Jomanda

New Jersey trio who enjoyed chart action in the late 80s and early 90s with sweet vocals embodying what those in dance circles affectionately term ‘girlie house’, or New Jill Swing. Cheri Williams, who started singing from the age of 14, met Joanne Thomas in 7th grade at college, though they lost contact when each went to high school. They reunited in 1987, when they were joined by Renee Washington, whose youth was spent singing in Baptist church choirs. She had also attended the Newark School Of Performing Arts. Their recording career began in 1988, when they enjoyed hits with ‘Make My Body Rock’ and ‘Gotta Love For You’. The combination of swing and house with soulful hip-hop vocals was instantly popular. ‘Make My Body Rock’ would also provide the sample around which Felix’s huge hit, ‘Don’t You Want My Love’ was built. Nubia Soul was more R&B-based, as Washington explained: ‘The reason why we’re heading for an R&B market is that we feel club music is very limited and I personally fell we’ve done all that we could as a group as far as club music is concerned’. That did not stop them from employing Sasha for a very well-received remix of ‘Never’, however. On the album they worked with Buff Love (ex-Fat Boys), Dave Hall and Kenny Kornegay of the Untouchables, and the Band Of Gypsies.