SWV

SWV, also known as Sisters With Voices, are an African American female R&B/new jack swing trio from New York that formed as three school friends in 1990: Cheryl "Coko" Gamble, Tamara "Taj" Johnson, and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons. All three girls began getting their singing experience in church at a young age. Teddy Riley took notice of a demo tape the trio had created. He was one of the main producers responsible for the making of their debut album, It's About Time, released in 1992. The album went platinum within its first year of release. SWV's series of top 10 hits on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart made them one of the most successful and popular urban groups of the 1990s.

Related Topics:
African American - R&B - New jack swing - New York - 1990 - Church - Teddy Riley - Producers - 1992 - 1990s

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Their first single, "Right Here", was released in the autumn of 1992. It peaked at #13 on the R&B chart, but the hit follow-up single, "I'm So Into You", is what caused them to become a commercial force among urban fans. The two singles were followed by the biggest hits of their career, "Weak" and "Right Here/Human Nature" (a remix of their first single featuring samples of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature"). "Weak" became their only single to reach #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart where it stayed for 2 weeks while "Right Here (Human Nature)" peaked at #2. The fifth single, "You're Always on My Mind" was another top ten R&B hit.

Related Topics:
1992 - Michael Jackson - Billboard Hot 100

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In the spring of 1994, SWV contributed the old school radio version of "Anything", featuring Wu-Tang Clan to the soundtrack of the movie Above the Rim; it became another hit single. Their remix EP, The Remixes, was unleashed the same year and reached gold status by the end of the year. In the summer of 1995, they lended their vocals to Blackstreet's top 40 hit "Tonight's The Night".

Related Topics:
1994 - Old school - Wu-Tang Clan - 1995 - Blackstreet

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The trio returned in 1996 with a sophomore album, New Beginning, and had another #1 R&B hit with the song "You're The One". The album was followed by Release Some Tension in 1997, which featured a bevy of guest appearances by rappers including Lil' Kim, Missy Elliott, and Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Later that year, they released a Christmas album titled A Special Christmas.

Related Topics:
1996 - 1997 - Lil' Kim - Missy Elliott - Sean "P. Diddy" Combs - Christmas

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SWV disbanded in 1998 and Gamble moved on to continue with a solo career. Her solo debut, Hot Coko, was released in 1999. Also that year, their previous successes were recalled on their Greatest Hits compilation. Another greatest hits compilation, Best of SWV was released in 2001.

Related Topics:
1998 - 1999 - 2001

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Johnson is married to current Dallas Cowboys football player Eddie George and recently gave birth to a baby boy, Eriq Michael George. SWV has officially reunited and will release a new album soon. They performed in their first live performance in eight years at Los Angeles urban radio station KKBT 100.3 "The Beat"'s summerjam concert on August 20, 2005.

Related Topics:
Dallas Cowboys - Eddie George - Los Angeles - August 20 - 2005

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