Wyatt has since released a series of follow-ups, including 2017’s Keke Covers, featuring versions of songs by Prince, Beyoncé, and Whitney Houston, among others.
She returned in 2010 with Who Knew?, which made the Top 40 of Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
In the years that followed, Wyatt recorded two albums- Emotional Rollercoaster for Cash Money Records and Ghetto Rose for TVT-that were never released.
Avant features on two songs, including the hit “Nothing In this World.” Wyatt recorded her gold-selling 2001 debut album, Soul Sista, in a two-week period.
The success of “My First Love” led to a deal with Avant’s label, MCA Records.
When originally composed by Ren Moore and Angela Winbush, they had planned to produce it as a song for Janet Jackson's self-titled debut solo LP but Jackson reportedly turned it down. The single later went Top 5 on the R&B charts, helping Avant’s 2000 debut album, My Thoughts, go platinum. 'My First Love' is a 1983 R&B Ballad recorded by R&B duo Ren & Angela on the Capitol label and later a 2000 hit cover by Avant and singer Keke Wyatt. At 16, she recorded “My First Love”-a cover of a 1983 song by René & Angela-with R&B singer Avant.
During her teens, Wyatt earned money writing and demoing songs.
By age 12, she’d met famed bassist and future American Idol judge Randy Jackson, who mentored the singer for more than a decade.
Wyatt grew up in Indianapolis with a family that performed gospel music.
I just thank God that a brother is still relevant.R&B singer KeKe Wyatt made her name by duetting with Avant on his 2000 hit “My First Love.” She enjoyed subsequent solo success before facing a series of industry roadblocks. When you step away and come back with a real record, they tend to respect it more. It was cool but the people can get sick of you. I was putting out records every other year. I had to step away so people could respect and love what I do. The most pressure I felt was to step away from. With most R&B singers embracing a more pop sound, do you ever feel pressure to follow suit? : I’m always trying to give people something to live through. Whatever album you get from Avant, you’re going to pull something away from it. I have a 9-year-old son and I see the world a little different now. The reason I named it Face the Music is because at some point everybody has to face some type of music in their lives. What’s the story behind the album title, and how is it different from your last six albums? I’ll put her up against any female in the game, and I mean that. From that point on I knew there was something special about her. When we did “My First Love” she was only 16, and never heard the original song, but she sang it like a champ. I’ve worked with a lot of different female artists and she’s the easiest to work with. We have a chemistry and bond that can’t be broken. It’s a whole different spirit when she’s in the studio. VIBE: Would you say KeKe is your musical muse?ĭefinitely. When I heard the track I was like “wow, this is the song right here.” It just fit us perfectly. She was doing a reality show at the same time (TV One’s R&B Divas) so it worked out perfectly for us. What made you return to the studio with her for the new album?Īvant: People kept asking, “When are you and KeKe hooking back up again?” So coming out with a new album featuring her was one of my main focuses. VIBE: You and KeKe last recorded a song together in 2001. 5, his thoughts on the change in R&B music, and his special relationship with KeKe. VIBE chatted with Avant about his seventh album, Face the Music, which hits stores on Feb. After taking a hiatus from the music industry, he’s returned to his soul roots and reunited with Wyatt on their new single “You & I,” which became an instant radio hit and continues to climb the R&B chart. Avant has been crooning his heart out for over a decade on records like, “Read Your Mind,” and “My First Love,” featuring KeKe Wyatt.