Keith Douglas Sweat (born July 22, 1961) is an early figure in the new jack swing musical style and an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. “I Want Her,” “Make It Last Forever,” “I’ll Give All My Love to You,” “Make You Sweat,” “Get Up on It,” “Twisted,” and “Nobody” are among his many hits. He’s published 13 solo albums and discovered the groups Silk and Kut Klose, as well as being a member of the R&B combo LSG. Keith is recognized for successful tracks with Kut Klose and Pretty Russ, songs featuring Athena Cage of Kut Klose, and featuring Snoop Dogg.
Sweat was married to Lisa Wu Hartwell of The Real Housewives of Atlanta from 1992 till 2002. He had two boys with her, born in 1995 and 1998. Unfortunately, the marriage ended in 2002, and he was awarded sole custody of both children. He also has three daughters, Keisha, Keia, and Amaya; one of whom he shares with Tracy J, and a son named Joshua.
Keith Sweat's Net Worth
In 2021, Keith Sweat has a net worth of $250,000. He is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, record producer, radio personality, and book. “Make It Last Forever” (1987), “Keith Sweat” (1996), “Rebirth” (2002), and “Playing For Keeps” (2003) are among Sweat’s 13 studio albums (2018).
Men at Large, Dru Hill, The Isley Brothers, Immature, The O’Jays, Ol’ Skool, and Chantay Savage have all recorded with Sweat. He has also acted in the movie “New Jack City” (1991), “Pastor Brown” (2009), and “Love Magical” as a guest star on “Martin” (1997) and “The Wayans Bros.” (1997). (2018). In 2008, Keith began hosting “The Sweat Hotel,” a nationally syndicated radio show, and in 2013, he authored “Make It Last Forever: The Dos and Don’ts.”
Keith, unfortunately, got into financial difficulties later in his career. Sweat was sued by PMI Mortgage in 2012 for failing to make payments on a Detroit home. He allegedly defaulted on a $450,000 mortgage, according to the lawsuit. The bank foreclosed on the house and sold it. The bank was still owing more than $200,000 after the sale. The mortgage firm was granted $253,000 in damages and even sued to have Sweat’s earnings garnished and a lien placed on his other assets.
His wealth is also increasing from his tv show guestings, podcasts, and radio show hostings. He still remains as a very influential singer-songwriter up to this date with a career spanning for more than 45 years. Considering how long it has been since he first started appearing on the limelight, it can easily be presumed that Keith Sweat rakes in a huge amount of money.
Keith Sweat's Early Life
Keith Sweat was born in Harlem, New York City, to hairdresser Juanita Thompson and factory worker Charles Sweat. After Charles Sweat passed away in 1973 when Sweat was 12 years old, Juanita was left to raise their five children on her own.
He worked as a night stock boy at Macy’s Department Store and subsequently as a mail room worker at the brokerage firm Paine Webber. He worked his way up to a prestigious brokerage assistant position on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange in just four years. Sweat also worked at the New York Mercantile Exchange as a supervisor. Sweat worked as a night stock boy at Macy’s while attending City College, and on weekends he sang with a band called Jamilah.
Although he has a lot of siblings, there is no retrievable information about them on the internet. All we know is that he has four siblings. Their family seems to be protective of each other considering how famous Keith is yet their identity is still protected.
Keith Sweat's Education
Sweat went to an unknown high school in New York City and began performing at various places throughout the city during that time.
Keith Sweat earned a communications degree from City College of New York (CCNY) in the 1980s. He worked as a brokerage assistant on Wall Street after college. Despite his “day job” on Wall Street, his true love was music, and he rose to prominence as a result of tunes he sold to New York City record labels.
Keith Sweat's Ex-Wife/Girlfriend and Family Life
Keith Sweat’s ex-wife is Lisa Wu of Real Housewives of Atlanta. Sweat married Lisa Wu in 1992, and the couple had two boys, Jordan (born 1995) and Justin (born 1998), before divorcing in 2002. Lisa Wu later became a cast member on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.” Sweat is the father of three daughters, Keisha, Keia, and Amaya, as well as a son, Joshua. Lisa Wu, a former cast member of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” and her ex-husband Keith Sweat went through a difficult divorce and custody fight over their children. After a “very turbulent relationship,” Lisa Wu and Keith Sweat’s divorce didn’t go smoothly. The couple married in 1992 and have two sons, Justin and Jordan Sweat.
When the couple filed for divorce, the judge granted Sweat full custody of their sons. Wu, on the other hand, fought back and appealed the court’s judgment. She claimed it was in the best interest of their sons to live with her. The judge then granted Wu with primary custody, as it was “serving the best interest of the minor (at the time) children.” Despite the hitches and public quarrels, Wu and Sweat seem to be on amicable terms. On social media, the actress repeatedly expressed her support for her ex-husband during the Verzuz feud. After the breakup with the R&B singer, Wu moved on and gotten married the NFL player Ed Hartwell. The pair was together for six years but call it quits in 2011.
She had just moved in with Ed when the reality show “The Real House Wives of Atlanta” premiered. During her two seasons on the show, her ex-husband Keith Sweat stated that he did not want his children to be included. Sweat even refused to sign any paperwork authorizing their sons’ participation because he believed it would be exploitative of their image.
According to our records, the 60-year-old R&B artist is currently seeing Joanne Humphrey. Keith Sweat keeps a low profile when it comes to exposing his personal life, preferring to stay out of the spotlight. Keith Sweat has not been previously engaged. Keith Sweat was previously linked to Patti LaBelle.
