Editing Keith Sweat

{{Short description|American singer and songwriter (born 1961)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox musical artist  <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name              = Keith Sweat
| image             = LTG Vereen Hosts R&B singer Keith Sweat (1) (cropped).jpg
| caption           = Sweat in 2023
| birth_name        = 
| alias             =
| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|1961|7|22}}
| birth_place       = New York City, U.S.
| genre             = {{flatlist|
* [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
* [[new jack swing]]
* [[Hip hop music|hip hop]]
* [[Soul music|soul]]
* [[Urban contemporary|urban]]
}}
| occupations       = {{flatlist|
* [[Keith Sweat discography|Singer]]
* songwriter
* [[Keith Sweat discography#Production discography|record producer]] 
}}
| years_active      = 1975–present
| label             = {{flatlist|
* KEIA
* Stadium
* Vintertainment
* [[Elektra Records|Elektra]]
* [[Atco Records|Atco]]
* [[Rhino Records|Rhino]]
* [[Kedar Records|Kedar]]
* [[Entertainment One Music|E1]]
* [[RED Distribution|RED]]
* [[Sony Music Entertainment|Sony]]
}}
| past_member_of  = [[LSG (band)|LSG]]
{{Infobox person 
| child = yes
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Lisa Wu]]|1992|2002|reason=div}}
| children = 6
| website             = {{URL|thesweathotel.com}}
}}
}}
'''Keith Sweat''' (born July 22, 1961) is an American singer, producer and songwriter. An early figure in the [[new jack swing]] musical movement, he is known for his collection of hits including "[[I Want Her]]," "[[Make It Last Forever (song)|Make It Last Forever]]," "[[I'll Give All My Love to You (song)|I'll Give All My Love to You]]," "[[Make You Sweat]]," "[[Get Up on It (song)|Get Up on It]]," "[[Twisted (Keith Sweat song)|Twisted]]," [[Nobody (Keith Sweat song)|"Nobody."]] He has released 13 solo albums (two as a part of the R&B [[Supergroup (music)|supergroup]] [[LSG (band)|LSG]]) and discovered the groups [[Silk (group)|Silk]] and [[Kut Klose]].  Sweat's sound reportedly was influenced by [[Slave (band)|Slave]] front man [[Steve Arrington]] and [[Go-go|go-go music]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Johnson |first=Connie |date=1988-03-20 |title=Keith Sweat: From Stock Market to Pop Market |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-03-20-ca-2405-story.html |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

==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" />

== Career ==
===1975–1984: Career beginnings with Jamilah===
Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called Jamilah in 1975.<ref name="about">{{cite web|url=http://keithsweat.com/about/|title=About|work=KeithSweat.com|access-date=February 27, 2017}}</ref> 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 (state)|New York]], [[New Jersey]], and [[Connecticut]]. The group was started by bassist Larry Peoples, guitarist Michael Samuels, and drummer Walter Bradley.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Keith Sweat |url=https://iflyer.tv/en/artist/53983/about/ |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=iFLYER}}</ref>

After leaving the group in 1984 to begin a solo career, Sweat sang at [[nightclub]]s throughout New York City and landed a chance to record for the [[Independent record label|independent label]], Stadium Records. Sweat recorded only two tunes for Stadium, "Lucky Seven" and "My Mind Is Made Up," which was their third and fourth ever release, but on Stadium's first release, he is credited as co-writer and co-producer of "You Are the One for Me," the last recording ever made by the group [[GQ (band)|GQ]]. One of GQ's original members is his uncle, Keith "Sabu" Crier.<ref>{{cite news| url = http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/keith-sabu-crier-bass-player-disco-group-gq-dead-58-article-1.1473158|title= Keith 'Sabu' Crier, bass player for disco group GQ, dead at 58|author= David Hinckley |newspaper= [[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |date = October 1, 2013}}</ref>

===1987–1989: ''Make It Last Forever'' and New Jack Swing===
Later in 1987, Keith Sweat was discovered by Vincent Davis and offered a recording contract with his label, Vintertainment Records, which was founded in 1983 on the foundations of early [[Hip hop music|Hip-Hop]] and otherwise best known for releasing Joeski Love's "Pee Wee's Dance" in 1985. Vintertainment was distributed by [[Elektra Records]] from 1985 until it ceased operations in 1990.

