En Vogue
Cindy Herron, Dawn Robinson, Maxine Jones, and Terry Ellis
They ranked as the second most successful female group of the 1990s In March 2015, Billboard magazine named the group the ninth most-successful girl group of all time. Two of the group’s singles rank in Billboard’s most successful girl group songs of all-time list, “Don’t Let Go (Love)” (#12) and “Hold On ” (#23).
Their lush harmonies, classic sophistication, and flawless looks accomplished just that. Stand out singles include “Hold On,” “Lies,” and “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It).” Their 1992 version of “Something He Can Feel,” originally sung by the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin
En Vogue is an American vocal girl group whose original lineup consisted of singers Terry Ellis, Dawn Robinson, Cindy Herron, and Maxine Jones. Formed in Oakland, California, in 1989, En Vogue reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 with the single “Hold On”, taken from their 1990 debut album Born to Sing. The group’s 1992 follow-up album Funky Divas reached the top 10 in both the US and UK, and included their second US number two hit “My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It)” as well as the US top 10 hits “Giving Him Something He Can Feel” and “Free Your Mind”.
In 1996, “Don’t Let Go (Love)” became the group’s third, and most successful single, to reach number two in the US, and became their sixth number one on the US R&B chart. Robinson left the group in 1997 shortly before the release of their third album EV3, which reached the US and UK top 10. Jones left the group in 2001, and Amanda Cole joined shortly thereafter. However, in 2003, Cole left the group, and Rhona Bennett joined the group during the recording of their album Soul Flower. In 2005, the original members briefly united before disassembling again. In 2009, the original members once again reunited for their “En Vogue: 20th Anniversary”. Shortly after the tour, Robinson and Jones again departed from En Vogue, with Bennett rejoining the group as a trio.
En Vogue has sold 20 million records worldwide. The group has won seven MTV Video Music Awards, three Soul Train Awards, two American Music Awards, and received seven Grammy nominations. In December 1999, Billboard magazine ranked the band as the 19th most successful recording artist of the 1990s. They ranked as the second most successful female group of the 1990s.[6] In March 2015, Billboard magazine named the group the ninth most-successful girl group of all time. Two of the group’s singles rank in Billboard’s most successful girl group songs of all-time list, “Don’t Let Go (Love)” (#12) and “Hold On ” (#23)
2016–present: Electric Café and touring
In 2016, En Vogue released “Deja Vu,” the first promotional single from Electric Café, through their own label En Vogue Records after signing with Entertainment One Music. The following year, they embarked on the For the Love of Music Tour. The European tour launched on April 6, 2017, in Dublin, Ireland, and concluded in Bremen, Germany on April 25. Also in 2017, the trio released three further singles from their forthcoming effort, including buzz singles “I’m Good” and “Have a Seat” featuring Snoop Dogg as well as Ne-Yo-penned lead single “Rocket”, the latter of which became their first top 10 hit on Billboard’s Adult R&B Songs chart in over 20 years.
In April 2018, En Vogue began the second leg of their European Tour in support of their seventh full-length studio album Electric Café.[50] The same month, the album, their first studio project in 14 years, was released. A blend of neo-soul, pop, and contemporary R&B with electronic dance music, the trio worked with Raphael Saadiq, Dem Jointz, Curtis “Sauce” Wilson as well as regular contributors Foster & McElroy on most of the album. Electric Café received mixed reviews from critics, many of whom praised the band for their vocal performances but found the material too generic and uneven. In the United States, the album debuted at number 14 on Billboard’s Independent Albums and reached the Top Album Sales chart. A second and final single from the album, “Reach 4 Me” became a top 20 hit on US Adult R&B Songs Chart in August 2018.
In July 2019, the group performed on the song “I Got You (Always and Forever)” alongside Chance the Rapper, Kierra Sheard, and Ari Lennox on the rapper’s album The Big Day. In October 2019, original members Robinson and Jones reunited with Ellis, Herron, and Bennett for an on-stage performance to salute music industry executive Sylvia Rhone at the City of Hope Gala 2019, marking the first time all five members performed together. Plans to reunite permanently for another concert tour in support of their 30th anniversary in 2020, failed to materialize when the four original members could not agree on whether Bennett should once again step down as a non-original member.
In 2021, the group made a cameo in the romantic comedy sequel Coming 2 America alongside Salt-N-Pepa.
In 2022, En Vogue competed in season seven of The Masked Singer as the “Queen Cobras” of Team Bad. The trio narrowly missed out on a spot in the finale of the singing competition as they were eliminated on the week of May 4 alongside Shaggy as “Space Bunny” of Team Cuddly. The same year, the band embarked on the Mixtape Tour alongside New Kids on the Block, Salt-N-Pepa, and Rick Astley.
In 2023, En Vogue performed as the headlining pop group for the 2023 Boston Pops Orchestra Fireworks Spectacular on July 4, 2023.
GROUP MEMBERS PAST AND PRESENT
Terry Ellis (1989–present)
Cindy Herron (1989–present)
Rhona Bennett (2003–2005; 2006–2008; 2012–present)
Maxine Jones (1989–2001; 2004–2012)
Dawn Robinson (1989–1997; 2005; 2008–2011)
Amanda Cole (2001–2003)