|

En Vogue rose to
fame not only for their stunning beauty, but also for their vocal talents and
originality. Unlike most girl groups, no member was marketed as the "leader" and
all of the women shared lead vocal responsibility. En Vogue also offered fans an
innovative blend of R&B, pop, rock, rap and reggae that a fan of almost any
musical genre could relate to and embrace.
Assembled in 1988
by the production team of Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy, both former members
of Club Nouveau, En Vogue became a defining sound of the '90s. Foster and
McElroy hoped to create a group who would not only excel vocally, but also
sensually. After holding auditions, they chose Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Dawn
Robinson and Terry Ellis for their new group. Originally called For You, the
group changed their name to En Vogue to create a more stylish, sophisticated,
and sexy elegant image. Since their 1990 debut, they've released three full
length multiplatinum albums, one best selling EP, and a slew of history-making
videos that have carried the torch for the ever-fashionable look and sound of
one of pop's most venerated and imitated institutions, the girl group
Their
acclaimed debut disc, 1990's Born To Sing, spawned three consecutive #1 hits,
including the memorable "Hold On." The album sold a breathtaking three million
copies, christening the then-foursome as the new female force to be reckoned
with. Their 1992 follow-up album, Funky Divas, is considered a pop and R&B
classic, and featured the unforgettable smashes "My Lovin'(Never Gonna Get It)"
"Giving Him Something He Can Feel" and the dazzling "Free Your Mind", with a
video that earned three MTV video award nominations. The album went on to sell
more than three million copies and was nominated for five Grammy awards. With
their audience clamoring for more, En Vogue released a six song EP in 1993,
Runaway
Love, which featured a duet with Salt N' Pepa called "Whatta Man." They also
completed a sold out tour with superstar Luther Vandross, which included shows
in England, Germany, the Netherlands and France.
In 1997, their
contribution to the Set It Off soundtrack, "Don't Let Go (Love)" garnered them a
#2 hit on Billboard's Top Singles chart. Soon after Dawn Robinson left the
group
to pursue a solo career, and in May of '97 the girls released their third
full-length album and Elektra debut EV3. They closed out the century with Best
Of En Vogue, a greatest
hits collection
that capped their incredible first decade. In 2000, En Vogue released
Masterpiece Theatre, featuring the hit "Riddle." In September of 2003 a new
member, Rhona Bennett, made her debut. Bennett had recorded an album as “Simply
Rhona” for Sony in 2001 (which included the hit "Satisfied"), and also had a
recurring role on the Jamie Foxx Show. The new trio released Soul Flower in
early 2004 on 33rd Street Records.
En Vogue have
created their own niche in popular music. Blending styles that spoke to fans of
all genres, the women's stylish, sophisticated presence set them apart from
their contemporaries.
|