Watch videos of En Vogue on Private Sessions.
This R&B super group has sold over 20 million albums and singles worldwide and is known for their vocal acrobatics as well as their fashion forward style. They have won more MTV Video Music Awards than any other female group in MTV history, a total of seven. According to Billboard Magazine, they were the eighteenth most successful act of the 1990s. Joining us for their first in-depth interview in 10 years, En Vogue is the next featured guest on Private Sessions.
Assembled by music producers Denzil Foster and Thomas McElroy in 1988, the original members of En Vogue are Cindy Herron-Braggs, Maxine Jones, Dawn Robinson and Terry Ellis. Having held auditions at which thousands of women attended, Foster and McElroy originally planned on assembling a trio, but after being awed by the vocal range and abilities of these four ladies, decided on a quartet instead.
En Vogue burst into the music industry with their platinum selling album Born to Sing in 1990. The first single, "Hold On," 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 was also awarded a Billboard Music Award for "R&B Single of the Year" and was nominated for a Grammy award. 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 chart.
En Vogue's second album, Funky Divas, was released in 1992 and 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 are now considered R&B classics. The next single, "Free Your Mind" also went top ten and was ground-breaking with its rock sound and controversial lyrics. The album went on to win an American Music Award for "Favorite Soul/R&B Album," and was nominated for five Grammy Awards.
Riding high on the success of Funky Divas, En Vogue went on tour with Luther Vandross, and signed on to several high profile projects, including releasing 1993's "Runaway Love", being featured vocalists on Salt-n-Pepa's top ten hit "Whatta Man" and working on their biggest hit to date "Don't Let Go (Love)" in 1996 for the Set It Off soundtrack. The single peaked at number two on the Hot 100, number one on the R&B singles chart, and was certified platinum. It, inadvertently, would also be the final En Vogue single to feature group member Dawn Robinson.
Robinson chose to leave the group in 1997 after difficult contractual negotiations reached a stalemate. Despite Robinson's abrupt departure, En Vogue resolved to continue on as a trio and 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.
Although several lineup changes were made in the early 2000s, En Vogue continued to release their greatest hits compilation, The Best of En Vogue, Masterpiece Theatre, The Gift of Christmas and Soulflower. In 2005, the four original members reunited to join 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.
In 2008, the original four members reunited again for the BET Awards and performed with Alicia Keys, SWV and TLC. Shortly after this explosive performance, Dawn Robinson stated officially via an En Vogue Yahoo! fan site that she returned to En Vogue.
To celebrate their 20th anniversary, the ladies of En Vogue will celebrate the magic of the original four members and release an album, launch a global tour that will span the United States and Europe, and work on a television show that documents the process of what it takes for a super group to make it all happen.
Only on A&E's PRIVATE SESSIONS - The four original members, Dawn Robinson, Terry Ellis, Cindy Herron-Braggs and Maxine Jones, sit down for an in-depth interview on their career for the first time in 10 years. Plus, don't miss exclusive performances of their mega hits, "Free Your Mind", "Hold On", "My Lovin' (Never Gonna Get It)" and "Don't Let Go (Love)". Salt-n-Pepa, Boyz II Men and Holly Robinson-Peete also make surprise celebrity appearances!
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