En Vogue is an American female R&B[1] vocal group from Oakland,
California assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas
McElroy.[2]
The group has won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female
group in MTV history, a total of seven, along with four Soul Train
Awards, six American Music Awards, and seven Grammy nominations.
According to Billboard Magazine they were the 18th most successful
act of the 1990s, and one of the most popular and successful female
groups of all time.[3] En Vogue have accumulated over 2,800 weeks
on various Billboard charts.[4]
Assembled in Oakland, California in July 1989, En Vogue launched
with original members Cindy Herron, Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson and
Terry Ellis. The inspiration for the group came when production duo
of Foster and Mc Elroy envisioned a modern-day girl group in the
tradition of the 1950s/1960s female trios. The blueprint was based
on the plan of recruiting singers who possessed strong voices, noticeably
good looks, and intelligence. Auditions were held in 1988, with Herron,
Jones and Robinson making the final cut.[5] Like previous girl groups,
En Vogue was originally conceived as a trio, but after hearing Ellis
audition, Foster and McElroy decided to create a quartet. At first,
they selected the name "For You." They shifted to "Vogue",
but ultimately settled on En Vogue, upon learning that another group
had already claimed the Vogue moniker.
[edit] Music
[edit] 1989–1991: Born to Sing
After forming, the group began working with their producers on their
debut album. Recording began in August 1989 and wrapped up in December
of the same year.[6]
Born to Sing was released on April 3, 1990. The album charted at
number twenty-one on the Billboard 200 and number three on Billboard's
R&B Albums Chart. The first single, "Hold On," was
released to radio in late February 1990 and became a crossover pop
hit, reaching number two on Billboard's Hot 100 singles charts, and
number one on both the R&B singles and Hot Dance Music/Club Play
charts. It later went to #5 in the UK, and became a hit in Europe.
The next two singles, "Lies" and "You Don't Have to
Worry," each went to number one on the Billboard R&B charts,
while the fourth and final single, "Don't Go," charted
at number three on the Billboard R&B. The album was later certified
platinum by the RIAA.
"Hold On" was awarded a Billboard Music Award for "R&B
Single of the Year," a Soul Train Award for "R&B/Urban
Contemporary Single of the Year, Group, Band or Duo" and have
been nominated for a Grammy Award for "Best R&B Vocal Performance
by a Duo or Group". In 1990, En Vogue signed an endorsement
deal to appear in a Diet Coke commercial directed by Spike Lee.
[edit] 1992–1993: Funky Divas & Runaway Love
En Vogue's second album, Funky Divas, was released in the spring
of 1992. The album debuted at number eight on the Billboard 200 and
number one on the Billboard R&B and ultimately doubled the take
of its predecessor, going multi-platinum. The albums first two singles: "My
Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)" and "Giving Him Something
He Can Feel" both went top ten pop, and peaked at number one
on the R&B charts. The next single, "Free Your Mind" also
went top ten. The final two singles "Give It Up Turn It Loose" and "Love
Don't Love You" both were top forty hits.
The album went on to sell more than three million copies, won an
American Music Award for "Favorite Soul/R&B Album," and
was nominated for five Grammy Awards. The music video for "Free
Your Mind" earned the group three MTV Video Music Awards for "Best
Choreography," "Best Dance Video," and "Best
R&B Video." They were also honored with Soul Train's prestigious "Entertainer
of the Year Award." In addition to this, the group were featured
in Rolling Stone, Entertainment Weekly, and Essence among other major
publications.
Riding high on the success of Funky Divas, a six-song EP entitled
Runaway Love was released in the fall of 1993, spawning the hit "Runaway
Love."
The group was signed to an endorsement deal with Converse, and were
featured as an opening act on Luther Vandross' 1993 tour. Among the
numerous countries toured were England, Germany, the Netherlands
and France which confirmed the group's live vocal and performing
prowess. However, according to an article in Vibe magazine, Vandross
(by his own admission in interviews) and his entourage clashed with
the members of En Vogue during the tour and he vowed never to work
with them again afterwards.
