New Jack Swing Hall Of Fame:
Soul II Soul

Soul II Soul was a UK based R&B/Dance act that added an air of elegance and sophistication to Black music during the New Jack Era. The founding members of Soul II Soul included leader Jazzie B, producer Nellee Hooper, and instrumentalist Phillip Harvey. Soul II Soul also featured a collection of vocalists, most notably Caron Wheeler, who’s plush vocals were responsible for Soul II Soul’s biggest hits, “Keep On Movin” and “Back To Life.”

Soul II Soul was discovered after they became regular performers at a London club called the Africa Centre; they were subsequently signed to 10 records, a subsidiary of Virgin. Internationally, Soul II Soul’s debut album was called Club Classics: Vol.1, but in the US it was known as Keep On Movin. By award show season in 1990, Soul II Soul were industry favorites.

The summer of 1990 introduced Soul II Soul’s follow-up, Volume 2: A New Decade, which featured a new lead vocalist, and their last big single, “Get A Life.” By the end of 1992, Soul II Soul had faded into relative obscurity on American pop charts. Producer Nellee Hooper went on to become influential in the careers of UK acts such as Massive Attack, Bjork, and even provided U2 with their hit from 1995’s ‘Batman Forever: soundtrack’ -- “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me.”

Soul II Soul was an extremely creative force during the New Jack Era, and undoubtedly influenced future R&B/Soul acts like Vertical Hold and Groove Theory from the mid 1990s.

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