SWV

Biography

SWV, an acronym for Sisters with Voices, is an American R&B vocal trio formed in New York City in 1988. The group originally began as a gospel ensemble, with founding members Cheryl 'Coko' Gamble and Leanne 'Lelee' Lyons, later joined by Tamara 'Taj' Johnson. Their early dedication to crafting a unique sound and relentless pursuit of a record deal—famously sending demo tapes with bottles of Perrier to catch attention—led to their signing with RCA Records in 1991. Their debut album, 'It's About Time' (1992), became a commercial breakthrough, producing a string of top ten R&B hits such as 'Weak,' 'Right Here (Human Nature Remix),' 'I'm So into You,' and 'You're Always on My Mind.' SWV's music blended new jack swing and R&B, characterized by lush harmonies and dynamic vocal performances, quickly establishing them as one of the most successful girl groups of the 1990s.

After a hiatus from 1998 to 2005, during which members pursued solo projects, SWV reunited and continued to perform and record, maintaining their legacy as influential figures in R&B. Their subsequent albums, including 'New Beginning' (1996) and 'Release Some Tension' (1997), featured collaborations with notable producers and artists, further cementing their impact on the genre. With over 25 million records sold worldwide, SWV is recognized as one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, known for their enduring influence and contributions to the evolution of R&B music.

Fun Facts

• SWV's manager sent demo tapes to record companies along with bottles of Perrier water to stand out, as they couldn't afford champagne.
• Their hit 'Right Here (Human Nature Remix)' samples Michael Jackson's 'Human Nature,' produced by Teddy Riley.
• SWV disbanded in 1998 to pursue solo projects but reunited in 2005, continuing to perform and record music.
• The group has sold over 25 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.

Members

• Coko - original, soprano vocals
• Tamara “Taj” Johnson‐George - mezzo-soprano vocals, original
• Leanne Lyons - alto vocals, original

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Teddy Riley - Mentored the group in honing their craft and sound, producing key tracks (Right Here (Human Nature Remix), Human Nature) [1992–1993]

Key Collaborators

• Cheryl 'Coko' Gamble - Lead vocalist and founding member (All SWV albums) [1988–1998, 2005–present]
• Tamara 'Taj' Johnson-George - Vocalist and founding member (All SWV albums) [1988–1998, 2005–present]
• Leanne 'Lelee' Lyons - Vocalist and founding member (All SWV albums) [1988–1998, 2005–present]
• Sean 'Puffy' Combs - Featured artist and producer on 'Someone' (Release Some Tension) [1997]
• Redman - Rap collaborator on 'Lose My Cool' (Release Some Tension) [1997]
• Missy Elliott - Featured artist on 'Can We' (Release Some Tension) [1997]

Artists Influenced

• Xscape - Contemporary R&B girl group influenced by SWV's harmonies and style (Various R&B albums) [1990s–present]
• 702 - R&B girl group inspired by SWV's success and musical approach (Various R&B albums) [1990s–present]
• Kut Klose - R&B group influenced by SWV's vocal arrangements (Various R&B albums) [1990s–present]

Discography

Albums

Top Tracks

1. Weak (It's About Time)
2. Use Your Heart - Interlude (New Beginning)
3. Rain (Release Some Tension)
4. Right Here - Human Nature Radio Mix (It's About Time)
5. I'm So Into You (It's About Time)
6. Use Your Heart (New Beginning)
7. You're the One (New Beginning)
8. Right Here - Human Nature Radio Mix
9. Can We (feat. Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott) (Release Some Tension)
10. Anything (It's About Time)

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia
• MusicBrainz

Tags: #contemporary-r&b, #hip-hop-soul, #new-jack-swing