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SWV
SWV group members Cheryl "Coko" Clemons (left), Leanne "Lelee" Lyons (middle), and Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George (right)
Background information
Also known as	Sisters with Voices
Origin	New York City, New York, United States
Genres	R&B, new jack swing, hip hop soul, pop, dance
Years active	1990–1998 2005–present
Labels	RCA 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/pop trio from New York. Formed in 1990 as a gospel group,^[1] SWV had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here/Human Nature", "I'm So Into You". The group disbanded in 1999 to pursue solo projects, and reunited in 2005. SWV is currently ranked #100 on the Top 500 Pop Artists of the Past 25 Years.^[2].

History and early career

SWV (an acronym 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]

1997 saw the release of 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] In 2007, the group performed dates with After 7, Bobby Brown, New Edition, and Blackstreet.^[6]

In 2007, Taj 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 currently resides in Atlanta and Taj currently resides in Nashville.^{[citation needed]}.

Tamara "Taj" Johnson-George was a contestant on Survivor: Tocantins. 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 will participate 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, February 2, 2010, performing Patti LaBelle's If Only You Knew. Lelee and Coko provided the lead vocals.

Discography

Compilations

• 1998: Greatest Hits (RCA) (European Release)
• 1999: Greatest Hits (Simitar)
• 2001: Best of SWV
• 2003: Platinum and 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 - January13, 2009 Japan)

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

See also

• List of best selling music artists
• List of best selling female R&B groups
• 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

External links

• SWV at the Internet Movie Database
• SWV at TV.com
• SWV at MySpace
• SWV at Allmusic
• SWV Online
• SWV official tour 2007
• SWV performing April 2008