Jodeci

Jodeci is an American R&B quartet formed in 1988 in Charlotte, North Carolina. The group initially consisted of DeVanté Swing and JoJo, who later added their brothers, Mr. Dalvin and K-Ci, respectively. Their early careers were rooted in gospel music, with K-Ci and JoJo performing as Little Cedric & the Hailey Singers, releasing three gospel albums: ‘Jesus Saves’, ‘I’m Alright Now’, and ‘God’s Blessings’. DeVanté Swing and Mr. Dalvin were involved with the gospel group Degrate Delegation. The members, after leaving their religious upbringings to pursue secular music, eventually formed Jodeci, a name derived from the first letters of their names: Jo (JoJo), De (DeVanté), and Ci (K-Ci), with Dalvin joining later. Their breakthrough came after a persistent trip to New York City with a 29-song demo tape, leading to a signing with Uptown Records in 1990.

After signing with Uptown Records, Jodeci quickly gained traction, releasing their debut album ‘Forever My Lady’ in 1991. This album catapulted them to mainstream success, featuring R&B No. 1 hit singles like the title track, “Stay,” and “Come and Talk to Me.” The album’s distinctive sound, blending old-fashioned soul with New Jack Swing, was largely attributed to DeVanté’s production, and it went on to sell over three million copies. Their subsequent albums, ‘Diary of a Mad Band’ (1993) and ‘The Show, the After Party, the Hotel’ (1995), continued their critical and commercial achievements, producing additional Billboard hit singles such as “Cry for You,” “Feenin’,” “Freek’n You,” “Love U 4 Life,” and “Get On Up.” Each of these albums achieved platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), solidifying Jodeci’s status as innovators in R&B.

In 1996, the group announced a hiatus, leading K-Ci & JoJo to pursue a successful duo career, releasing five albums. Despite the hiatus, Jodeci continued to work on music together and eventually reunited in 2014, performing at the Soul Train Awards and subsequently releasing a new single, “Nobody Wins,” their first in 18 years. In January 2015, they released “Every Moment” and announced their signing with Epic Records for their fourth studio album, ‘The Past, the Present, the Future,’ which was released in March 2015, marking their first album in two decades. Jodeci has sold over 20 million records globally and is recognized as one of the most influential and best R&B groups of the 1990s, acclaimed for their unique style and impact on the genre.