SWV

SWV
Also known as	Sisters with Voices
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genres	R&B
Years active	1990–1998, 2005–present
Labels	RCA/BMG Records
Associated acts	Teddy Riley, Brian Alexander Morgan, Allstar
Website	http://www.therealswv.com
Members
Cheryl "Coko" Clemons Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George Leanne "Lelee" Lyons

Sisters with Voices, better known as SWV, is an American female R&B trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group,^[1] SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You", and "You're the One". The group disbanded in 1998 to pursue solo projects, and reunited in 2005. SWV is currently ranked #100 on the Top 500 Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years at the website Rock on the Net.^[2]

History and early career

SWV (an abbreviation for Sisters With Voices) was formed by three friends: Cheryl Gamble, Tamara Johnson and Leanne Lyons (the group's founder).^[3] SWV got its start after the three friends sent a five song demo to record labels in the United States. Soon after, they were signed to a record deal with RCA Records in 1992 after producer Teddy Riley, a former member of Guy, heard the demo. With Riley's help, the group's 1992 debut album, It's About Time, went triple platinum and produced several Top Ten hits.^[4]

SWV's first single, "Right Here", was released in the fall of 1992, reaching #16 on the R&B charts. Their second single, "I'm So Into You," peaked at #2 on R&B and reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The third single, "Weak", reached #1 on both the R&B and Hot 100 charts. "Right Here/Human Nature," the fourth single and a remix of their first single, "Right Here", featured samples of Michael Jackson's hit "Human Nature." "Right Here/Human Nature" peaked at #1 on R&B and #2 on the Hot 100. It was followed up with the additional Top10 R&B hits, "Downtown" (#2), and "Always On My Mind" (#8).^[4][5]

Following the success of their first album, SWV appeared on the soundtrack for the 1994 film Above the Rim. The single, "Anything", became a Top Ten R&B hit and reached #18 on the Hot 100 in the spring of 1994. That same year, 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 1995, SWV recorded New Beginning, which was released in 1996 and led by the #1 R&B (and #5 Hot 100) hit "You're the One"^[5] The second single "Use Your Heart" was the first ever credited to the production team The Neptunes. Also, in 1995 SWV appeared on the Waiting to Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album, recording the track, "All Night Long".

1997 saw the release SWV's third album, Release Some Tension as well as A Special Christmas a month later in 1997, the group's last studio album. Shortly after the release of A Special Christmas, SWV parted ways to pursue various solo projects.^[4]

2005 – present

In 2005, SWV reunited and announced plans to record a new album the following year^[4] (the album has not materialized). In 2007, the group performed dates with After 7, Bobby Brown, New Edition, and Blackstreet.^[6]

In 2007, Johnson-George appeared in the TV One reality series I Married a Baller which documented her life with husband Eddie George, former NFL player and present Nashville entrepreneur.^[7] SWV members Coko and Lelee (who sing the theme song along with Taj) appear in a couple of the show's episodes.

On June 24, 2008, SWV made a special appearance at the BET Awards of 2008, performing "Weak" with Alicia Keys. They also sang the chorus to TLC's "Waterfalls". Coko currently resides in Virginia Beach, Lelee in Atlanta and Taj in Nashville.^{[citation needed]}.

Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George was a contestant on Survivor: Tocantins, in which she came in fourth place. She was blindsided by her former alliance of James "J.T." Thomas, Jr. and Stephen Fishbach. She became the sixth Jury Member.^[8] She participated in a 2009 national tour of the Vagina Monologues with an all-black cast, most of whom are also former reality show contestants.^[9]

SWV appeared on The Mo'Nique Show on February 2, 2010, performing Patti LaBelle's "If Only You Knew". Lelee and Coko provided the lead vocals.

SWV wrote a blog called "We're Back & We're Ready to Make You Weak Again" in which they disclosed what each member has been doing since the last SWV album.^[10] LeLee also wrote a blog for globalgrind.com called "Where Did That Real R&B Music Go?"^[11] SWV have confirmed they are currently in the studio recording their fourth studio album for a 2011 release. No album name has been selected but they have been working with hit producers Jazze Phae and Kwame.

As of 2011 SWV has recently signed a record deal with Mass Appeal Entertainment and E1 Entertainment. Plans of releasing an album before the end of the summer with a reality show in the works detailing the creation, the break up and the reuniting of the group is planned.

On June 10, 2011 SWV was featured on the official remix of Chris Brown's remake of their Right Here/Human Nature song, "She Ain't You".

SWV will be releasing their first single "CoSign" at the end of November 2011 off their yet untilted album to be released in early 2012.

