Keith Sweat

Keith Sweat was married to Lisa Wu Hartwell from 1992 to 2002. They have two sons together.

Sweat has six children in total, including three daughters and three sons. His children include a son named Joshua, and one of his daughters is with Tracy J.

Sweat began his musical career in 1975 as a member of Jamilah, a Harlem band that performed across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. He left the group in 1984 and began singing in New York City nightclubs while pursuing a solo recording career.

Before his music career became his main profession, Sweat worked as a night stock clerk at Macy's and as a mail room clerk at Paine Webber. He later worked in the commodities market at the New York Stock Exchange and supervised at the New York Mercantile Exchange. He earned a communications degree from the City College of New York.

Sweat released his debut album, Make It Last Forever, in November 1987 through Vintertainment Records. The album sold more than three million copies, and its single "I Want Her" reached No. 1 on the R&B chart and No. 5 on the pop chart. The title track reached No. 2 on the R&B chart, while "Something Just Ain't Right" reached No. 3.

The album was made with Teddy Riley, who co-wrote and produced several songs with Sweat. Its combination of hip-hop rhythms, contemporary soul, and funk helped establish Sweat as an early and influential figure in New Jack Swing.

Sweat followed his debut with I'll Give All My Love to You in 1990 and Keep It Comin' in 1991. Both albums produced major R&B hits. "Make You Sweat" and "I'll Give All My Love to You" each reached No. 1 on the R&B chart, while "Merry Go Round" reached No. 2. The title song from Keep It Comin' also reached No. 1 on the R&B chart.

His later albums included Get Up on It in 1994, Keith Sweat in 1996, Still in the Game in 1998, Didn't See Me Coming in 2000, Rebirth in 2002, Just Me in 2008, and Ridin' Solo in 2010. The songs "Twisted" and "Nobody," from the 1996 album, became two of his biggest pop hits, reaching Nos. 2 and 3 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100.

Sweat discovered the R&B group Silk in 1992 and helped shape the group's debut album, Lose Control, which reached No. 7 on the Billboard 200. Silk's single "Freak Me" later reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

In 1993, Sweat discovered the Atlanta-based female R&B group Kut Klose and produced its debut album, Surrender. He also formed the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill. LSG's debut album, Levert.Sweat.Gill, reached No. 4 on the Billboard 200 and included the hit single "My Body."

Since 2007, Sweat has hosted The Keith Sweat Hotel, a nationally syndicated radio program built around the quiet storm format. The program extended his role in R&B beyond recording and touring.

Sweat has also appeared as a performer or actor in projects including New Jack City, Rhapsody, Pastor Brown, Love Magical, and For the Love of Money. His television appearances include Showtime at the Apollo, New York Undercover, Martin, The Wayans Bros., The Game, and Hell's Kitchen.