Where Are They Now: Keith Sweat

Keith Sweat started his musical career as a part of the band Jamilah in 1975. The band toured around different states but mainly New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut. Since Sweat was the lead singer, fans, media, and – most of all – music labels noticed him more. The group also included:  Larry Peoples (bassist), Michael Samuels (guitarist), Walter Bradley (drummer), Peter DaCosta (vocals), Joseph McGeachy (saxophone), Dwight Banks (trumpet), and Kenneth Varner (keyboard).

Sweat had always had bigger dreams, and it did not involve being a part of Jamilah for the rest of his music career. He decided to leave the group in 1984 to purse his solo career. Singing at nightclubs throughout New York City and having that passion for music, he was eventually offered a deal from Stadium Records. Only recording one song (“My Mind is Made Up”) with the label, he later decided that Stadium was not the right place for him and his career. Later in the year, he met Vincent Davis and Davis immediately offered Sweat to be apart of his label, Vintertainment Records, distributed by Elektra Records. But when Vintertainment ran out of business, Sweat to move directly to Elektra Records.

On November 25, 1987, Sweat released his very first solo album, Make it Last Forever, selling three million copies and having a huge hit, “I Want Her”. Sweat became unstoppable and was nominated for the 1989 Best R&B/Urban Contemporary song of the Year on the Soul Train awards. Sweat decided to release his second album in 1990, which reached number six on the Billboard 200 chart, taking full advantage of his talent and success. The album (I’ll Give All My Love to You) reached number six on the Billboard 200 chart. By 1991, Sweat had released his third album, Keep It Comin’, which featured the hits “Why Me Baby” featuring LL Cool J and “Keep It Comin’”. Sweat decided to move to Atlanta where he started his own record label, Keia Records.

In 1992, Sweat discovered Silk and helped them reach their success as a group, helping them release their debut album Lose Control. The album reached number seven on billboard charts and had numerous hit singles such as “Freak Me”. Sweat also discovered Kut Klose and produced their debut album, Surrender. He also, produced their single, “I Like”, reaching number eight on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop singles.

Always willing to share his knowledge, Sweat decided to start focusing on his career again, and released his fourth album, Get Up On It. By, 1996 Sweat released his fifth-album. Both albums had amazing success, reaching the top ten on the Billboard 200, also having many singles including the sexy well-known single “Nobody”, which reached number three on billboard charts.

Sweat released his eighth album in 2002, Rebirth. Not doing as well as his albums in the ’80s and ’90s, one single off of the album reached Billboard Hot 100 as #75. A few years later, he released Just Me. His single, “Love U Better” featuring Keyshia Cole was played on many radio stations about a year after the album was released. The most current news on Sweat is that his most recent album Ridin Solo was released in June of 2010.

By Nyla Wisssa

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