• Improve this Archive
• View Archive
• Add Comment
• Guestbook
• Images
• Family
• Tell a Friend

Keith Crier (born July 22, 1961 in Harlem, New York), better known as Keith Sweat, 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.

Music career

Make It Last Forever era: 1985-1993

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 Peebles, 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 and Kenneth Varner, 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 was 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.

Keith's third album Keep It Comin'(1991) didn't sell because Keith didn't promote the Album the single big singles were "There you go tellin me no " from New Jack City & "Why Me Baby" (featuring LL Cool J). 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 on the album and, although it didn't take off and become a top 3 hit like the two aforementioned songs, it has earned a more regular spot on radio playlists. "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. That would mean the people who were 30 or younger at the time of the Keith Sweat version may have thought of the song as a new pop tune. But the key demographic for pop music is under the age of 30 and in late 1996, early 1997, most of those people were likely unfamiliar with the original. Having two bona fide hits already on the album it seems like the name recognition would have helped "Just A Touch" do better on the music charts. Keith Sweat obviously liked what he did with the track. "I re-made a great Slave song on this one," he says. ""Just A Touch," which is one I've always wanted to do."

Rebirth era: 2000-Present

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, "How Deep Is Your Love" being played on Urban radio stations for about a year before the albums' release.

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 1995, 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.

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.

Produced For

Keith Sweat has produced song for artists such as
Johnny Kemp - Just Got Paid,
Guy - Lets Chill!,
Men At Large - Don't Cry,
Dru Hill - Love's Train,
Dru Hill - Share My World,
Immature - Extra, Extra,
Ol Skool - Am I Dreaming (feat. Xscape),
The Isley Brothers - Slow Is The Way,
The O'Jays ft Keith Sweat - Baby You Know,
Keyshia Cole ft. Keith Sweat - Good Lovin'
Uncle Ducker ft. Keith Sweat - He's Dark and I'm Yellow, but We Can Still Grind it Out Girl

Keith has written songs for various artists. He actually wrote some songs that Teddy Riley produced in the late 80's

Today

Keith Sweat has been as successful as an entrepreneur as he was as an artist, He has recorded and produced on a song by Keyshia Cole for her upcoming album Just Like You

On February 26, 2007, Keith Sweat launched his new R&B/slow jams radio show on 12 stations across America, including WMXD-Detroit, WMIB-Miami, WRBV "V-1017"-Macon and WKUS-Norfolk. Called the Keith Sweat Hotel, Sweat is broadcasting live from his Premiere Radio Networks studio in Atlanta, and will be playing a mélange of cuts from the '70s on through to today. http://thesweathotel.com/

Keith has new DVD out called the Sweat Hotel which a live concert.

Keith Sweat is explosive on Sweat Hotel Live, his first-ever live DVD! The R&B superstar, pioneer of new jack swing, reunites with other chart-topping R&B artists on this disc, including Teddy Riley, Charlie Wilson, Jackie McGhee, Silk, Lil' G, Kut Klose and Johnny Kemp. Special guest appearances are made by Monica, Akon, Da Brat and Athena Cage. With an array of talented entertainers on a single stage, Keith Sweat brings back the magic of some of the most memorable music recorded in R&B history on his first-ever live concert DVD. A companion CD of the same name is also available.

Keith also has a new studio recording due out by late November. He has a song on there with Lenny Williams.

Awards/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)

Discography

Albums

• Make It Last Forever (1987) RIAA Certification: 3xPlatinum
• I'll Give All My Love to You (1990) RIAA Certification: 2xPlatinum
• Keep It Comin' (1991)
• Get Up On It (1994) RIAA Certification: Platinum
• Keith Sweat (1996) RIAA Certification: 4xPlatinum
• Still in the Game (1998) RIAA Certification: Platinum
• Didn't See Me Coming (2000) RIAA Certification: Gold
• Rebirth (2002)
• Keith Sweat Live (2003)
• The Best Of Keith Sweat (2004) RIAA Certification: Gold*
• The Lengendary Keith Sweat (2003) (Unreleased)
• A Keith Sweat Christmas (2006)
• The Sweat Hotel (2007)

External links

• Keith Sweat homepage at Atlantic Records
• Keith Sweat artist page at VH1.com
• Keith Sweat artist page at All Music Guide

• [http://thesweathotel.com/

Humanarchives.org provides the Keith Sweat archive to help educate and promote humanity. 

Keith Sweat Archive References

Are there any errors in this archive? The information presented is as provided by a number of possible sources including: Wikipedia, NNDB, IMDB, Answers.com and the archive administrator - contact admin with any corrections or concerns.

Thank you for visiting humanarchives.org - click here to tell your friends and family about this website