Keith Sweat released his 12th studio album, Dress to Impress, on not just any ordinary day but, a very special day -- July 22, the singer's 55th birthday.
With 55 years of life under his belt and over 20 years invested in his music career, R&B legend Keith Sweat couldn't have chosen a better day to release his first studio album after taking a five year hiatus. Dress to Impress is not just an album, but the gentleman's guide to romancing and wooing your lady like it used to be done back in the late '80s when his first studio album, Make It Last Forever, was released or in the early '90s when his second album, I'll Give All My Love To You, dropped and proved his career was moving onward and upward.
Sweat is not only responsible for the success of his own solo career but is credited for bringing other great artists like Silk, Kut Klose and Ol' Skool to the forefront of soul and R&B by lending his talents as a writer, producer and singer to their tracks. With the album, Sweat has gifted 16 new tracks that takes the music lover on a journey through different eras of R&B, as described by This Is RnB, as a testament to his own love of music and his years of airing sensual, romantic songs on his nationally syndicated radio show, "The Sweat Hotel."
Though he takes his fans on a journey through various eras of music, Sweat explained during a Jet interview how he will always remain true to himself, his sound and his fans even if that means will always be remembered as a beggar.
"[This album] is the Keith that you know, so I try to stay true to that," explained Sweat. "I made my claim to fame by basically sticking to what I do. I built my own niche in the music game, so that's why people say that I'm a living legend because of the songs that I put out."
Some may say that niche and the songs that he puts out are all about begging but the birthday boy has a positive way of looking at that legacy. "People referred to both Teddy Pendergrass and Gerald Levert as teddy bears; so if I go down as a beggar, then I'm cool with that," explained Sweat.
Sweat was also the mastermind behind the super group, LSG, that featured one of those teddy bears, Levert, who died in 2006, along with Johny Gill and himself. Dress To Impress features a special track, "Let's Go To Bed," which features never before heard vocals from the deceased LSG member.
The album also features music with newcomer Takiya Mason, R&B group Dru Hill (the group he originally discovered) and Silk, for a timeless single titled "Tonight."
Dress To Impress is available now on iTunes and Amazon.
