Keith Sweat

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.{{cite magazine |url=http://people.com/archive/keith-sweat-takes-stock-of-his-talent-and-puts-wall-street-behind-him-vol-30-no-13/ |title=Keith Sweat Takes Stock of His Talent and Puts Wall Street Behind Him |last1=Dougherty |first1=Steve |last2=Little |first2=Benilde |magazine=People Weekly |date=September 26, 1988 |page=115 |volume=30 |number=13 }} As a youth, Sweat performed at the famous Apollo Theater, which was near his home.{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2011 |title=Harlem-born R&B singer and radio host Keith Sweat releases new album |url=https://welcometoharlem.com/harlem-born-rb-singer-and-radio-host-keith-sweat-releases-new-album/ |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=Welcome to Harlem |language=en }}

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.{{Cite web |title=Keith Sweat |url=https://www.wlatalent.com/keith-sweat |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=WLA Talent Agency |language=en-US}} “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.{{Cite web |date=2012-08-13 |title=Keith Sweat shares thoughts on success |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/keith-sweat-shares-thoughts-on-success/article_c072abb7-4dac-5c7c-8056-939c4b75ef8b.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=The Philadelphia Tribune |language=en}}

Within just four years, he worked his way up to a lucrative brokerage assistant job on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.{{citation|url=http://people.com/archive/for-love-and-money-vol-47-no-3/|title=For love and money|work=People Weekly|date=January 27, 1997|page=69|volume=47|number=3|author=Dougherty, Steve}} Sweat also worked as a supervisor for the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called Jamilah in 1975.{{cite web|url=http://keithsweat.com/about/|title=About|work=KeithSweat.com|access-date=February 27, 2017}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Keith Sweat |url=https://iflyer.tv/en/artist/53983/about/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=iFLYER}}

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.{{cite news| url = http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/keith-sabu-crier-bass-player-disco-group-gq-dead-58-article-1.1473158|title= Keith 'Sabu' Crier, bass player for disco group GQ, dead at 58|author= David Hinckley |newspaper= Daily News |date = October 1, 2013}}

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.{{Cite web |title='We Gave R&B a New Lifeline': How Teddy Riley Invented New Jack Swing (Demo) |url=https://www.nmaam.org/latest-news/posts/we-gave-rb-a-new-lifeline-how-teddy-riley-invented-new-jack-swing |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=nmaam.org |language=en-us}} 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." 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. 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."

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"{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1988|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1988| access-date=24 January 2022}} (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.

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.

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.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/silk/chart-history/tlp/|title=Silk Chart History > Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard| access-date=22 January 2022}}

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 was released that November.{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lsg|chart=Billboard 200}}|title=LSG Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media| access-date=27 January 2022}} 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.

File:Keith Sweat.jpg

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.{{Cite web |title=Clear Channel Chicago intros new evening programs on two urban outlets |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2014/04/07/clear-channel-chicago-intros-new-evening-programs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517161144/https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2014/04/07/clear-channel-chicago-intros-new-evening-programs.html |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |access-date=April 20, 2019 |website=Chicago Business Journal}}{{Cite news |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=September 6, 2018 |title=A Champion, a Critic, a Therapist: Dyana Williams Is Hip-Hop's Artist Whisperer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/06/arts/music/dyana-williams-hip-hop-media-trainer.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420053314/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/06/arts/music/dyana-williams-hip-hop-media-trainer.html |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}{{Cite news |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |date=August 7, 2009 |title=K'Jon, Maxwell and More Offer a Newly Mature Soul Music |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/arts/music/08soul.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420053311/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/arts/music/08soul.html |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}

He also has three daughters, one with Tracy J. He also has a son named Joshua.{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_22_113/ai_n27496996 |title=CBSi |via=Find Articles |access-date=June 26, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614235738/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_22_113/ai_n27496996/ |archive-date=June 14, 2012 }}

{{Main|Keith Sweat discography}}

;Studio albums

• Make It Last Forever (1987)
• I'll Give All My Love to You (1990)
• Keep It Comin' (1991)
• Get Up on It (1994)
• Keith Sweat (1996)
• Still in the Game (1998)
• Didn't See Me Coming (2000)
• Rebirth (2002)
• A Christmas of Love (2007)
• Just Me (2008)
• Ridin' Solo (2010)
• Til the Morning (2011)
• Dress to Impress (2016)
• Playing for Keeps (2018)

;Collaboration albums

• Levert.Sweat.Gill (1997)
• LSG2 (2003)

• American Music Awards
• 1991: Favorite R&B/Soul Male Artist (nominated)
• 1997: Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist (winner)
• 1997: Favorite R&B/Soul Album for Keith Sweat (nominated)
• 1998: Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist (nominated)
• 2013: Soul Train Lifetime Achievement Award

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://keithsweat.com/}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20020607040109/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/sweat_keith/artist.jhtml Keith Sweat] artist page at VH1.com
• [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5573|pure_url=yes}} Keith Sweat] artist page at AllMusic
• {{IMDb name|0842038}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716113052/http://soulrnb.com/communaute/groups/viewgroup/111-Keith+Sweat Keith Sweat's 'SoulRnB.com' group] (videos, photos, discussions, etc.) {{in lang|fr}}
• [http://www.soulinterviews.com/keith-sweat-2010/ Keith Sweat 2010 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702070240/http://www.soulinterviews.com/keith-sweat-2010/ |date=July 2, 2012 }}

{{Keith Sweat}}

{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist}}

{{Silk}}

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Category:1961 births

Category:African-American record producers

Category:Record producers from New York (state)

Category:Singers from New York City

Category:Living people

Category:Singers from Atlanta

Category:Musicians from Manhattan

Category:People from Harlem

Category:Atco Records artists

Category:Songwriters from New York (state)

Category:American contemporary R&B singers

Category:LSG (band) members

Category:African-American male songwriters

Category:20th-century African-American male singers

Category:20th-century American male singers

Category:20th-century American singers

Category:21st-century African-American male singers

Category:21st-century American male singers

Category:New jack swing musicians