Jodeci consists of two pairs of brothers from North Carolina who formed in 1990: Cedric (K-Ci) and Joel (Jo-Jo) Hailey and Dalvin and Donald (DeVante Swing) DeGrate. With their R&B sounds, urban image, and sexy overtone, Jodeci has become one of the premiere soul groups of the 90s. Their name is derived from 3 of member's nicknames: Jo-Jo, DeVante Swing, and K-Ci. All 4 members of Jodeci began their musical background in their youth singing gospel music. The DeGrate brothers, both born in Virginia, sang with their father's gospel group, The DeGrate Delegation, who have 18 gospel LPs to their credit. The Hailey brothers performed in their father's gospel group, Little Gedric and The Hailey Singers. The four guys met each other through each others' girlfriends, and began singing together while still in their teens. DeVante had run away in hopes of working with Prince at the age of 16, but didn't get too far in music before he returned home. He told Vibe magazine: " I was up at Paisley Park every day begging for a job, asking people to listen to my tape. The receptionist kept saying she couldn't help me. I wasn't gonna leave until they put me on." Jodeci's big break came when they went to New York, demo in hand. The guys brought their demo to Uptown Entertainment and were almost rejected until rapper Heavy D heard their music. Eventually, Jodeci's music made it to the president of Uptown and Jodeci were offered and signed a recording contract.