While crafting his debut album, Sweat pursued fellow Harlem resident [[Teddy Riley]], who, at this time, was better known for writing for and producing hip-hop artists.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title='We Gave R&B a New Lifeline': How Teddy Riley Invented New Jack Swing (Demo) |url=https://www.nmaam.org/latest-news/posts/we-gave-rb-a-new-lifeline-how-teddy-riley-invented-new-jack-swing |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=nmaam.org |language=en-us}}</ref> According to Riley, he already had the beats prepared for "[[I Want Her]]" and "Make It Last Forever," along with all of the background vocals for "I Want Her."<ref name=":0" /> Riley had no intention of producing R&B music, and he also encouraged Sweat to sing in what would become his trademark nasal sound to distinguish his voice from other artists.<ref name=":0" /> Riley noted that Sweat's songwriting style also was unique as he composed lyrics instantly while listening to the track, as he did for the single, "Make It Last Forever."<ref name=":0" />

On November 24, 1987, Sweat released ''[[Make It Last Forever (album)|Make It Last Forever]]'', which sold three million copies. He and Riley co-wrote six songs, and the biggest hit  inaugurated the new jack swing era, "[[I Want Her]]"<ref>{{cite web|url=http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1988|title=Billboard Top 100 – 1988| access-date=24 January 2022}}</ref> (No. 1 R&B & No. 5 Pop), which was nominated for the [[1989 Soul Train Music Awards|1989 Soul Train]] Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year award, while [[Make It Last Forever (song)|the title track]] from the album hit No. 2 on the [[R&B charts]].

=== 1990-1991: ''I'll Give All My Love to You'', and ''Keep It Comin'' ===
Sweat reached the charts again with his second album ''[[I'll Give All My Love to You]]'' (1990) which hit No. 6 on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] chart. He released his third album, ''[[Keep It Comin']]'' in 1991, which debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. He produced soul singer Omar Chandler.

===1992–2001: ''Get Up on It'', Keith Sweat/LSG ===
In 1992, Sweat discovered the group [[Silk (group)|Silk]], and helped craft their debut album, ''[[Lose Control (album)|Lose Control]]'', which hit No. 7 on the ''Billboard'' 200 album chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/silk/chart-history/tlp/|title=Silk Chart History > Billboard 200|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]| access-date=22 January 2022}}</ref>

The album's single "[[Freak Me]]" hit No. 1 on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]] on May 1, 1993. In 1993, Sweat discovered the Atlanta-based female R&B group [[Kut Klose]]. Sweat also produced the group's debut album ''Surrender'', which produced their biggest hit single "[[I Like (Kut Klose song)|I Like]]", peaking to No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

Sweat released his fourth album ''[[Get Up on It]]'' in the summer of 1994, and his [[Keith Sweat (album)|self-titled fifth album]] in 1996. Both albums reached the top ten on the ''Billboard'' 200. The single co/produced and written by Eric McCaine "[[Twisted (Keith Sweat song)|Twisted]]" featuring R&B group Kut Klose hit No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and "[[Nobody (Keith Sweat song)|Nobody]]" hit No. 3, which made them Sweat's biggest hits to date. "Just A Touch" was a cover of the 1979 song "Just a Touch of Love" by [[Slave (band)|Slave]]. He produced for R&B group [[Dru Hill]] in 1996.

