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SWV, also known as Sisters With Voices, is 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 April 1974), and Leanne "Lelee" Lyons (born July 1973).

Contents

Early career

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 next single, "Can We" produced by Timbaland and Missy Elliott, which appeared on the Booty Call soundtrack. Then they released a third album 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 -- and the hits "Someone" and "Rain" (another Top 10 R&B Hit). Later that year, they released a Christmas album titled A Special Christmas. In 1999, their previous successes were recalled on their Greatest Hits compilation. Another greatest hits compilation, Best of SWV was released in 2001.

SWV disbanded in 1998 and Gamble moved on to continue with a solo career. Her solo debut, Hot Coko, was released in 1999, but the album and its main single, "Sunshine," which was dedicated to Coko's firstborn son, Jazz, did not receive much commercial attention.

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.

Reunion and latest happenings

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.

Meanwhile, Coko has plans for a solo gospel release coming in September 2006 after signing with Artemis Records.[link] Faith Evans and Lil Mo are expected to collaborate with Coko on her first gospel single, which is a remake of The Clark Sisters' "Endow Me."

Discography

Albums

Singles

Awards

External links

 

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