In Memory Of Jermaine Stewart
September 7, 1957 - March 17, 1997
About Jermaine
Jermaine Stewart started out dancing on Soul Train along with
Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels. Although Jody was from Chicago
Jermaine didn't actually meet them until he got to Los Angeles.
That's when the three got together and talked and formed a group
called the Soul Train Whack Dancers. This group was for dancing on
Soul Train. They traveled to Canada, Kansas and other places within
the United States. Jermaine said they did pretty well.
All three of them auditioned for Shalamar and Jermaine went for
lead singer, however, Howard Hewitt got the part but Jermaine
toured with the new group as a dancer and back up vocalist. He
remained with Shalamar for three years. While on the road he met a
man who changed his career.
"The Word Is Out" was Jermaine's first solo effort. It threw him
into the mainstream of solo success. Prior to it's
release he performed on
Culture Club's album - Colour By Numbers.
He landed that slot when he met the members of Culture Club while
touring London with Shalamar. Culture Club's band member,
Mikey Craig, helped Jermaine put together a demo tape. In return
Jermaine performed the background vocals on the groups hit
"Miss Me Blind". With the groups encouragement Jermaine traded his
career as a backup singer for a place in the spotlight.
"We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" was written by Jermaine's
long time producer Narada Michael Walden. Jermaine said
the song was considered one of the first safe sex songs. It made somewhat
of a comeback as a theme for many safe sex campaignes. What
surprised Jermaine was how some people just didn't get the message.
Once while he was performing the song a girl from the audience
hopped on the stage and stripped all of her clothes off. The audience
thought she was part of the act. Jermaine said she was completely
serious but he was only embarrassed.
Jermaine wrote the song "Jody" for his long time friend Jody Watley.
He was inspired to write it when she left Shalamar and was pursued
by most of the major record labels for a solo deal. MCA was the
lucky label. He was so proud of her that he wanted to do something
to let her know how special she was to him.
Jermaine said that "Say It Again" was the best album he ever did.
He said that he sat in on a lot of the production, writing and artwork
of this album. Jody Watley and Andre Cymone co-wrote some
songs on this album. Jermaine said he strived for excellence on this
album. He said that he didn't want people looking at his videos or
listening to his music and saying, "Gosh, why did he do that?" He said
even though you can't please everybody all the time, try to please
not only yourself but the majority of people.
In the video "Say It Again" Jermaine choreographed his own dance
steps with a little help from band member Andre who is shown throughout
the video with Jermaine and real life hanging partner Andrea.
The white jacket that Jermaine wears in the "Say It Again" video is
one of his own designs. Band member, Michael Licata, also
appears in this video playing the drums.
Jermaine enjoyed the luxury of three strategic placed homes. One in his
hometown Chicago, one in London and one in Los Angeles. In his spare
time he liked to go horseback riding or rollerskating. His favorite pastime
was hanging out at disco clubs. In fact he said the best thing about being a
recording artist was getting into all the clubs free. He said the worst thing
was having to fly on airplanes. Jermaine said he hated to fly. He said man
was meant to stay on the ground.
Jermaine described himself as 5' 10 1/2", 150 lbs and fashionable. He'd
worn his hair long for several years and said it was one reason why he didn't
get the lead part in Shalamar. The groups management didn't like how his
hair was styled , but Jermaine said he was just way ahead of his time. It
seemed his fans liked his hair. They often tried to grab a handful for
souvenirs which he found rather aggravating.
Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels. Although Jody was from Chicago
Jermaine didn't actually meet them until he got to Los Angeles.
That's when the three got together and talked and formed a group
called the Soul Train Whack Dancers. This group was for dancing on
Soul Train. They traveled to Canada, Kansas and other places within
the United States. Jermaine said they did pretty well.
All three of them auditioned for Shalamar and Jermaine went for
lead singer, however, Howard Hewitt got the part but Jermaine
toured with the new group as a dancer and back up vocalist. He
remained with Shalamar for three years. While on the road he met a
man who changed his career.
"The Word Is Out" was Jermaine's first solo effort. It threw him
into the mainstream of solo success. Prior to it's
release he performed on
Culture Club's album - Colour By Numbers.
He landed that slot when he met the members of Culture Club while
touring London with Shalamar. Culture Club's band member,
Mikey Craig, helped Jermaine put together a demo tape. In return
Jermaine performed the background vocals on the groups hit
"Miss Me Blind". With the groups encouragement Jermaine traded his
career as a backup singer for a place in the spotlight.
"We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" was written by Jermaine's
long time producer Narada Michael Walden. Jermaine said
the song was considered one of the first safe sex songs. It made somewhat
of a comeback as a theme for many safe sex campaignes. What
surprised Jermaine was how some people just didn't get the message.
Once while he was performing the song a girl from the audience
hopped on the stage and stripped all of her clothes off. The audience
thought she was part of the act. Jermaine said she was completely
serious but he was only embarrassed.
Jermaine wrote the song "Jody" for his long time friend Jody Watley.
He was inspired to write it when she left Shalamar and was pursued
by most of the major record labels for a solo deal. MCA was the
lucky label. He was so proud of her that he wanted to do something
to let her know how special she was to him.
Jermaine said that "Say It Again" was the best album he ever did.
He said that he sat in on a lot of the production, writing and artwork
of this album. Jody Watley and Andre Cymone co-wrote some
songs on this album. Jermaine said he strived for excellence on this
album. He said that he didn't want people looking at his videos or
listening to his music and saying, "Gosh, why did he do that?" He said
even though you can't please everybody all the time, try to please
not only yourself but the majority of people.
In the video "Say It Again" Jermaine choreographed his own dance
steps with a little help from band member Andre who is shown throughout
the video with Jermaine and real life hanging partner Andrea.
The white jacket that Jermaine wears in the "Say It Again" video is
one of his own designs. Band member, Michael Licata, also
appears in this video playing the drums.
Jermaine enjoyed the luxury of three strategic placed homes. One in his
hometown Chicago, one in London and one in Los Angeles. In his spare
time he liked to go horseback riding or rollerskating. His favorite pastime
was hanging out at disco clubs. In fact he said the best thing about being a
recording artist was getting into all the clubs free. He said the worst thing
was having to fly on airplanes. Jermaine said he hated to fly. He said man
was meant to stay on the ground.
Jermaine described himself as 5' 10 1/2", 150 lbs and fashionable. He'd
worn his hair long for several years and said it was one reason why he didn't
get the lead part in Shalamar. The groups management didn't like how his
hair was styled , but Jermaine said he was just way ahead of his time. It
seemed his fans liked his hair. They often tried to grab a handful for
souvenirs which he found rather aggravating.
Jermaine and Michael at a club in Toronto,
in December, 1986. Jermaine was there doing a club date show in support of the Frantic Romantic record. (without the party) The show was sold out.
They presented him with a Canadian Gold
record onstage that night for"We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off"
