Keith Sweat

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Keith Sweat
LTG Vereen Hosts R&B singer Keith Sweat (1) (cropped).jpg
Sweat in 2023
Background information
Birth nameKeith Douglas Sweat
Born (1961-07-22) July 22, 1961 (age 63)
New York City, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Years active1975–present
Labels
Formerly of LSG
Spouse
(m. 1992;div. 2002)
Children6
Website thesweathotel.com

Keith Douglas Sweat (born July 22, 1961) is an American singer and songwriter. An early figure in the new jack swing musical movement, he is known for his collection of hits including "I Want Her," "Make It Last Forever," "I'll Give All My Love to You," "Make You Sweat," "Get Up on It," "Twisted," and "Nobody." He has released 13 solo albums (two as a part of the R&B supergroup LSG) and discovered the groups Silk and Kut Klose. Sweat's sound reportedly was influenced by Slave front man Steve Arrington and go-go music. [1]

Contents

Early life

Sweat was born in Harlem, New York City to Juanita Thompson, a hairdresser, and Charles Crier, a factory worker. After Charles Crier's passing in 1973, Juanita raised their five kids by herself. [2] As a youth, Sweat performed at the famous Apollo Theater, which was near his home. [3]

Before releasing his solo album, Sweat worked as a night stock worker at Macy's Department Store, and then a mail room clerk at Paine Webber, a brokerage firm. Additionally, he earned a degree in communications from City College of New York. [4] “I think everyone should have an alternative plan. In my case, I went to the City College of New York and got my degree in communications. So I had a backup plan so that I didn’t lose out on a decent future,” Sweat once said. [5]

Within just four years, he worked his way up to a lucrative brokerage assistant job on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. [6] Sweat also worked as a supervisor for the New York Mercantile Exchange. [2]

Career

1975–1984: Career beginnings with Jamilah

Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called Jamilah in 1975. [7] With the help of Jamilah, Sweat was able to hone his craft as a lead singer by performing regionally throughout the Tri-state area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. The group was started by bassist Larry Peoples, guitarist Michael Samuels, and drummer Walter Bradley. [8]

After leaving the group in 1984 to begin a solo career, Sweat sang at nightclubs throughout New York City and landed a chance to record for the independent label, Stadium Records. Sweat recorded only two tunes for Stadium, "Lucky Seven" and "My Mind Is Made Up," which was their third and fourth ever release, but on Stadium's first release, he is credited as co-writer and co-producer of "You Are the One for Me," the last recording ever made by the group GQ. One of GQ's original members is his uncle, Keith "Sabu" Crier. [9]

1987–1989: Make It Last Forever and New Jack Swing

Later in 1987, Keith Sweat was discovered by Vincent Davis and offered a recording contract with his label, Vintertainment Records, which was founded in 1983 on the foundations of early Hip-Hop and otherwise best known for releasing Joeski Love's "Pee Wee's Dance" in 1985. Vintertainment was distributed by Elektra Records from 1985 until it ceased operations in 1990.

While crafting his debut album, Sweat pursued fellow Harlem resident Teddy Riley, who, at this time, was better known for writing for and producing hip-hop artists. [10] According to Riley, he already had the beats prepared for "I Want Her" and "Make It Last Forever," along with all of the background vocals for "I Want Her." [10] Riley had no intention of producing R&B music, and he also encouraged Sweat to sing in what would become his trademark nasal sound to distinguish his voice from other artists. [10] Riley noted that Sweat's songwriting style also was unique as he composed lyrics instantly while listening to the track, as he did for the single, "Make It Last Forever." [10]

On November 24, 1987, Sweat released Make It Last Forever , which sold three million copies. He and Riley co-wrote six songs, and the biggest hit inaugurated the new jack swing era, "I Want Her" [11] (No. 1 R&B & No. 5 Pop), which was nominated for the 1989 Soul Train Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year award, while the title track from the album hit No. 2 on the R&B charts.

