SWV
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SWV, also known as Sisters With Voices, are an American female R&B/new jack swing trio from New York that formed as three school friends in 1990: Cheryl "Coko" Gamble-Clemons (born June 13, 1974), Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George (born 1974), and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons (born 1976). 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 double 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.
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.
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".
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" and follow-up single "Use Your Heart" was a Top 20 R&B hit. 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 and Snoop Dogg. Later that year, they released a Christmas album titled A Special Christmas.
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.
Johnson is married to former Dallas Cowboys and Tennessee Titans football player Eddie George and recently gave birth to a baby boy, Eriq Michael George.
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New album in the making
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.
Discography
Albums
- It's About Time (1992) #8 Billboard 200 #2 Billboard R&B (8x Platinum)
- Remixes (EP) (1994) #92 Billboard 200 #9 Billboard R&B (Gold)
- New Beginning (1996) #9 (3x Platinum)
- Release Some Tension (1997) #12 (2x plarinum)
- A Special Christmas (1997) #85 Billboard R&B
- Greatest Hits (1999)
- Best of SWV (2001)
- Platinum and Gold Collection (2003)
- Encore Collection (2004)
Singles
- 1992 "Right Here" #92 US #16 R&B
- 1992 "I'm So Into You" #6 US #2 R&B (Gold Single)
- 1993 "Weak" #1 US #1 R&B (Platinum Single)
- 1993 "Right Here/Human Nature"/"Downtown" #2 US #1 R&B (Gold Single)
- 1994 "You're Always On My Mind" #54 US #8 R&B
- 1994 "Anything" #18 US #4 R&B #1 DMMS
- 1996 "You're The One" #5 US #1 R&B (Platinum Single)
- 1996 "Use Your Heart" #22 US #6 R&B
- 1997 "It's All About U" #61 US #32 R&B
- 1997 "Can We" #75 US #31 R&B #1 RA
- 1997 "Someone" #19 US #5 R&B #3 DMMS
- 1998 "Rain" #25 US #7 R&B
Awards
- 1993 Nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Artist
- 1993 Nominated for 4 American Music Awards for Favorite New Artist - Pop / Rock, Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Soul / Rhythm & Blues, Favorite Album - Soul / Rhythm & Blues ("It's About Time"), Favorite New Artist - Soul / Rhythm & Blues.