En Vogue also made numerous television appearances on such series
as In Living Color, A Different World, Roc and Hangin' With Mr. Cooper
(the latter two of which they also sang the show's theme songs.)
In 1993, En Vogue were featured vocalists on Salt-N-Pepa's top ten
hit "Whatta Man", from Salt-N-Pepa's Very Necessary album.
The track also appeared (slightly edited) on En Vogue's Runaway Love
EP.
[edit] 1994–1996: Downtime
In 1995, En Vogue were amongst numerous female vocalists featured
on the song "Freedom" for the soundtrack to Panther. Also
in 1995, group member Terry Ellis recorded a solo album entitled
Southern Gal, which spun off the top ten R&B single "Where
Ever You Are."
[edit] 1996–1998: The departure of Dawn Robinson and EV3
En Vogue reunited in 1996 to record "Don't Let Go (Love)" for
the soundtrack to the motion picture Set It Off. Released in the
autumn, it became the group's biggest hit to date; the single peaked
at number two on the Hot 100, number one on the R&B singles chart,
and was certified platinum by the RIAA. It, inadvertently, would
also be the final En Vogue single to feature group member Dawn Robinson.
In response to the large commercial success of "Don't Let Go
(Love)," the group steadfastly went to work on its third album.
As the album was nearing completion, Robinson chose to leave the
group in April 1997 after difficult contractual negotiations reached
a stalemate. Despite Robinson's abrupt departure, En Vogue resolved
to continue on as a trio (forcing the group to re-record some of
the tracks on their forthcoming album that had originally featured
her on lead vocals.)
EV3, the group's third album, was released in the spring and debuted
at number eight on both the Billboard 200 and the Billboard R&B
charts. The first single, the Babyface-penned and produced "Whatever" went
on to become a twenty pop hit, a top ten R&B hit, while also
peaking at number five on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The
single later went on to be certified gold by the RIAA. The followup
single "Too Gone, Too Long" (which was produced by David
Foster and written by Diane Warren) performed more modestly, managing
to only peak in the top forty. Despite its being certified platinum,
and the album being nominated for Grammy Award and a Soul Train Lady
of Soul Award, sales of EV3 failed to live up to full commercial
expectation. A world tour had been planned, but was canceled due
to poor ticket sales. In 1998, En Vogue recorded "No Fool No
More" for the soundtrack to the motion picture, Why Do Fools
Fall In Love. The following year, a greatest hits compilation, The
Best of En Vogue, was released.
[edit] 2000: Masterpiece Theatre
Masterpiece Theatre, the group's fourth studio album, was released
in May 2000. The album debuted at number sixty-seven and thirty-three
on the Billboard 200 and R&B Albums Charts respectively. The
first (and only) single, "Riddle," peaked at number ninety-two
and ninety-five on the Hot 100 and R&B charts. As a result of
poor sales, En Vogue was dropped from the Elektra Record label.
[edit] 2001–2003: New member
In 2001, original member Maxine Jones left the group to focus on
her family. As a result, Amanda Cole joined the group. Ellis, Herron
and Cole released a holiday album, The Gift of Christmas. Soon after
the holiday album, Cole too left the group and was replaced with
Rhona Bennett. Meanwhile, Robinson's first solo CD Dawn was released
in early 2002. During the latter part of 2003, En Vogue toured Europe
with Maxine Jones rejoining the group to fill the place of Cindy
Herron, who was on maternity leave.
[edit] 2004: Soul Flower
In 2004, En Vogue (now composed of Ellis, Herron and Bennett) released
Soul Flower on independent label 33rd Street Records. While the album
failed to chart on the Billboard 200, it managed to peak at number
forty-seven on the R&B charts. The albums two singles: "Losin'
My Mind" and "Ooh Boy", however, failed to chart.