1990-1991: I'll Give All My Love to You, and Keep It Comin

Sweat reached the charts again with his second album I'll Give All My Love to You (1990) which hit No. 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. He released his third album, Keep It Comin' in 1991, which debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. He produced soul singer Omar Chandler.

1992–2001: Get Up on It, Keith Sweat/LSG

In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control , which hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. [12]

The album's single "Freak Me" hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on May 1, 1993. In 1993, Sweat discovered the Atlanta-based female R&B group Kut Klose. Sweat also produced the group's debut album Surrender, which produced their biggest hit single "I Like", peaking to No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

Sweat released his fourth album Get Up on It in the summer of 1994, and his self-titled fifth album in 1996. Both albums reached the top ten on the Billboard 200. The single co/produced and written by Eric McCaine "Twisted" featuring R&B group Kut Klose hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Nobody" hit No. 3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the 1979 song "Just a Touch of Love" by Slave. He produced for R&B group Dru Hill in 1996.

In the fall of 1997, Sweat discovered the group Ol' Skool and helped with their self-titled debut. He was on their biggest single, "Am I Dreaming", which featured the R&B group Xscape. Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill in 1997. [13] That album featured "My Body", which became a hit single. The album was certified double platinum and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Sweat's sixth album, Still in the Game was released in 1998, hitting No. 6 on the Billboard 200, and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured rapper Snoop Dogg) (No. 12 Hot 100) and "I'm Not Ready" (No. 16 Hot 100). Sweat's success on the charts started to diminish in 2000, when he released the album Didn't See Me Coming . None of the singles from the album reached the top forty.

2002–present: Rebirth, Just Me, Ridin Solo, and Til the Morning

Sweat performing in 2009 Keith Sweat.jpg
Sweat performing in 2009

On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his eighth album, Rebirth . The single "One on One" reached No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. His 2008 album Just Me included the single, "Love U Better (featuring Keyshia Cole)". Sweat is currently signed to Kedar Records and released his tenth studio album entitled Ridin' Solo on June 22, 2010. The lead single taken from the album is "Test Drive" and featured label-mate Joe.

Since 2007, Sweat has been the host of The Keith Sweat Hotel —a nationally syndicated radio program with Premiere Networks based upon the Quiet storm format. [14] [15] [16]

Personal life

From 1992 until 2002, Sweat was married to The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Lisa Wu Hartwell. With her, he had two sons, born in 1995 and 1998. [17] [18] [19] [20] [21]

He also has three daughters, one with Tracy J. He also has a son named Joshua. [17]

Discography

Studio albums
Collaboration albums

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991 New Jack City Singer at Wedding
2000RhapsodyWillTV movie
2006Forbidden FruitsTerrenceVideo
2009 Pastor Brown Nasim
2018Love MagicalDelonte Skywalker
2021 For the Love of Money Chris
2023You're Not AloneJohnson

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1988 Showtime at the Apollo Himself/Guest HostEpisode: "Episode #2.10"
1994 New York Undercover HimselfEpisode: "Mate"
1997 Martin Det. Carl JohnsonEpisode: "Stake-Out"
The Wayans Bros. HimselfGuest Cast: Seasons 3-4
2011 The Game HimselfEpisode: "Death Becomes Her"
2017 Hell's Kitchen Himself/Restaurant PatronEpisode: "Raising the Bar"

Awards and nominations

Related Research Articles

New jack swing, new jack, or swingbeat is a fusion genre of the rhythms and production techniques of hip hop and dance-pop, and the urban contemporary sound of R&B. Spearheaded by producers Teddy Riley, Bernard Belle, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, new jack swing was most popular from the late 1980s to early 1990s.

