Essential figures
TEDDY RILEY
Often called the father of new jack swing, Edward Theodore Riley had begun his music career at 17, producing Doug E.
Fresh And The Get Fresh Crew’s song The Show, before taking the helm for rapper Kool Moe Dee’s 1986 single Go See The Doctor. Alongside his production career, Riley also found time to form an R&B band, Guy, scoring a No.27 placing in 1988 with their eponymous debut album. A child prodigy (Teddy was playing the guitar and trumpet at five and the piano at eight), he was, by the dawn of the 1990s, one of the most in-demand producers in America, even co-producing Michael Jackson’s Dangerous album, on the recommendation of Quincy Jones.
Riley formed a new group, Blackstreet, in 1991, and enjoyed hits with the singles Before I Let You Go (US No.7), No Diggity (US No.1) and Take Me There (US No.14). He also worked with Mel B on several tracks for her debut album Hot, released in 2000, and produced and co-wrote the song Teeth with Lady Gaga in 2009.
Recently, he announced that he’s to release an autobiography, provisionally titled Remember The Times. “I successfully created the new jack swing genre 40 years ago so we could have our own generation of music, not their generation, and our own history,” Riley said in a statement. “I’m so excited to share that history with my fans around the world.”
JIMMY JAM & TERRY LEWIS
Classic Pop award-winners Jam & Lewis had hinted at the new jack swing sound with Janet Jackson’s 1986 album, Control, refining it with her US No.1-charting 1989 follow-up, Rhythm Nation 1814. Though their names are forever linked with Janet, these two titans of American pop have also worked with, among others, Alexander O’Neal, George Michael, Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Usher and even The Human League. During their four-decade-long career, they’ve scooped five Grammys, 16 US No.1s and more than 100 Platinum certifications, while in 2022, they were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in the Musical Excellence category. Respect.