Keith Sweat's Career
Sweat began his musical career in 1975 as a member of the Harlem band Jamilah. Sweat was able to develop his craft as a lead singer with the guidance of Jamilah by playing regionally throughout the tri-State area of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Bassist Larry Peoples, guitarist Michael Samuels, and drummer Walter Bradley formed the band.
He began a solo career after leaving the group in 1984, singing at nightclubs across New York City and landing a recording contract with the independent label Stadium Records.
Sweat only recorded two songs for Stadium, “Lucky Seven” and “My Mind Is Made Up,” which were their third and fourth albums, respectively, but he is recognized as co-writer and co-producer of “You Are the One for Me,” the group’s final recording. Keith “Sabu” Crier, his uncle, is a founding member of GQ. Vincent Davis discovered Keith Sweat later that year and offered him a recording contract with his label, Vintertainment Records, which was created in 1983 on the foundations of early Hip-Hop and is best known for releasing Joeski Love’s “Pee Wee’s Dance” in 1985.
Sweat returned to the Billboard 200 chart with his second album, I’ll Give All My Love to You (1990), which reached No. 6. Keep It Comin’, his third album, was released in 1991 and debuted in the Top 20 of the album chart. Omar Chandler, a soul singer, was produced by him. Sweat discovered Silk in 1992 and assisted in the creation of their debut album, Lose Control, which peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard 200 album list.
On May 1, 1993, the album’s single “Freak Me” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Sweat discovered Kut Klose, an Atlanta-based female R&B trio, in 1993. Sweat also produced the group’s debut album Surrender, which included the single “I Like,” which reached No. 8 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.
Sweat’s fourth album, Get Up on It, was released in the summer of 1994, followed by his self-titled fifth album in 1996. Both albums charted in the Billboard 200’s top ten. Sweat’s biggest singles to date were “Twisted,” co-produced and written by Eric McCaine and featured R&B trio Kut Klose, which reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and “Nobody,” which reached No. 3.
“Just A Touch” was a cover of Slave’s song “Just a Touch of Love,” which was released in 1979. In 1996, he produced the R&B group Dru Hill. Sweat discovered Ol’ Skool in the fall of 1997 and assisted with their self-titled debut. He was featured on the R&B group Xscape’s biggest track, “Am I Dreaming.” Sweat also founded the R&B supergroup LSG with Gerald Levert and Johnny Gill, and in 1997, they produced their self-titled debut album Levert.Sweat.Gill, which included the hit track “My Body.” The album was certified double platinum and peaked at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 in the United States.
Still in the Game, Sweat’s sixth album, was released in 1998 and debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the R&B/Hip Hop albums chart. It included the No. 12 Hot 100 singles “Come and Get With Me” (with Snoop Dogg) and “I’m Not Ready” (No. 16 Hot 100). When Sweat released the album Didn’t See Me Coming in 2000, his chart popularity began to wane. None of the album’s singles charted in the top forty.
Keith Sweat’s eighth album, Rebirth, was released on August 13, 2002. His track “One on One” peaked at No. 75 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 44 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. “Love U Better (with Keyshia Cole)” was featured on his 2008 album Just Me. Sweat is signed to Kedar Records, and his tenth studio album, Ridin’ Solo, was released on June 22, 2010. The album’s lead song is “Test Drive,” which features label-mate Joe. Sweat has hosted a nationally syndicated radio show based on the Quiet Storm style since 2007. Premiere Radio Networks syndicates The Keith Sweat Hotel (also known as The Quiet Storm with Keith Sweat on WBLS in New York City).
Today, Sweat is the host of “The Sweat Hotel,” a widely syndicated radio show. Premiere Networks, a subsidiary of iHeartMedia, Inc., produces and distributes it to urban adult contemporary and classic soul radio stations in the United States.
Sweat performs hit R&B songs, interviews other R&B artists, and discusses his career as a singer and performer. 102.7 WVAZ Chicago, 105.3 WDAS-FM Philadelphia, 92.3 WMXD Detroit, 101.1 KJMS Memphis, 104.5 K283CH Houston, and 98.5 WYLD-FM New Orleans are among the radio stations that broadcast the show. Although Sweat prerecords most aspects of the show to allow him to tour and focus on his recording business at the same time, the show airs five evenings a week. In 2008, Sweat took over as host of the show.
Real Housewives of Atlanta Storyline for Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat did not appear on the show because at the time of the show’s premier, he and Lisa Wu were already divorced. During RHOA’s first season, Ed and Lisa already moved in together.
On her first season, Lisa wanted to showcase her sons on the show but Keith as against it. Keith Sweat, her ex-husband, indicated during her two seasons on the show that he did not want his children to be involved. Sweat even refused to sign any paperwork allowing their sons to participate because he thought it would be exploitative of their image.
Keith Sweat's Appearance (Height, Hair, Eyes & More)
Height | 5 ft 8 in 1.76 m |
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Weight | 158 pounds 72 kg |
Hair Color | Black |
Eye Color | Brown |
Body Type | Fit |
Sexual Orientation | Straight |
Facts About Keith Sweat
Nationality | American |
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Estimate Net Worth | $250,000 |
Religion | Unknown |
Zodiac Sign | Cancer |
Birthplace | Harlem, New York |
Birthday | July 22 1961 |