In the fall of 1997, Sweat discovered the group [[Ol' Skool]] and helped with their self-titled debut. He was on their biggest single, "Am I Dreaming", which featured the R&B group [[Xscape (band)|Xscape]]. Sweat also formed the R&B [[Supergroup (bands)|supergroup]] [[LSG (band)|LSG]] with [[Gerald Levert]] and [[Johnny Gill]], and released their self-titled debut album ''[[Levert.Sweat.Gill]]'' in 1997.<ref>{{cite magazine|url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=lsg|chart=Billboard 200}}|title=LSG Album & Song Chart History - Billboard 200|magazine=Billboard |publisher=Prometheus Global Media| access-date=27 January 2022}}</ref> That album featured "[[My Body (LSG song)|My Body]]", which became a hit single. The album was certified double platinum and reached No. 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200.

Sweat's sixth album, ''[[Still in the Game]]'' was released in 1998, hitting No. 6 on the ''Billboard'' 200, and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It featured the singles "Come and Get With Me" (which featured rapper [[Snoop Dogg]]) (No. 12 Hot 100) and "[[I'm Not Ready (Keith Sweat song)|I'm Not Ready]]" (No. 16 Hot 100). 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 from the album reached the top forty.

===2002–present: ''Rebirth, Just Me, Ridin Solo'', and ''Til the Morning''===
[[File:Keith Sweat.jpg|thumb|Sweat performing in 2009]]
On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his eighth album, ''[[Rebirth (Keith Sweat album)|Rebirth]]''. The single "One on One" reached No. 75 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and No. 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. His 2008 album ''[[Just Me (Keith Sweat album)|Just Me]]'' included the single, "Love U Better (featuring [[Keyshia Cole]])". Sweat is currently signed to [[Kedar Records]] and released his tenth studio album entitled ''Ridin' Solo'' on June 22, 2010. The lead single taken from the album is "Test Drive" and featured label-mate [[Joe (singer)|Joe]]. 

Since 2007, Sweat has been the host of ''The Keith Sweat Hotel'' —a nationally syndicated radio program with [[Premiere Networks]] based upon the [[Quiet storm]] format.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Clear Channel Chicago intros new evening programs on two urban outlets |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2014/04/07/clear-channel-chicago-intros-new-evening-programs.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210517161144/https://www.bizjournals.com/chicago/news/2014/04/07/clear-channel-chicago-intros-new-evening-programs.html |archive-date=May 17, 2021 |access-date=April 20, 2019 |website=Chicago Business Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=September 6, 2018 |title=A Champion, a Critic, a Therapist: Dyana Williams Is Hip-Hop's Artist Whisperer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/06/arts/music/dyana-williams-hip-hop-media-trainer.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420053314/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/06/arts/music/dyana-williams-hip-hop-media-trainer.html |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Caramanica |first=Jon |date=August 7, 2009 |title=K'Jon, Maxwell and More Offer a Newly Mature Soul Music |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/arts/music/08soul.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420053311/https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/08/arts/music/08soul.html |archive-date=April 20, 2019 |access-date=April 20, 2019 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
From 1992 until 2002, Sweat was married to ''[[The Real Housewives of Atlanta]]'' star [[Lisa Wu|Lisa Wu Hartwell]]. With her, he had two sons, born in 1995 and 1998.<ref name="findarticles.com" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#49001|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|title=Real Housewives of Atlanta: Ed and Lisa Wu Hartwell|work=Essence|access-date=March 9, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222065618/http://photos.essence.com/galleries/real_housewives_of_atlanta_lisa#48972|archive-date=December 22, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

He also has three daughters, one with Tracy J. He also has a son named Joshua.<ref name="findarticles.com">{{cite web|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_22_113/ai_n27496996 |title=CBSi |via=Find Articles |access-date=June 26, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120614235738/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1355/is_22_113/ai_n27496996/ |archive-date=June 14, 2012 }}</ref>

