Tamara Johnson

Infobox musical artist <

Name = Tamara "Taj" Johnson George
Origin = New York City, New York, United States
Alias = Taj
Background = group_or_band
Genre = R&B, New jack swing, Hip hop soul, Pop, Dance
Years_active = SWV1990 &ndash; 1998
2007;present
Label = RCASWV
Associated_acts = Teddy Riley, Brian Alexander Morgan, The Neptunes, Michael Jackson, New Edition, Diddy, Missy Elliott, Timbaland, Prince, New Edition
URL = http://www.SWVOnline.com
Current_members = Cheryl "Coko" Clemons
Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George
Leanne "Lelee" Lyons

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. In 1991 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." During The Fall 1995, SWV returned with "New Beginning", which was preceded by the number one R&B hit " [You're the One (song)|Use Your Heart] (song)." "Release Some Tension" followed in 1997,Top Charts Someone , Can We ,Come & Get Some ,When U Cry Sampled Tyrone Davis In The Mood & Rain Remixed In 2007 By Sam Cuddy

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, 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. On June 24th, 2008, SWV made a special appearance at the BET Awards of 2008, performing Weak with Alicia Keys. They also sung the chorus to TLC's Waterfalls.