Tuesday, September 18, 2012

What Happened? Keith Sweat


Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat was born July 22, 1961 in Harlem, New York to Charles and Juanita Sweat not far from the world-famous Apollo Theater.
Keith Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called "Jamilah" in 1975. 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. Additional members of the group included Peter DaCosta (vocals), Joseph McGeachy (sax), Dwight Banks (trumpet), and Kenneth Varner (keyboards).
Sweat worked an ordinary 9-to-5 job for the commodities market in the New York Stock Exchange.
After leaving the group in 1984 to aspire for a solo career, he sang at nightclubs throughout New York City and landed a chance to record for the independent label, Stadium Records. Sweat recorded only one tune for Stadium called "My Mind Is Made Up", which was their third 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.
He sang at nightclubs until he was discovered in 1987.
Later on 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 Dance" in 1985. Vintertainment was distributed by Elektra Records from 1985 until it ceased operations in 1990, in which case Elektra opted to buy Keith's contract outright and have him record directly for the label.
 On November 25, 1987, Sweat released his debut solo album Make It Last Forever, which sold three million copies. The biggest hit from this album was the song that inaugurated the New Jack Swing era "I Want Her" (#1 R&B/#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 #2 on the R&B charts.


 Sweat reached the charts again with his second album I'll Give All My Love to You (1990) which hit #6 on the Billboard 200 chart. The singles released during this period included "(There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again" (from the film New Jack City).
He released his third album, Keep It Comin' in 1991 which debuted in the top 20 of the album chart. This album, included the songs, "Why Me Baby" (featuring LL Cool J) and "Keep It Comin'". Sweat then moved from New York to Atlanta, where he founded the Keia Records label that would feature Silk & Kut Klose.
In 1991 he appeared on television in an episode of the hit show New York Undercover where he played himself.

In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control, which hit #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album's single "Freak Me" hit #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 the their biggest hit single "I Like", peaking to #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" hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Nobody" hit #3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. The song "Just A Touch", with Traci Hale providing background vocals, has earned a regular spot on radio playlists[citation needed]. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the 1979 song "Just a Touch of Love" by Slave.

Sweat's sixth album, Still in the Game was released in 1998, hitting #6 on the Billboard 200, and #2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured Snoop Dogg) (#12 Hot 100) and "I'm Not Ready" (#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. They were moderate hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.


In 1996 he entered a non-music related endeavor by opening the nightclub "The Industry" which was meant as a nightclub for celebrities where they could relax with other celebrities.
Around 1997 he teamed up with other R&B superstars Johnny Gill and Gerald Levert. The trio released an album in 1997 called Levert. Sweat.Gill and went by the name LSG which made it to number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 and was certified double Platinum.

In the 1997 film New Jack City he had a brief part where he played the wedding singer at an ill-fated wedding. Also in 1997 he appeared on the TV show Martin in an episode entitled "Stakeout" where he played a detective. He also appeared on Wayans Bros. on an episode entitled “Marlon Goes on the Road.”

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 R&B group Xscape.
In 2000 he released the album Didn't See Me Coming, in 2002 Rebirth and in 2003 Keith Sweat Live; all under Elektra.
On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his eighth album, Rebirth. The single "One on One" reached #75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. His 2008 album Just Me fared better with its first single, "Love U Better (featuring Keyshia Cole)" being played on Urban radio stations for about a year before the album's release.


In 2003 Keith Sweat reteamed with Johnny Gill & Gerald Levert for the sophomore effort LSG2.  The album didn’t achieve as much success as the 1st effort.
In 2007 Sweat began broadcasting a syndicated radio show in currently 21 markets in the United States called the Keith Sweat Hotel. The show plays music from the 70s to current releases and it is broadcast in Atlanta from his studio at Premiere Radio Networks. It airs every day from 7pm to midnight.


In 2007 he releases the Christmas album Christmas of Love and Sweat Hotel Live.
In 2008 with the label Atco, Sweat released Just Me and Some More.
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.
2011 Keith Sweat sold his show Keith Sweat Platinum House Featuring Dru Hill to TV One on cable. The premise of the show Dru Hill reunited to record their latest album InDrupendence Day.

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