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Jade is an American girl group, formed in Chicago in 1991, whose original line-up was composed of Joi Marshall, Tonya Kelly, and Di Reed. They are best known for their hit singles "I Wanna Love You", "Don't Walk Away", "One Woman", and "Every Day of the Week".

History

The group Jade originally consisted of Joi Marshall, Angela M. Slates, and Debra Mitchell, under the name JAD. Producer Vassal Benford sold the song "I Wanna Love You" before Marshall, Slates, and Mitchell’s voices were recorded on the song. In order to keep the song on the soundtrack for the 1992 Kid 'n Play comedy Class Act, Benford had to reproduce the song with the actual voices of the group members. When that could not be accomplished he implored the record label to drop Slates and Mitchell from the group and replace them with Di Reed and Tonya Kelly who were the voices on the song and who were signed to his production company.

Tonya Kelly and Di Reed were signed by producer Vassal Benford and the group's name was extended to Jade. Kelly grew up in Chicago listening to jazz vocalists including Sarah Vaughan and Nat King Cole. Joi Marshall was also from Chicago but grew up listening to Motown, especially Diana Ross. Reed grew up in Houston singing gospel anywhere she could.

Jade's first success was on the Class Act soundtrack in 1992. Their hit single "I Wanna Love You" was one of the breakout songs on the soundtrack, cracking the Top 10 of the R&B charts and reaching #16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up single "Don't Walk Away", was their biggest hit and climbed to #2 on the R&B chart and was certified gold by the RIAA in 1993. The single went on to sell 1.5 million copies worldwide. Subsequent singles "Looking for Mr. Do Right" and "One Woman" helped push their debut album Jade to the Max to platinum status, sparking a lengthy tour and spots on The Tonight Show, The Arsenio Hall Show, and the U.K.'s Top of the Pops.

Jade also performed on BET's Listening Party Live. The session was recorded and released as a CD in 1993. Jade was the only group to have a BET Listening Party album released. In 1994 the band appeared in the movie The Inkwell, and released their second studio album Mind, Body & Song, on which they served as co-writers and co-producers. Singles "5-4-3-2 (Yo! Time Is Up)" and "Every Day of the Week" propelled the album to gold status.

Jade appeared on Beverly Hills, 90210 in the episode, "You've Got To Have Heart", which aired on February 8, 1995. During their appearance, they performed "Every Day of the Week". Thereafter, Tonya Kelly left the group, then briefly reunited with Joi Marshall in 1997 to contribute the track "Keep on Risin" to the soundtrack for the film The Sixth Man. With TLC, SWV, Xscape and other female singers, the trio appeared on "Freedom", which first appeared on the soundtrack to the 1995 film of the same title, Panther. The song "5-4-3-2 (Yo! Time Is Up)" was used as part of the soundtrack for the New York Undercover episode "Eyewitness Blues".

Current activities

After the group disbanded, Di Reed became a backup singer for Rod Stewart, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Christina Aguilera, Elton John, and Gwen Stefani. Angela Slates became a successful music producer (producing songs for Trina & Tamara, Tony! Toni! Toné!, Vybe, Somethin' for the People and Eric Benét) and she earned a Ph.D. in education. Debra Mitchell (now known as Debra Mitchell-Adams) became a member of the group Vybe on Island Records and owns Legacy Global Music Group. In February 2018, Marshall released her debut solo single "Love Language."

In 2022, Jade began touring with original members Joi Marshall and Tonya Kelly, along with a new member, Myracle Holloway.

Discography

Studio albums

This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (February 2015)

Live albums

Singles

Featured singles

• Jade had no hits in the UK until March 1993. Don't Walk Away was the lead single and I Wanna Love You being the 2nd hit in July 1993 followed by One Woman in September 1993. Every Day of the Week didn't chart in the UK until February 1995.

Awards and nominations

References

1. "Jade - R&B Artist Bios - R&B Haven". Rnbhaven.com. Retrieved April 13, 2012.
2. "Jade". Allmusic.com.
3. "New Video: Joi Marshall (Of Jade) - Love Language - YouKnowIGotSoul.com".
4. ^ "US Charts > Jade". Billboard. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
5. ^ "Jade ARIA chart history 2024". ARIA. Retrieved July 21, 2024 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
6. ^ "GER Charts > Jade". GfK Entertainment. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
7. ^ "NL Charts > Jade". MegaCharts. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
8. ^ "UK Charts > Jade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
9. ^ "American certifications – Jade". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
10. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 142.
11. "AUT Charts > Jade". Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
12. "CAN Charts > Jade". RPM. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
13. "NZ Charts > Jade". Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
14. "SWE Charts > Jade". Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
15. "British certifications – Jade". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 20, 2024. Type Jade in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
16. "UK Charts > P.O.V. featuring jade". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
17. "JADE | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.

External links

• Jade discography at Discogs
• Jade at AllMusic

• American girl groups
• African-American girl groups
• American hip-hop groups
• American contemporary R&B musical groups
• American soul musical groups
• Giant Records (Warner) artists
• New jack swing music groups
• American pop girl groups
• 1991 establishments in Illinois