Howard Hewett

Howard Hewett spent the first act of his career as the voice of Shalamar, taking over lead vocals in 1979 and anchoring the group through hits like “Dancing In The Sheets” and “This Is For The Lover In You” until its mid-80s split. Going solo on Elektra Records, he launched his second act just as strong: 1986’s I Commit To Love went to Number 12 R&B and produced two Top 10 singles, “I’m For Real” and “Stay,” alongside the gospel-inflected “Say Amen,” a rare crossover hit on both the Urban and Gospel charts.

His momentum carried through 1988’s Forever and Ever and into his 1990 self-titled album, driven by the Number 2 R&B smash “Show Me” - written and produced by Jon Nettlesbey and Terry Coffey, the same duo who’d go on to write, produce, and perform as Truth Inc two years later. Hewett closed out his Elektra run with 1992’s Allegiance, a more spiritually-minded set that leaned further into the gospel roots already audible on “Say Amen” and “Jesus.” For the archive, Hewett represents smooth, adult-leaning soul at its most vocally accomplished - the sound of a Shalamar frontman proving he never needed a group behind him.