Jomanda

Formed in New Jersey, the vocal trio scored several dance-chart successes from the late 1980s into the early 1990s, their bright, melodic delivery epitomizing the style insiders called “girlie house” or New Jill Swing. Cheri Williams, who first began performing at fourteen, became acquainted with Joanne Thomas during seventh grade at college before the pair drifted apart upon entering separate high schools. They reconnected in 1987 and added Renee Washington, who had spent her childhood performing in Baptist church choirs and later studied at the Newark School of Performing Arts. The group entered the studio in 1988, quickly landing hits with “Make My Body Rock” and “Gotta Love For You.” Their blend of swing rhythms, house grooves, and soulful hip-hop vocals met immediate approval. “Make My Body Rock” later supplied the central sample for Felix’s chart-topping single “Don’t You Want My Love.” Subsequent album Nubia Soul shifted toward a stronger R&B direction, a move Washington justified by noting, “The reason why we’re heading for an R&B market is that we feel club music is very limited and I personally feel we’ve done all that we could as a group as far as club music is concerned.” Even so, the act enlisted Sasha to deliver a widely praised club remix of the track “Never.” The album’s sessions also featured contributions from Buff Love (formerly of the Fat Boys), Dave Hall and Kenny Kornegay of the Untouchables, and the Band of Gypsies.