Soon after promotion had finished on this album, Maxine Jones returned
to En Vogue, turning the group back into a quartet for the first
time since 1996. The group teamed with Boyz II Men for select concert
dates during the summer of 2004. That same year En Vogue graced the
cover of R&B Showcase magazine.[7]
[edit] 2005–2007: Impromptu Reunion
In 2005, after an eight-year absence, Dawn Robinson rejoined En
Vogue. The original four went on to sign with one of the industry's
largest management firms, The Firm Management Group. That September,
they joined Salt N Pepa for the girl groups' first-ever joint public
performance of their 1994 hit, "Whatta Man" at VH-1's Hip
Hop Honors, and briefly toured. They also earned another Grammy nomination
for the single "So What the Fuss", which featured Stevie
Wonder and Prince. The group also appeared in the single's music
video. After failing to agree on business terms, Robinson once again
chose to defect from En Vogue and Bennett returned. As a result,
En Vogue was let go from The Firm. En Vogue continued to perform
spot dates in North America with Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones, Cindy
Herron and Rhona Bennett. This line-up also saw the group return
to Europe and Japan for select concert dates. During this time, En
Vogue teamed up with Belgian singer Natalia for a song called "Glamorous" where
Rhona Bennett's vocals are featured. The single reached No.2 in the
Belgian charts and was followed by a DVD release of the concert,
which went double platinum.
[edit] 2008–2010: Dawn returns again; En Vogue reunited.
On June 24, the original lineup of En Vogue appeared on the BET
Awards, performing with Alicia Keys, SWV and TLC as a tribute to
girl groups of the 1990s. With speculation abuzz, En Vogue received
the twenty-eighth highest number of hits on the Rock on the Net website
for the month of June 2008. The following month, the group ascended
to the twelfth position. As of June 30, Dawn Robinson has stated
officially via an En Vogue Yahoo! fan site that she had indeed returned
to En Vogue. On August 6, the original members appeared on Los Angeles'
KTLA television station and announced that they have reunited and
would do spot dates around the country during the latter part of
2008. The foursome kicked off the Americana at Brand Concert Series
in Glendale, California that same evening.[8] Furthermore, En Vogue
performed at the 2009 Essence Music Festival, at the Louisiana Superdome
in New Orleans. They continue to tour throughout the United States.
In October 2010, the band performed their first UK show in 18 years
in London. En Vogue also plans to release a new album sometime next
year.
[edit] Television and film
En Vogue has appeared in Sesame Street specials including Sesame
Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration and in a "Wanda" Sketch
with Jamie Foxx in "In Living Color" in 1993 and Elmopalooza
in 1998. In Sesame Street's 25th Birthday: A Musical Celebration
the four original members sang "Adventure" about their
adventures with some of the Sesame Street characters. The second
song was "I Want a Monster"; a song about having a monster
as a playmate. It appeared on Elmopalooza and was recorded after
Robinson's departure- featuring Terry Ellis, Maxine Jones and Cindy
Herron. In Batman Forever they appeared in a cameo appearance as
a group of prostitutes; Robinson also appeared as a holographic prostitute
demonstrating how to assemble an appropriate outfit in the film Tank
Girl. En Vogue has also appeared in A Different World as a group
of country bumpkin sisters who want to sing. The group also appeared
on more than one episode of the highly acclaimed Charles S. Dutton
Fox 90's television show Roc, with one of the ladies playing a love
interest of Rocky Carrol's character Joey who has to choose between
staying with Joey or touring with the rest of the En Vogue ladies.
En Vogue recorded a brand new theme song, entitled "Live Your
Life Today" for Roc's later season's. They also recorded the
theme song for Season 1 of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, along with Dawnn
Lewis and Holly Robinson-Peete. On May 11, 2009 the group appeared
on ABC's The View to perform & announce their future reunion
tour. On June 7, 2009 the group appeared on A&E Network's Private
Sessions, performing select hits and discussing the group's past,
present and future.
[edit] Discography
Main article: En Vogue discography
* 1990: Born To Sing
* 1992: Funky Divas
* 1997: EV3
* 2000: Masterpiece Theatre
* 2004: Soul Flower
EPs and other albums
* 1991: Remix to Sing
* 1993: Runaway Love
* 2002: The Gift of Christmas