Marques Barrett Houston (born August 4, 1981) is an American R&B singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor from Los Angeles, California. He first became known as a founding member of the youth group Immature, later renamed IMx, before establishing a solo career in the 2000s. He also built a parallel acting career in television and film, becoming particularly recognizable for his role as Roger Evans on the sitcom Sister, Sister.
Houston began performing professionally as a child. In 1990, he joined Jerome "Romeo" Jones and Kelton "LDB" Kessee in Immature, a group managed by Chris Stokes. Houston performed under the nickname "Batman," a name that became closely associated with the group's early image. Immature released several albums during the 1990s, including Playtyme Is Over, We Got It, and The Journey. The group combined youthful vocal harmonies with contemporary R&B production and found its largest mainstream success with the single "Never Lie," which reached the top five of the Billboard Hot 100.
In 1999, Immature adopted the name IMx as its members moved toward a more mature sound. The group released Introducing IMx and IMx, followed by a greatest-hits collection in 2001. Houston's work with the group established him as a capable lead vocalist and performer, while also giving him early experience as a songwriter and recording artist. IMx eventually disbanded, although the members later reunited for performances and television appearances.
Houston's acting career developed alongside his music. He supplied the voice of Khalil in the animated film Bebe's Kids and appeared in House Party 3 and Good Burger. His most prominent television role came in Sister, Sister, where he played Roger Evans across five seasons. The character made Houston familiar to a wider young audience and helped distinguish him from many of his contemporaries in the R&B field. He later appeared as Kevin Barnes on One on One and starred in its short-lived spin-off Cuts.
Houston launched his solo recording career with MH in 2003. The album introduced him as a smooth-voiced contemporary R&B singer in his own right and included the singles "That Girl," "Clubbin'," and "Pop That Booty." His second album, Naked (2005), produced the singles "Naked" and "All Because of You" and became his first gold-certified solo release. The record favored polished slow jams and romantic material while presenting Houston with a more adult image.
His strongest commercial album was Veteran (2007), which entered the Billboard 200 at number five and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Houston co-wrote much of the material, including "Circle," a reflective ballad that became one of his best-known solo songs. He followed it with Mr. Houston (2009), Mattress Music (2010), and Famous (2013). These releases showed his continued interest in songwriting, production, and independent control of his music.
Houston also remained active on screen. He starred in the dance film You Got Served (2004), appeared in Fat Albert, and took leading roles in Somebody Help Me, Somebody Help Me 2, and Battlefield America. In 2017, he wrote and co-produced the thriller Til Death Do Us Part, expanding his involvement behind the camera.
After a lengthy recording gap, Houston returned with the independent album Me in 2022 and the companion EP Me: Dark Water later that year. He continued that phase with The Best Worst Year Ever in 2024. Across his career, Houston has maintained a place in R&B through a blend of restrained vocals, romantic songwriting, acting, and production work.