Keith Sweat was born in Harlem, New York City, to Juanita Thompson, a hairdresser, and Charles Sweat, a factory worker. After Charles Sweat's passing in 1973, Juanita raised their five kids by herself. He worked as a night stock boy at Macy's Department Store, and then a mail room clerk at Paine Webber, a brokerage firm. In just four years he worked his way up to a lucrative brokerage assistant job on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.[2] Sweat also worked as a supervisor for the New York Mercantile Exchange.[1]
Sweat started his musical career as a member of a Harlem band called Jamilah in 1975.[3] 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, New Jersey and Connecticut. The group was started by bassist Larry Peoples, guitarist Michael Samuels, and drummer Walter Bradley.[citation needed]
After leaving the group in 1984 to begin a solo career, he sang at nightclubs throughout New York City and landed a chance to record for the 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. One of GQ's original members is his uncle, Keith "Sabu" Crier.
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 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. On November 24, 1987, Sweat released his debut solo studio album Make It Last Forever, which sold three million copies. The biggest hit from this album was the song that inaugurated the new jack swing era "I Want Her"[5] (No. 1 R&B & No. 5 Pop), which was nominated for the 1989 Soul Train Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Song of the Year award, while the title track from the album hit No. 2 on the R&B charts. 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 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.
In 1992, Sweat discovered the group Silk, and helped craft their debut album, Lose Control, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album chart.[6]
The album's single "Freak Me" hit No. 1 on the 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", 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 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" featuring R&B group Kut Klose hit No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and "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. He produced 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. Sweat also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and released their self-titled debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill in 1997.[7] That album featured "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 Snoop Dogg) (No. 12 Hot 100) and "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.
On August 13, 2002, Keith Sweat released his eighth 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 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. Since 2007, Sweat has been the host of a nationally syndicated radio program based upon the Quiet storm format. The Keith Sweat Hotel (known as The Quiet Storm with Keith Sweat on WBLS in New York City) is syndicated through Premiere Radio Networks.[8]
Sweat is also the host of a nationally syndicated radio show called The Sweat Hotel, which I s produced and distributed to urban adult contemporary and classic soul radio stations across the U.S. by Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Inc.[9]
Ladies Night
Keith Sweat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's ladies night
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
C'mon girls
A night that's special everywhere
From New York to Hollywood
It's ladies night and girl
The feeling's good
Chorus
Oh yes, it's ladies night
And the feeling's right
Oh yes, it's ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)
Oh yes, it's ladies night
And the feeling's right
Oh yes, it's ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)
This is your night tonight, everything' s gonna be alright
This is your night tonight, everything' s gonna be alright
Romantic lady, ooh oh yeah, single baby
Mm sophisticated mama (woooooh)
Come on you disco baby, yeah, yeah
Stay with me tonight
If you hear any noise
It ain't the boys, it's ladies night, shhh, uh huh
Come on girls
Gonna step out ladies night
Steppin' out ladies night
Gonna step out ladies night
Steppin' out ladies night
Chorus
Oh yes, it's ladies night
And the feeling's right
Oh yes, it's ladies night
Oh what a night (oh what a night)
Oh yes, it's ladies night
And the feeling's right
Oh yes, it's ladies night
Oh what a night (Oh what a night)
On disco lights your name will be seen
You can fulfill all your dreams
Party here, party there, everywhere
This is our night, ladies
You got to be there
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
Oh ladies night
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
Oh Ladies night
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
Oh this is your ladies night
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
This is your night tonight,
Everything is going to be alright
Keith Sweat's song "Ladies Night" is an upbeat and celebratory anthem for women everywhere. The chorus repeats, "Oh yes, it's ladies night and the feeling's right, oh what a night," inviting women to revel in the spirit of the evening. The song opens with the lines, "Ooh oh yeah yeah, Oh what a night, It's ladies night," setting the tone for the festivities. In the verses, Sweat sings about how women all over the world are getting ready for a special night out, from New York to Hollywood. He also encourages women to let loose and have fun, assuring them that "Everything is going to be alright."
Line by Line Meaning
Ooh oh yeah yeah, Oh what a night
The excitement builds as the ladies prepare for their special night out
It's ladies night
The celebration is intended for women, who will be the center of attention throughout the night
This is your night tonight, Everything is going to be alright
Assurance that everything and anything is possible on this extraordinary, magical night
This is your night tonight, C'mon girls
Women everywhere, come together and let us all revel in the joyousness of tonight's incredible celebration
Girls, we've all got one
Every female has a special night or occasion to recall, and this is another to mark forever
A night that's special everywhere
Women everywhere have evenings like this, wherever they are
From New York to Hollywood
From the East to West Coast, ladies everywhere are out for a good time tonight
It's ladies night and girl, The feeling's good
Women across the nation are reveling in tonight's joyous atmosphere of good music and good people
Oh yes, it's ladies night And the feeling's right Oh yes, it's ladies night Oh what a night (oh what a night)
Ladies, the atmosphere couldn't be more perfect, and the evening will be unforgettable!
Romantic lady, ooh oh yeah, single baby Mm sophisticated mama (woooooh) Come on you disco baby, yeah, yeah Stay with me tonight
No matter who you are, whether you are romantic or a disco lover or a sophisticated woman, you can join in the night's celebration
If you hear any noise It ain't the boys, it's ladies night, shhh, uh huh Come on girls
Although there may be some noise, the culprit is the exciting momentum of the all-female celebration
Gonna step out ladies night Steppin' out ladies night
Women everywhere are stepping out of their comfort zones, with confidence tonight
On disco lights your name will be seen You can fulfill all your dreams Party here, party there, everywhere This is our night, ladies You got to be there
Ladies, tonight is your night to shine under the bright disco lights, fulfill your desires, and party to your heart's content
This is your night tonight, Everything is going to be alright
Women can rest in the knowledge that everything will be alright tonight, and the magic of the festivities will make it unforgettable
Oh ladies night
Women, celebrate your unique night with confidence, and relish this once-in-a-lifetime moment
Oh this is your ladies night
Ladies, be aware that this is your special night, and it will feel different from any other night
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERNEST E. DIXON, ROY LEAFORD HAMILTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind