Keith Sweat celebrates 15th anniversary in music with hit album `Rebirth'

Jet, Jan 13, 2003

Famed singer Keith Sweat has remained in. the spotlight for an amazing 15 years.

In a business, known for one-hit wonders, Sweat has proven that he has staying power and continues to thrill a huge following of fans.

"Longevity means everything to me. I'm proud to be able to still make records that mean something to the hard-core fans out there," he says.

He is riding the charts with his latest CD, Rebirth with the hit single One On One and will release a live concert album on Valentine's Day.

"The key to my longevity has been I know when to put myself in the public life and I know when not to be seen. Sometimes when you over-saturate yourself, you actually kill your career. The less you are seen, the more mystique you have."

He continues, "Musically, I've always found myself doing or writing songs that people want to hear or songs that people could relate to. And honestly, putting God first in my life, I believe that has kept me and my career going."

He arrived on the scene in 1987 with the big smashes I Want Her and Make It Last Forever. Other hits followed including Twisted, Nobody and My Body, recorded with the group, LSG, which he formed with Johnny Gill and Gerald Levert. Along the way, he discovered hit groups Silk and Kut loose.

Referring to his latest album, he notes, "I wanted to grab some of the feeling I had on my very album on Rebirth," he says. "Fans come up to me every day and tell me how much Make It Last Forever meant to them. I want this to be a symbolic rebirth for them and me."