Intro

Intro is a name that echoes through the alleyways of 90s R&B, rooted in the hustle of Brooklyn and Queens. Formed in 1990, the trio—comprised of Jeff Sanders, Clinton “Buddy” Wike, and the soul-stirring lead singer Kenny Greene—caught the ear of DJ Eddie F, who guided them into the realms of Untouchables Entertainment and a lucrative deal with Atlantic Records by 1992. An acronym for “Innovative New Talent Reaching Out,” their name belied a mission to carve out a distinguished space in the music scene, which they seemed to accomplish with hits that rang out from the airwaves across America.

With two albums under their belts, “Intro” released in 1993 and “New Life” in 1995, they curated a sound that was unmistakably theirs. Singles like “Love Thang” and their cover of Stevie Wonder’s “Ribbon in the Sky” remain staples of their legacy. However, it’s the haunting decline of their lead singer, Kenny Greene, that casts a shadow over their narrative. Greene’s gifts were not only for Intro; he penned hits for artists like Mary J. Blige and was active in a broader musical network, until his battle with AIDS ended his life in 2001. There’s a melancholy that lingers in his last contributions, notably on Tyrese’s album, which feels like a whisper of promise unfulfilled.

After a hiatus that seemed to stretch infinitely from 1997, the duo that remains of Intro sought to reclaim their place in the spotlight, reuniting to perform and even release new music. Yet, the vitality of their past clashes with a changing music landscape. The announcement of Tao Soprano, formerly of Dru Hill, as the new lead singer hints at evolution but leaves one wondering—what of the essence of the original trio?

In a world that relentlessly wheel-spins on nostalgia, Intro carries within it threads of familiar melodies and echoes of lost voices. Perhaps they symbolize a deeper longing, a quest to bridge yesterday’s dreams with today’s realities, navigating through a music industry’s vast and tempestuous seas—all while grappling with the weight of their history. It seems there is still a story to be told, even amidst the shifts of personnel and sound.