==Discography==
{{Main|Keith Sweat discography}}

;Studio albums
* ''[[Make It Last Forever (album)|Make It Last Forever]]'' (1987)
* ''[[I'll Give All My Love to You]]'' (1990)
* ''[[Keep It Comin']]'' (1991)
* ''[[Get Up on It]]'' (1994)
* ''[[Keith Sweat (album)|Keith Sweat]]'' (1996)
* ''[[Still in the Game]]'' (1998)
* ''[[Didn't See Me Coming]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Rebirth (Keith Sweat album)|Rebirth]]'' (2002)
* ''[[A Christmas of Love]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Just Me (Keith Sweat album)|Just Me]]'' (2008)
* ''[[Ridin' Solo (album)|Ridin' Solo]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Til the Morning]]'' (2011)
* ''[[Dress to Impress (album)|Dress to Impress]]'' (2016)
* ''[[Playing for Keeps (Keith Sweat album)|Playing for Keeps]]'' (2018)

;Collaboration albums
*''[[Levert.Sweat.Gill]]'' (1997) 
*''[[LSG2]]'' (2003)

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin–right: 0;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1991
| ''[[New Jack City]]''
| Singer at Wedding
| 
|-
| 2000
| ''Rhapsody''
| Will
| TV movie
|-
| 2006
| ''Forbidden Fruits''
| Terrence
| Video
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Pastor Brown]]''
| Nasim
| 
|-
| 2018
| ''Love Magical''
| Delonte Skywalker
| 
|-
| 2021
| ''[[For the Love of Money (2021 film)|For the Love of Money]]'' 
| Chris
| 
|-
| 2023
| ''You're Not Alone'' 
| Johnson
| 
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="margin–right: 0;"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
| 1988
| ''[[Showtime at the Apollo]]''
| Himself/Guest Host
| Episode: "Episode #2.10"
|-
| 1994
| ''[[New York Undercover]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Mate"
|-
|rowspan=2| 1997
| ''[[Martin (TV series)|Martin]]'' 
| Det. Carl Johnson
| Episode: "Stake-Out"
|-
| ''[[The Wayans Bros.]]''
| Himself
| Guest Cast: Seasons 3-4
|-
| 2011
| ''[[The Game (2006 TV series)|The Game]]''
| Himself
| Episode: "Death Becomes Her"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Hell's Kitchen (American TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]''
| Himself/Restaurant Patron
| Episode: "Raising the Bar"
|}

==Awards and nominations==
*[[American Music Awards]]
**1991: Favorite R&B/Soul Male Artist (nominated)
**1997: Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist ('''winner''')
**1997: Favorite R&B/Soul Album for ''Keith Sweat'' (nominated)
**1998: Favorite Male R&B/Soul Artist (nominated)
**2013: ''Soul Train'' Lifetime Achievement Award

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{official website|http://keithsweat.com/}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20020607040109/http://www.vh1.com/artists/az/sweat_keith/artist.jhtml Keith Sweat] artist page at [[VH1]].com
* [{{AllMusic|class=artist|id=p5573|pure_url=yes}} Keith Sweat] artist page at [[AllMusic]]
* {{IMDb name|0842038}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110716113052/http://soulrnb.com/communaute/groups/viewgroup/111-Keith+Sweat Keith Sweat's 'SoulRnB.com' group] (videos, photos, discussions, etc.) {{in lang|fr}}
* [http://www.soulinterviews.com/keith-sweat-2010/ Keith Sweat 2010 Audio Interview at Soulinterviews.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120702070240/http://www.soulinterviews.com/keith-sweat-2010/ |date=July 2, 2012 }}

{{Keith Sweat}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist}}
{{Silk}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sweat, Keith}}
[[Category:1961 births]]
[[Category:African-American record producers]]
[[Category:Record producers from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Singers from New York City]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Singers from Atlanta]]
[[Category:Musicians from Manhattan]]
[[Category:People from Harlem]]
[[Category:Atco Records artists]]
[[Category:Songwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:American contemporary R&B singers]]
[[Category:LSG (band) members]]
[[Category:African-American male songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century American male singers]]
[[Category:New jack swing musicians]]