Editing Keith Sweat (section)

==Early life==
Sweat was born in [[Harlem]], [[New York City]] to Juanita Thompson, a [[hairdresser]], and Charles Crier, a factory worker. After Charles Crier's passing in 1973, Juanita raised their five kids by herself.<ref name="People 1988">{{cite magazine |url=http://people.com/archive/keith-sweat-takes-stock-of-his-talent-and-puts-wall-street-behind-him-vol-30-no-13/ |title=Keith Sweat Takes Stock of His Talent and Puts Wall Street Behind Him |last1=Dougherty |first1=Steve |last2=Little |first2=Benilde |magazine=People Weekly |date=September 26, 1988 |page=115 |volume=30 |number=13 }}</ref> As a youth, Sweat performed at the famous [[Apollo Theater]], which was near his home.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 4, 2011 |title=Harlem-born R&B singer and radio host Keith Sweat releases new album |url=https://welcometoharlem.com/harlem-born-rb-singer-and-radio-host-keith-sweat-releases-new-album/ |access-date=October 15, 2024 |website=Welcome to Harlem |language=en }}</ref>

Before releasing his solo album, Sweat worked as a night stock worker at [[Macy's]] Department Store, and then a mail room clerk at [[Paine Webber]], a [[brokerage firm]]. Additionally, he earned a degree in communications from [[City College of New York]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keith Sweat |url=https://www.wlatalent.com/keith-sweat |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=WLA Talent Agency |language=en-US}}</ref>  “I think everyone should have an alternative plan. In my case, I went to the City College of New York and got my degree in communications. So I had a backup plan so that I didn’t lose out on a decent future,” Sweat once said.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-13 |title=Keith Sweat shares thoughts on success |url=https://www.phillytrib.com/entertainment/keith-sweat-shares-thoughts-on-success/article_c072abb7-4dac-5c7c-8056-939c4b75ef8b.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=The Philadelphia Tribune |language=en}}</ref>

Within just four years, he worked his way up to a lucrative brokerage assistant job on the floor of the [[New York Stock Exchange]].<ref name="People 1997">{{citation|url=http://people.com/archive/for-love-and-money-vol-47-no-3/|title=For love and money|work=People Weekly|date=January 27, 1997|page=69|volume=47|number=3|author=Dougherty, Steve}}</ref> Sweat also worked as a supervisor for the [[New York Mercantile Exchange]].<ref name="People 1988" />