Keith Sweat , born on July 22, 1961 in Harlem, New York, is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer and a major contributor to the New jack swing era. Before becoming a recording artist, Sweat worked for the commodities market in the New York Mercantile Exchange. He sang at nightclubs throughout New York City until he was discovered and offered a recording contract with Elektra Records in 1987.

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Music career

Make It Last Forever era: 1984-1993

Sweat started his musical career as a member of a well known Harlem band called "Jamilah" in 1975. 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 Larry Peoples, a talented bass player from 116th Street and Lenox Avenue, Michael Samuels, guitarist out of the Bronx, and drummer Walter Bradley from 125th in Harlem. Additional members of the group included Peter DaCosta, vocals, Joseph McGeachy, sax, Dwight Banks, trumpet, Kenneth Varner, keyboards, and Gregory Ross, keyboards. On November 25, 1987, Sweat released his debut album Make It Last Forever , which sold three million copies. The biggest hit from this album was "I Want Her" (#1 R&B/#5 Pop), and the title track from the album hit #2 on the R&B charts.

Sweat continued to chart fairly well with his second album I'll Give All My Love to You , which hit #6 on the Billboard 200 chart, and Keep It Comin' debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. It did not sell as well because Keith did not promote the album. The big singles were "(There You Go) Tellin' Me No Again" from New Jack City , "Why Me Baby" (featuring LL Cool J) and the title track. Keith was moving from New York to Atlanta, and he was starting his Keia Records label that would feature Silk & Kut Klose.

Still in the Game era: 1994-1999

Sweat released his fourth album Get Up On It in the summer of 1994. He followed with Keith Sweat , his self-titled fifth album, in 1996, which hit #5 on the Billboard 200. The single "Twisted" hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "Nobody" hit #3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. The song "Just A Touch", with Kut Klose providing background vocals, was also a popular song on the album which did not take off and become a top 3 hit like the two aforementioned songs, it has earned a more regular spot on radio playlists. The Billboard chart rule at the time stated that songs without an official single release are ineligible to enter the Hot 100. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the song "Just a Touch of Love" from a 1979 Slave album titled Just a Touch of Love . His sixth album, Still in the Game was released in 1998, hitting #6 on the Billboard 200, and #2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured Snoop Dogg) (#12 Hot 100) and "I'm Not Ready" (#16 Hot 100).

Rebirth era: 2000

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 managed to make it to the Top 40. They were moderate hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his ninth album, Rebirth . Only one single, "One on One," charted on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at #75 and at #44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. His next album due sometime in 2007 has fared better with its first single, "Love U Better (featuring Keyshia Cole)" being played on Urban radio stations for about a year before the albums' release. To this day, Sweat is still recognized as a great R&B artist who influenced a generation of singers. His songs remain popular in the "Quiet Storm" genre.

Personal life

Keith Sweat was once married to Real Housewives of Atlanta co-star Lisa Wu Hartwell, with whom he has two sons. He also has two daughters, Keyshia and Keia from a previous relationship. He named his record label, Keia Entertainment, after his daughter. Keith Sweat has been a single dad to all four of his children, as he has full custody of each.

Protegés

In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control , which hit #7 on the Billboard 200 album chart. The album's single "Freak Me" hit #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 the their biggest hit single "I Like", peaking to #8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

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 R&B group Xscape.

Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut Levert, Sweat, Gill in 1997. That album featured "My Body", which became a huge hit single. LSG was certified 2x Platinum and reached number four on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Discography

Studio Albums

Year	Album	Chart positions		RIAA Certification
		U.S.	U.S. R&B
1987	Make It Last Forever	15	1	3x Platinum (3,000,000+ copies sold)
1990	I'll Give All My Love to You	6	1	2x Platinum (2,000,000+ copies sold)
1991	Keep It Comin'	19	1	Platinum (1,000,000+ copies sold)
1994	Get Up on It	8	1	Platinum (1,000,000+ copies sold)
1996	Keith Sweat	5	1	4x Platinum (4,000,000+ copies sold)
1998	Still in the Game	6	2	Platinum (1,000,000+ copies sold)
2000	Didn't See Me Coming	16	5	Gold (500,000+ copies sold)
2002	Rebirth	14	7	N/A (300,024+ copies sold)
2008	Just Me	10	1	N/A (50,679+ copies sold)

Live Albums

Year	Album	Chart positions		RIAA Certification
		U.S.	U.S. R&B
2003	Keith Sweat Live	86	34	N/A (100,000+ copies sold)
2007	Sweat Hotel Live	-	-	N/A (? copies sold)

Compilation Albums

Year	Album	Chart positions		RIAA Certification
		U.S.	U.S. R&B
2004	The Best Of Keith Sweat	-	-	Gold (500,000+ copies sold)
2009	The Magnificent	-	-	N/A (? copies sold)

Singles

Year	Title	Chart Positions		Certification	Album
		US	US R&B
1987	"I Want Her"	5	1	Gold	Make It Last Forever
1988	"Something Just Ain't Right"	79	3
	"Make It Last Forever" (with Jacci McGhee)	59	2
	"Don't Stop Your Love"	—	9
1990	"Make You Sweat"	14	1	Gold	I'll Give All My Love To You
	"Merry Go Round"	—	2
	"I'll Give All My Love to You"	7	1
1991	"Your Love Part 2"	71	4
	"Keep It Comin'"	17	1		Keep It Comin'
1992	"Why Me Baby" (ft. LL Cool J)	44	2
	"I Want To Love You Down"	—	20
1994	"How Do You Like It" (ft. Left Eye)	48	9		Get Up On It
	"When I Give My Love"	85	21
	"Get Up On It" (with Kut Klose)	62	12
1996	"Twisted" (ft. Pretty Russ & Kut Klose)	2	1	Platinum	Keith Sweat
	"Nobody" (ft. Athena Cage)	3	1	Platinum
1997	"Just a Touch"	—	38^
	"Come With Me" (ft. Ronald Isley)	68	27
1998	"Come And Get With Me" (ft. Snoop Dogg)	12	6	Gold	Still In The Game
1999	"I'm Not Ready"	16	12
2000	"I'll Trade (A Million Bucks)" (ft. Lil' Mo)	—	36		Didn't See Me Coming
2001	"Real Man"	—	73
2002	"One on One"	—	44		Rebirth
2007	"Love U Better" (ft. Keyshia Cole)	—	—		Just Me
2008	"Suga Suga Suga" (ft. Paisley Bettis)	—	36

• ^ Airplay only

Production Credits

Year	Artist	Track	Album
1994	Men At Large	"Don't Cry"	One Size Fits All
1996	Dru Hill	"Love's Train"	Dru Hill
1996	Dru Hill	"Share My World"	Dru Hill
1996	The Isley Brothers	"Slow Is The Way"	Mission To Please
1997	Immature	"Extra Extra"	The Journey
1997	The O'Jays	"Baby You Know"	Love You To Tears
1998	Ol' Skool	"Am I Dreaming"	Ol' Skool

Awards and nominations

• American Music Awards
• *1998, Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist [Nominated]
• *1997, Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist (Winner)
• *1997, Favorite R&B/Soul Album: Keith Sweat (Nominated)
• *1991, Favorite R&B/Soul Male Artist (Nominated)

References