Jodeci

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Biography

Jodeci (sometimes stylized as JoDeCi) is an United States|American Band (music)|band , whose repertoire includes Contemporary R& B|R& B , soul music , and new jack swing . The group consists of two pairs of brothers from Hampton, Virginia|Hampton , Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte , North Carolina : Cedric & Joel Hailey and Donald & Dalvin DeGrate, all respectively known by their stage names: K-Ci & Jojo , DeVante Swing and Dalvin DeGrate|Mr. Dalvin .
The group's name is a combination of the names from the three original members: Jo -Jo, De Vante, and K- Ci .

The group had a successful string of hit singles and platinum albums until the group went on hiatus after 1998. The Hailey brothers continued to perform together under the pseudonym K-Ci & JoJo , and had success on the pop charts beyond that of the original band. In 2009, the group rebanded for H-Town (band)|H-Town's song , "Knockin' Your Heels."

History

The Haileys meet the DeGrates and Uptown Records

Both from a Pentecostal background, the Haileys and DeGrates originally performed and recorded with both appearing on the locally produced "Charlotte's Furious Black Family Gospel Songs" compilation. They would eventually meet each other through their respective girlfriends.

DeVante traveled to Minneapolis, Minnesota when he was sixteen to audition for Prince (artist)|Prince's band, but was turned down. He then returned to Charlotte, North Carolina to record a song JoJo was performing. Soon, the two went to New York City to shop their demo tape s in hopes of getting signed. K-Ci and Dalvin both decided to tag along, and joined their respective brothers for the trip. Eventually, hip hop music|hip hop artist and record producer Heavy D heard one of the tapes and loved it. He talked Uptown Records CEO Andre Harrell into listening to the tape, who was impressed enough to sign the group.

The group was assigned to Uptown executive Sean "Puffy" Combs , who took on the task of developing the new act. He helped the group create its rough Hip hop music|hip-hop -based image. Jodeci were exposed to the public by singing background vocals on a number of singles by Father MC . K-Ci also contributed background vocals (alongside Uptown labelmates Terri Robinson and Tabitha Brace) on some tracks for Ralph Tresvant , produced by Kyle West, and Jasmine Guy 's solo debut album, produced by D.J Eddie F of Heavy D and The Boyz. Jodeci made their live performance debut on the June 11, 1991 episode of Soul Train , while their first television interview was on Black Entertainment Television|BET 's Video Soul a few months earlier.

Return

According to an October 2009 interview with Devante Swing, Jodeci is signed to what Swing feels is an unfavourable contract with record label Interscope. DeVante claims they are trying to get out of this contract. Swing also mentioned that he will be releasing a solo album in the near future.

Influences and followers

Most of the elements that were eventually combined to form what became known as the "Jodeci style" originated with the work of new jack swing pioneers Keith Sweat and Teddy Riley (new jack swing)|Teddy Riley , with an important influence being the work of Riley's three-man group Guy (music group)|Guy . Other influences which, while less obvious, were instrumental to their style, included the works of Bobby Womack , Stevie Wonder , The Temptations , Bobby Brown ,
and New Edition .

Artists and producers heavily influenced by Jodeci were those were directly or indirectly associated with them, including Mary J. Blige and a number of the members of DeVante's Swing Mob collective who he discovered and nutured: Missy Elliott , Timbaland , Nealante, Magoo (rapper)|Magoo , Ginuwine , Playa (band)|Playa (who R& B singer & producer Static Major was a part of with Smoke E. Digglera , Suga (who R& B act Tweet (singer)|Tweet was a part of), and Darryl Pearson .

The R& B group II D Extreme 's demo deal which led them to getting signed was in part responsible by DeVante, who was a friend of band member D'Extra Wiley . While hanging out in a hotel after a Jodeci show in Washington D.C. , D'Extra asked DeVante' to check out his new group, outfitted with Johnny Gill 's brother Randy. That impromptu audition for DeVante led them to New York and meeting with Devante's consultants and business partners who owned Savage records, and imprint on RCA records , then on to Gasoline Alley/MCA records.

Mariah Carey repeatedly mentions Jodeci in her song 'The Impossible'.

Jodeci's last manager was Damon "Smooth" Hart from Newark,New Jersey who is associated with their former manager Bert Padell.

Discography

Forever My Lady (1991)

Diary of a Mad Band (1993)

The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995)

Copyright Citations

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Jodeci Photo by: www.bbc.co.uk


1. Boyz II Men 2. Ginuwine 3. Mary J. Blige 4. Stevie Wonder 5. K Ci and JoJo 6. The Temptations 7. Sisqo 8. H-Town

Urban/R&B Music Artists