For Real

For Real was a Grammy-nominated R&B/Soul quartet that formed in 1993.

Biography

After forming in 1986, For Real tried to land a record deal but had no luck. When they finally did get signed, it happened by accident. "We were picking up our manager from the airport. So we decided to greet him with an acappella song. Someone from A&M records just happened to be in the airport and heard them perform. Not long after, they were signed," says Latanyia Baldwin.^[1]

The band released their debut album It's a Natural Thang with production from Brian McKnight on A&M Records in 1994 and it became a critical success, including a rare four stars from Rolling Stone Magazine.^[2] Their first single "You Don't Wanna Miss" hit #28 on the Billboard charts, courtesy of a danceable new jack swing remix by Steve "Silk" Hurley which was featured in the song's music video. A second single, "Easy To Love," peaked at #65 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The spawning album scored another chart hit with the acapella love song "You Don't Know Nothin'," which peaked at #27. The album sold over 1 million copies worldwide and peaked at #80 on the Billboard 200.

In 1995, the band appeared in Italian Vogue modeling mens suits. They toured alongside Stevie Wonder, and lent their voices to the Martin Scorsese film project Grace of My Heart. The foursome also forayed into acting with appearances in the film Shake, Rattle and Rock starring Renée Zellweger and Howie Mandel^[3] on Showtime.

They also hit the Top 20 with the single "Freedom (Theme from Panther)" featuring Aaliyah, TLC, En Vogue, BlackGirl, SWV, and Vanessa Williams from the movie Panther. They also recorded a duet with Stevie Wonder called "Stubborn Kind Of Fellow" which appeared on the Marvin Gaye tribute album Inner City Blues: The Music Of Marvin Gaye.^[4] For Real also recorded songs for the soundtracks of the films Waiting to Exhale and Fled respectively.

After a label change from A&M to Dallas Austin's Arista imprint Rowdy Records in 1996, For Real struck again with the Austin-produced, 60s-leaning single "Like I Do," from their sophomore album Free. "Like I Do" hit #10 on the Billboard singles chart, the video also earned a Billboard nomination for Best R&B Clip, the album made the Top 100, and nearly 400,000 copies in the US, the album's next and last single was the Diane Warren-penned pop ballad "The Saddest Song I Ever Heard" which hit #65 on the Top 100 singles chart. The band performed "Saddest Song" on the TV show All That. Free included production from top R&B/pop producers like Babyface, Mario Winans, and Jon B.

The band also recorded three songs ("I Do", "Born to Love That Boy" and "Unwanted Number") and appeared in the critically acclaimed film Grace of My Heart. The films soundstrack won a Satellite Award in 1997.^[6][7]

In January 1997 the band won an American Music Award for their work on the Waiting to Exhale soundtrack, in Summer 1997, the group earned a Soul Train Award nomination for Album Of The Year (By A Group, Band Or Duo) for "Free".

In 1999 Wendi Williams of For Real lent her voice to the Oscar nominated film Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, with Halle Berry, in which Berry plays a singer but Wendi Williams is behind her singing voice.^[8]

In 2002, their song "Love Will Be Waiting At Home", appeared in the movie, Two Can Play That Game, that starred Vivica A. Fox & Morris Chestnut.

In 2009 CoryLavel began to work with Josina Elder on her new album.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Awards and nominations

*** The single "Freedom" includes the following artists: Aaliyah featuring Felicia Adams, May May Ali, Amel, Az-Iz, Blackgirl, Mary J. Blige, Tanya Blount, Brownstone, Casserine, Changing Faces, Tyler Collins, N’Dea Davenport, De Five Footaz, E-V-E, Emage, En Vogue, Eshe & Laurena, Female, For Real, Penny Ford, Lalah Hathaway, Jade, Jamecia, Jazzyfatnastees, Billy Lawrence, Joi, Brigett McWilliams, Milira, Miss Jones, Cindy Mizelle, Monica, Me’Shell NdegéOcello, Natasha, Nefertiti, Patra, Pebbles, Pure Soul, Raja-Nee, Brenda Russell, SWV, Chantay Savage, Sonja Marie, Tracie Spencer, Sweet Sable, TLC, Terri & Monica, Vybe, Crystal Waters, Caron Wheeler, Karyn White, Vanessa Williams, Xscape, Y?N-Vee and Zhané.

References

External links

• SingingFool.com Streaming music videos for "Like I Do" and "The Saddest Song I Ever Heard"
• Allmusic Discography, biographies, and pictures
• IUMA Group photos, lyrics, message board, audio streams, and bio.
• Google Album info, photos, and lyrics