Biography

William Jermaine Stewart was born on September 7th, 1957 in Columbus, Ohio. His parents Ethel and Eugene Stewart named their son William Jermaine Stewart. Jermaine was one of 5 children, Brother Eugene and sisters Sondra, Leandra & Norma. In 1972 the family moved to Chicago, Illinois, where he attended Paul Roberson High School.

Jermaine first came to the public's attention as a dancer on the U.S syndicated TV show "Soul Train" where he met fellow dancers Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels. When the "Soul Train" producer and presenter Don Cornelius created Shalamar Jermaine auditioned as lead singer but eventually Howard Hewitt won that position. Still Jermaine joined his friends as a backing singer and dancer.

Jermaine also performed background vocals for other acts like Millie Jackson, Tavares, Deniece Williams and the Temptations.

Jermaine moved to the U.K. in order to start his own recording career. In 1983 Jermaine performed backing vocals on Culture Club's hugely successful "Colour By Numbers" album. The group and particualry guitarist Mikey Craig helped Jermaine get a record deal of his own with Ten Records, which was a divison of Virgin Records in the U.K. and Arista Records in the U.S.

"The Word Is Out" was Jermaine's first album which was released in 1984. The lead single of the same name was original released in 1983 and was co written by Jermaine and Mikey Craig. The single and album failed to chart in the U.K. but both were met with moderate success in the U.S.

In 1986 Jermeine released his biggest hit "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off". An anthem for safe sex, when the Aids scare was at it's peak, this was a million selling record. The song reached numner 2 on the U.K. charts and number 5 in the U.S. Pop charts. The record was featured in an episode of U.S cop show "Miami Vice" which gave it further promotion.

It looked like Jermaine had finally made it. Jermaine's second album "Frantic Romantic" followed but sadly the album failed to take off like the single and only reached number 49 in the U.K. and 34 in the U.S. Further singles, "Jody" (atribute to longtime friend Jody Watley) and "Don't Ever Leave" made little impact on the charts. An out take from the album "Wear Out The Grooves" featured on the soundtrack to the movie "Perfect". In 2010 "Frantic Romantic" was remastered and reissued on CD with bonus tracks.

In 1987 Jermaine released his 3rd and most successful album "Say It Again". Jermaine believed this was his best work to date. The album reached number 32 in the U.K. and 98 in the U.S. and spawned 4 singles: "Say it Again", "Get Lucky", "Don't Talk Dirty To Me" and "Is It Really Love". Although only a moderately successful in the U.S. the singles sold well in Europe. "Don't Talk Dirty" was one of the biggest selling records of 1988 in Germany.

Jermaine toured in 1988 as a support act to the family group "The Jets" and then in his own right to support the album.

In 1989 Jermeine released his 4th and final album under his 10 records contract, titled "What Becomes A Legend Most. This album was predominatly released and was successful in Europe but not in the U.K. when the two singles "Tren De Amor" and "Every Woman Wants" failed to chart any higher than the mid 90s, the album was not released.

Also in 1989 Jermaine's song "Hot and Cold" was featued on the soundtrack to the movie "Weekend At Bernies".

In 1992 Jermaine teamed up with Jesse Saunders and recorded an album titled "Set Me Free" for "Reprise Records". The title track was released as single but it's failure led to the project being scrapped and the album remains unreleased.

As a gay man Jermaine was diagnosed as HIV positive and ill health affected his career. Having had the luxury of 3 homes around the World in London, Los Angeles and Chicargo. Jermaine moved back to Chicargo for the remaineder of his life.

Jermaine died on March 17th 1997, aged 39 of AIDS releated liver cancer and is buried at Homewood Memorial Gardens, Homewood, Illinois.

In 1999 "A Tribute to Jermaine Stewart: Attention" was released featuring unreleased songs by Jermaine.

Then later in 2007 Jermaine's Brother Gene, released a Greasest Hits double CD package of Jermine's best work and including some unreleased songs. A bonus DVD of Jermine's 1988 concert performance with "The Jets" was also made available.