Jodeci is an American band, specializing in R&B, with undertones of soul and swing.  They were formed in DeGrate brothers met the Hailey brothers.  Both sets of brothers were performing locally and recording for gospel music stations in and around Virginia and North Carolina.

Jodeci

I think as far as the music, we came out and redefined the sound of R&B at the time. Everybody thought, (before they saw us) that we were a lot older than what we were because we had a really mature sound. So it was kind of shocking both ways and I just think that we stayed the course.

The Early Years

Jodeci is an American band, specializing in R&B, with undertones of soul and swing.  They were formed in DeGrate brothers met the Hailey brothers.  Both sets of brothers were performing locally and recording for gospel music stations in and around Virginia and North Carolina.  The four began jamming together and eventually had accumulated twenty-four demos, which they took to New York to promote.

They met hip hop recording professional, Heavy D who helped them get a contract with Uptown Records.  Uptown executive Sean “Puffy” Combs helped them develop their image, and put them to work singing backup on the recording studios for established rap and hip hop artists.  In 1991, Jodeci got their live debut, performing on Soul Train.  

The Recording Years

They released their first album in 1991, entitled  Forever My Lady. The album sold over 3 million copies and spent eighteen weeks on the Billboard Top 200.   Five singles were included on the album, including three #1 R&B hits:  Forever My Lady, Stay, and Come and Talk to Me.  

In 1993, Jodeci followed up their first album with Diary of a Mad Band.  The album went to #1 on the Billboard R&B Chart, and to #3 on the Billboard Top 200.  This was in spite of the fact that there was little promotion done for the album, given a minor feud that was taking place between the band and Uptown Records at that time.  Their 1995 album, The Show, The After Party, The Hotel, was to be their final album, releasing the singles, Freek 'N You, Love U 4 Life, and Get On Up.  

Here and Now

Devante DeGrate, who was the unofficial leader of Jodeci, is now known as Devante Swing.  He formed his own record label, called Swing Mob, signing artists like Missy Elliott.  He even recorded a single for 2Pac in 1996.  In an interview in 2009, Swing stated that he is personally ready to start recording a solo album, but also that Jodeci is trying to reunite as well; their contract with Interscope is prohibitive and they are working to release themselves.

In 2009, H-Town released a song entitled Knockin' Your Heels, which featured Jodeci.  They are credited on the album by individual names, not by the band name.  There is some information pointing to possible tour dates for the two bands later in 2010.

Did you know . . .

1. The name, “Jodeci” is a conglomeration of the the nicknames of the band member:  “JoJo” Hailey, “Devante” Swing/Degrate, and “K-Ci” Hailey.

2. In 1993, Devante's house was robbed at gunpoint.  $160,000 worth of valuables were stolen and robbers threatened Devante by putting a gun in his mouth.

3. Jodeci is mentioned multiple times in Mariah Carey's song, The Impossible.

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