival, for a list and location for all the movies visit www.deadcenterfilm.org