Personnel

• Cheryl "Coko" Clemons - born June 13, 1970, New York, NY
• Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George - born April 29, 1971, New York, NY
• Leanne "Lelee" Lyons - born July 17, 1973, New York, NY

Discography

Further information: SWV discography

Studio albums 1992: It's About Time 1996: New Beginning 1997: Release Some Tension 1997: A Special Christmas 2011: TBA Extended plays 1994 The Remixes

Compilation albums

• 1999: Greatest Hits (RCA)
• 1999: Greatest Hits (Simitar)
• 2001: Best of SWV
• 2003: Platinum & Gold Collection
• 2004: The Encore Collection

Tours

• Weak (1993, UK)
• SWV World Tour (1996, USA, Europe, South Africa, Asia, New Zealand)
• Sistaz Only (1997)
• Release The Tension (1997, USA)
• New Jack Swing Tour (2005, USA, Canada)
• Billboard Live Tour (June 16–21, 2008 Japan)
• Billboard Live Tour (January 12–13, 2009 Japan)
• SWV and Faith Evans (December 5–10, 2010 United Kingdom)

Opening Acts

SWV featured a number of successful female groups as opening acts throughout their various touring engagements. Those groups included such contemporaries as Xscape, Jade, Total, 702, and Destiny's Child.^{[citation needed]}

Awards and nominations

Year	Result	Award	Category
1993	Nominated	American Music Award	Favorite New Artist - Pop/Rock
1993	Nominated		Favorite Band, Duo or Group - Soul/Rhythm & Blues
1993	Nominated		Favorite Album - Soul/Rhythm & Blues for It's About Time
1993	Nominated		Favorite New Artist - Soul / Rhythm & Blues
1993	Win	Kids Choice Awards	Female Group Of The Decade
1993	Win	Billboard Music Award	Top Hot 100 Singles Artists - Duos/Group
1993	Win		Top R&B Artists - Duos/Group
1993	Win		Top R&B Singles Artists - Duos/Group
1993	win'		Top Pop Artists - Duo/Group
1993	win		Top New Pop Artist
1993	win		Top Hot 100 Singles Artist
1993	Win		Top Hot 100 Airplay Track for "Weak"
1993	Win		Top R&B Artist
1993	Nominated		Top New R&B Artist
1993	Nominated		Top R&B Album Artists - Duos/Group
1993	Nominated		Top R&B Singles Artist
1994	Nominated		Top R&B Singles Artists - Duos/Group
1994	Nominated		Top R&B Artists - Duos/Group
1997	Nominated	Soul Train Lady of Soul Award	Best R&B Soul single by a Group, Band, or Duo
1997	Nominated	Soul Train Lady of Soul Award	Best Soul/R&B album by a Group, Band or Duo
1998	Nominated	Soul Train Lady of Soul Award	Best Soul/R&B album by a Group, Band or Duo
1998	Nominated	Soul Train Lady of Soul Award	Best Soul/R&B single by a Group, Band or Duo
1994	Nominated	Grammy Award	Best New Artist

See also

• List of best selling music artists
• Top Heatseekers
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (United States)
• List of performers on Top of the Pops
• Girl Group

References

1. ^ SWV Online
2. ^ "Top Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years: 51-100". Rockonthenet.com. http://www.rockonthenet.com/archive/2004/toppop2.htm. 
3. ^ "All about Leanne "Lelee" Lyons". http://www.swvonline.com/lelee.htm. "With her love for singing, and sparse support from her family as motivation, Lelee's desires to put together a group were fueled. Lelee was initially responsible for putting SWV together, but success did not come easily." 
4. ^ ^{a b c d} "SWV Biography". mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/swv/artist.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-08-01. 
5. ^ ^{a b} "SWV: Billboard chart history". billboard.com. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?JSESSIONID=9nR7LDJQmWTwwQKk8ZphSlVPbGGVp9mhBGNDT9xmh7yMdL9g1qDm!1389172043&model.vnuArtistId=22544&model.vnuAlbumId=375556. 
6. ^ Murray, Jawn (2007-04-02). "Candidly Coko". blackvoices.com. http://www.blackvoices.com/black_entertainment/bvbuzzcanvas/_a/april-2-2007/20070402143709990001. Retrieved 2008-07-20. 
7. ^ [1] TV One Original Shows - I Married a Baller
8. ^ "Brazilian Wacks". TV Guide. 2009-01-13. pp. 40–41. 
9. ^ "Reality Stars Will Perform in the Vagina Monologues". Reality Blurred. February 5, 2009. http://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/archives/related_news/2009_Feb_05_vagina_monologues. 
10. ^ "We're Back & We're Ready to Make You Weak Again". 2010-03-10. http://globalgrind.com/channel/music/content/1453630/Were-Back-Were-Ready-to-Make-You-Weak-Again/. 
11. ^ "Where Did That Real R&B Music Go?". 2010-03-17. http://globalgrind.com/channel/culture/content/1467426/EXCLUSIVE-Where-Did-That-Real-RB-Music-Go/. 

External links

• SWV at the Internet Movie Database
• SWV at Allmusic
• SWV Online