Keith Sweat

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{{Infobox_band | band_name = Keith Sweat | image = Image:Keith Sweat (image by Michael Lavine).jpg | caption = Photographed by Michael Lavine | years_active = 1987-present | music_genre = R&B
New jack swing | record_label = Elektra Records }} Keith Sweat (born Keith Crier on July 22, 1961 in Harlem, New York), is a popular African American R&B/soul singer, songwriter, record producer and a major contributor to the New jack swing era. Before becoming a recording artist, Sweat worked for the commodities market in the New York Mercantile Exchange. He sang at nightclubs throughout New York City until he was discovered and offered a recording contract with Elektra Records in 1987.

1 Music career
2 Discography
3 External links

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Music career

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Make It Last Forever era: 1975-1993

Sweat started his musical career as a member of a well known 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 Larry Peebles, a talented bass player from 116th Street and Lenox Avenue, and included several members who came in and out of the group; among those included was Gregory Ross, a well known Harlem keyboard player who currently lives and works in the Los Angeles area.

On November 25, 1987, Sweat released his debut album Make It Last Forever, which sold three million copies. The biggest hit from this album was "I Want Her" (#1 R&B/#5 Pop), and the title track from the album was hit #2 on the R&B charts.

Sweat continued to chart fairly well with his sophomore album I'll Give All My Love To You, which hit #6 on the Billboard 200 chart, and Keep It Comin debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart.

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Still in the Game era: 1994-1999

Sweat released his fourth album Get Up On It in the summer of 1994. He followed with Keith Sweat, his self-titled fifth album, in 1996, which hit #5 on the Billboard 200. The single "Twisted" hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Nobody" hit #3. The song "Just A Touch" was also on the album and although it didn't take off and become a top 3 hit like the two aforementioned songs it has earned a more regular spot on radio playlists. "Just A Touch" was a Cover of the song "Just a Touch of Love" from the Slave album from 1979 titled Just a Touch of Love. That would mean the people 30 or older at the time of the Keith Sweat version may have thought of the song as a new pop tune. But the key demographic for pop music is under the age of 30 and in late 1996, early 1997, most of those people were likely unfamiliar with the original. Having two bona fide hits already on the album it seems like the name recognition would have helped "Just A Touch" do better on the music charts. Keith Sweat obviously liked what he did with the track. "I re-made a great Slave song on this one," he says. ""Just A Touch," which is one I've always wanted to do."

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Rebirth era: 2000-Present

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 managed to make it to the Top 40. On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his ninth album, Rebirth. Only one single, "One on One", charted on the Billboard Hot 100 (#75) and the R&B charts (#44).

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Protegés

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 1995, Sweat discovered the Atlanta based female R&B group Kut Klose. Sweat also produced the groups debut album Surrender, which produced the hit single "I Like" peaking to #8 on Billboard's "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles".

Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut Levert.Sweat.Gill in 1997. That album featured the hit "My Body", which became a huge hit single.

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