Guy is an American hip hop, R&B and soul group founded in 1987 by Teddy Riley, Aaron Hall, and Timmy Gatling. Hall's younger brother Damion Hall replaced Gatling after the recording of the group's self-titled debut album. The group released their debut album, which went on to sell over a million copies and was certified double platinum. Following their success, the group released their second album The Future in 1990, which also charted with successful singles and received platinum as well. Following their nearly decade long split, the group returned with their third album before the 2000s millennium, which charted with their hit single "Dancin'".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Teddy Riley</span> American record producer (born 1967)

Edward Theodore Riley is an American record producer, singer, and songwriter credited with the creation of the R&B and hip hop fusion genre, new jack swing. He is the founder and lead vocalist of the musical group Blackstreet, as well as its predecessor Guy. The genre gained popularity from artists who utilized Riley's production and songwriting, namely Michael Jackson, Bobby Brown, Heavy D & the Boyz, Keith Sweat, Hi-Five, and the Jackson 5, among others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe (singer)</span> American R&B singer (born 1973)

Joseph Lewis Thomas, known mononymously as Joe, is an American R&B singer. He signed to Polygram Records in 1992, and rose to prominence after releasing his debut album Everything the following year. He followed it with a series of successful albums under Jive Records, including All That I Am (1997), the international bestseller My Name Is Joe (2000) as well as the multi-certified albums Better Days (2001) and And Then... (2003). Several songs from these albums became hit singles on the pop and R&B record charts, including the number-one hit "Stutter", the top ten entries "All the Things ", "Don't Wanna Be a Player", and "I Wanna Know" as well as his collaborations "Faded Pictures", "Thank God I Found You" and "Still Not a Player".

Silk is an American R&B group, formed in 1989 in Atlanta, Georgia. They are best known for their 1993 hit single, "Freak Me", which reached number-one on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnny Gill</span> American R&B singer (born 1966)

Johnny Gill Jr. is an American singer and songwriter. He is the sixth and final member of the R&B/pop group New Edition and was also a member of the supergroup called LSG, with Gerald Levert and Keith Sweat. Gill has released eight solo albums, three albums with New Edition, two albums with LSG, and one collaborative album with Stacy Lattisaw. Gill has sold over 15 million copies worldwide as a solo artist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerald Levert</span> American R&B singer (1966–2006)

Gerald Edward Levert was an American singer-songwriter and producer. Levert performed with his brother, Sean Levert, and friend Marc Gordon with the R&B vocal group, LeVert. Levert was also a member of LSG, a supergroup comprising Keith Sweat, Johnny Gill, and himself. Levert was the son of Eddie Levert, lead singer of the R&B/soul vocal group the O'Jays. He released 9 solo albums, 6 as a member of LeVert, 2 with his father, and 2 as a member of LSG. Levert was also credited with the discovery of R&B groups the Rude Boys, Men at Large, 1 of the Girls. Levert was also part of the R&B group Black Men United, and LSG.

112 is an American R&B group from Atlanta, Georgia. Discovered by record production duo Tim & Bob, the group signed with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records, an imprint of Arista Records to release their eponymous debut studio album (1996). The following year, they guest performed alongside labelmate Faith Evans on Puff Daddy's 1997 single "I'll Be Missing You," which won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and became the first hip hop song to debut atop the Billboard Hot 100. The group then released their second and third albums Room 112 (1998) and Part III (2001); the latter peaked at number two on the Billboard 200. The group's fourth album, Hot & Wet (2003) served as their final release with Bad Boy until signing with Def Soul to release their fifth album Pleasure & Pain (2005), which saw continued commercial success. The albums spawned the Billboard Hot 100-top 20 singles including their debut, "Only You" as well as "Cupid," "Anywhere", "Love Me", "It's Over Now," and the Grammy Award-nominated "Peaches & Cream."

<i>Keith Sweat</i> (album) 1996 studio album by Keith Sweat

Keith Sweat is the fifth studio album by the American singer Keith Sweat. It was released by Elektra Records on June 25, 1996, in the United States. The single, "Twisted", made it to number two on the US Billboard Hot 100, his biggest hit ever on that chart. "Nobody" peaked at number 3 on the same chart. Both songs are his final two of six hits to reach number one on the R&B singles chart and gave Sweat two more Top 5 pop hits in eight years since his first single, "I Want Her".

