SWV

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SWV
SWV During a photo shoot.
SWV During a photo shoot.
Background information
Also known as Sisters With Voices
Origin Bronx, New York, United States
Genre(s) R&B, New jack swing, Hip hop soul, Pop, Dance
Years active 1990 – 1998
2005 – 2007; 2008- (Occasional Tour Spots)
Label(s) RCA
Associated acts Teddy Riley, Brian Alexander Morgan, The Neptunes, Michael Jackson, New Edition, Diddy, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Prince, New Edition
Members
Cheryl "Coko" Clemons
Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George
Leanne "Lelee" Lyons

SWV, also known as Sisters With Voices, is a American Grammy award nominated female R&B/Pop trio from New York. Formed in 1990, SWV dominated the decade with a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and many more. The group disbanded in 1999 and pursued solo projects in different genres.

Contents

[edit] Life Style

With their 1992 debut,It's About Time, the all-female New Jack Swing trio SWV scored a string of Top Ten R&B hits that established them as one of the most popular urban R&B groups of the '90s. SWV (their name is an acronym for Sisters with Voices) is comprised of three school friends: Cheryl "Coko" Gamble-Clemons, Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons. All three vocalists sang in church as children, which is where they learned how to harmonize. A demo tape the group assembled caught the attention of producer Teddy Riley, a former member of Guy and arguably the father of new jack swing. Prior to SWV, Riley helped establish the careers of Jodeci and Mary J. Blige. Riley's luck didn't wear out with SWV — he helped the group craft their debut, It's About Time, which went double platinum within its first year of release.

The release of It's About Time was preceded by "Right Here" in the fall of 1992. The single reached number 13 on the R&B charts, but it was the number two hit, "I'm So Into You," that established the trio as a commercial force early in 1993. It was followed by two number one R&B singles in a row: "Weak" and "Right Here/Human Nature," a remix of their first single that featured samples of Michael Jackson's hit "Human Nature." "Weak" also hit number one on the pop charts; "Right Here/Human Nature" reached number two on the pop charts.

One other Top Ten R&B hit from It's About Time, "Always on My Mind," followed late in 1993. "Anything," SWV's contribution to the soundtrack for Above the Rim, became a Top Ten R&B hit in the spring of 1994. Also in the spring of 1994, SWV released The Remixes, which went gold by the end of the year. In the summer of 1995, the trio lent vocal harmonies to Blackstreet's Top 40 R&B hit "Tonight's the Night." In 1996, SWV returned with New Beginning, which was preceded by the number one R&B hit "You're the One." Release Some Tension followed in 1997, and two years later the group's past successes were recalled on their Greatest Hits.

In 2005, SWV reunited with plans for a new album. In 2007, they served as one of the opening acts for New Edition. They would disband again later that year without releasing any new songs. Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George is married to former NFL running back Eddie George. Lelee is the mother of two children, Margaret & Khiry Lyons while Coko is married to Drummer and Producer, Big Mike Clemons, and is the mother of two sons, Jazz (from a previous relationship) and Jalen. A reunion album for the fans is still planned, but a date has not been set yet.

Just recently, SWV have returned to Toronto in 2008, performing some of their hits for the birthday of one of the Djs.

[edit] Trivia

  • The name TLC was first intended for SWV to have but TLC beat them by a couple of weeks to the name.
  • SWV was voted Female Group Of The Decade by the Kids Choice Awards in 1993.
  • Many famous singers covered some of SWV hits Jojo Weak, Christina Aguilera Weak, and Leona Lewis I'm So Into You.
  • When SWV retired they all got checks worth $20,000 from RCA.
  • Coko and Lelee first cars were a BMW and Taj first car was a Toyota Land Cruiser, it is seen at the beginning of the single You're Always On My Mind. Coko also bought her mom an Infiniti.
  • SWV also made special guest appearances in plenty of other videos and singles.
  • Destiny Child opened for SWV during the 1996-1997 tour.
  • Michael Jackson is a big fan of SWV he was the one that pointed out SWV to producers to make the smash hit Right Here.
  • SWV covered Switch's There Will Never Be A Better Love.
  • SWV appeared on shows like: All That, Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Micky Mouse House, and New York Undercover.
  • In Jojo's cover of Weak you can hear SWV singing in the background.
  • SWV is known to perform a remake of Patti Labelle's song "If Only You Knew" in their concerts. It's known to be a crowd pleaser, also Coko performed the song on Motown Live as a solo artist in 2000.
  • SWV were also the only Female Group from the nineties to release more than 6 singles off one record.
  • SWV first album It's About Time has sold 12.5million units to this day.
  • Lelee is looking forward to releasing a pilot for a show that shows what she's been up to these days and hitting tour spots with fellow singers Coko and Taj. It will be something like Taj hit show I married a Baller, it will most likely appear on VH1 or MTV.

[edit] Discography

Further information: SWV discography

[edit] Albums

[edit] EPs

[edit] Compilations

[edit] Album Sales

RIAA reported hit group SWV has sold more than 25 million albums to date, not including best of, remixes and etc, Nielsen SoundScan reported SWV has sold more than 30 million albums including best of, Platinum and Gold Collection, Remixes, Coko solo sales and the Christmas Album.

[edit] Tours

[edit] Opening Acts

Some popular and none popular opening acts for SWV were Destiny's Child, 702, Total, Jade and Xscape.

[edit] Awards & nominations

Year Award
1993 American Music Award Win for Favorite New Artist - Pop / Rock
1993 American Music Award Win for Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Soul / Rhythm & Blues
1993 American Music Award Win for Favorite Album - Soul / Rhythm & Blues ("It's About Time")
1993 American Music Award Win for Favorite New Artist - Soul / Rhythm & Blues
1993 Kids Choice Awards Win for Female Group Of The Decade
1993 Billboard Music Award Win for Top Hot 100 Singles Artists - Duos/Group
1993 Billboard Music Award Win for Top R&B Artists - Duos/Group
1993 Billboard Music Award Win for Top R&B Singles Artists - Duos/Group
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Pop Artists - Duo/Group
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top New Pop Artist
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot 100 Singles Artist
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top Hot 100 Airplay Track for "Weak"
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Artist
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top New R&B Artist
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Album Artists - Duos/Group
1993 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Singles Artist
1994 Grammy Award nomination for Best New Artist
1994 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Singles Artists - Duos/Group
1994 Billboard Music Award nomination for Top R&B Artists - Duos/Group
1997 Soul Train Lady of Soul Award nomination for Best R&B Soul single by a Group, Band, or Duo

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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