<i>Make It Last Forever</i> (album) 1987 studio album by Keith Sweat

Make It Last Forever is the debut album of American R&B recording artist Keith Sweat. It was recorded at INS Recording and Power Play Studios in New York City. Released on November 24, 1987, the album went to number one on the Top R&B Albums chart for three weeks, and number 15 on the Billboard 200. Make It Last Forever was one of the earliest R&B albums to showcase the up-and-coming new jack swing sound, as it was mostly produced by Sweat himself and music producer Teddy Riley.

LSG is an R&B supergroup, composed of R&B artists Gerald Levert from Cleveland, Ohio, Keith Sweat from Harlem, New York and Johnny Gill from Washington, D.C. The group's name "LSG" is derived from the first letter in the last name of each artist.

<i>Ill Give All My Love to You</i> 1990 studio album by Keith Sweat

I'll Give All My Love to You is the second studio album by the American R&B recording artist Keith Sweat. It was released on June 12, 1990, and went to number one on the Top R&B albums chart and number 6 on the Billboard 200. It spawned Sweat's second and third number 1 R&B hits: "Make You Sweat" and the title track, while "Merry Go Round" and "Your Love Part 2" were Top 5 R&B hits.

Kut Klose is an American R&B trio that formed in Atlanta, Georgia. The three female singers that made up the group were Athena Cage, Lavonn Battle and Tabitha Duncan. They were originally discovered by singer Keith Sweat, who also served as one of the producers on their debut album Surrender (1995). The trio is best known for their hit single "I Like" and feature on "Get Up on It" by Keith Sweat.

<i>New Jack City</i> (soundtrack) 1991 soundtrack album by Various Artists

Music from the Motion Picture New Jack City is the original soundtrack to Mario Van Peebles' 1991 film New Jack City. It was released by Giant Records through Reprise Records, and distributed by Warner Bros. Records. The soundtrack consists of eleven original songs, most of which were performed by chart-topping R&B and hip-hop artists of the time. The music is heavily influenced by the New Jack Swing genre of R&B. Prominent artists and producers of this sound contributed to the soundtrack, including Guy with Teddy Riley, Keith Sweat, Color Me Badd, and Johnny Gill; Al B. Sure! produced the track "Get It Together ," performed by F.S. Effect.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Body (LSG song)</span> 1997 single by LSG

"My Body" is a song by R&B group LSG released as the first single from their debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill.

<i>Lose Control</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Silk

Lose Control is the debut album by Silk. The album went to number-one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and includes the hit single "Freak Me", which peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was covered in 1998 by British band Another Level. Lose Control was certified double platinum by the RIAA in 1995.

<i>LSG2</i> 2003 studio album by LSG

LSG2 is the second and final studio album by R&B group LSG. It was released on July 28, 2003 by Elektra Records.

<i>Levert.Sweat.Gill</i> 1997 studio album by LSG

Levert.Sweat.Gill is the debut studio album by American supergroup LSG. It was released by East West Records on November 11, 1997, in the United States. The album includes contributions from guest producers Sean "Puffy" Combs and Jermaine Dupri. The Lox, Faith Evans, Coko, Missy Elliott, LL Cool J, Busta Rhymes, MC Lyte, and Jazze Pha make guest appearances on the album. LSG peaked at number 4 on the US Billboard 200 and number 2 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The discography of American hip hop group The Lox, consists of four studio albums, one compilation album, two extended plays, one mixtape and fifteen singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Little III</span> Musical artist

Joe N Little III is an American singer, songwriter and producer who is best known as the lead singer of the 90s R&B group, Rude Boys, who had two No. 1 R&B singles, "Written All Over Your Face" and "Are You Lonely For Me", on Billboard's R&B/Hip Hop Chart. They received a Billboard Music Award for "Written All Over Your Face", as the No. 1 R&B song of 1991.

References

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