![\"Cheryl](\"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Cheryl-\u201cCoko\u201d-Clemons-v3.jpg\")
<\/p>\nMost recognize Cheryl \u201cCoko\u201d Clemons as the elegant statuesque beauty of the R&B group Sisters With Voices, better known as SWV.\u00a0 As she takes the gospel music industry by storm, the world will be anointed by the smooth velvety vocals of this powerful songstress.<\/p>\n
Though widely known for her accomplishments in the R&B world, Coko has always maintained a connection to the church. \u201cI\u2019ve always been active in my church despite my profession in R&B music.\u00a0 Many R&B singers say, \u2018I was reared in the church,\u2019 but they\u2019re no longer active.\u00a0 Church was more than a breeding ground for me to sing, it\u2019s where I nurture my soul.\u201d\u00a0 She proclaims, \u201cIt\u2019s a lifestyle for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coko\u2019s debut gospel album \u201cGrateful,\u201d mixes gospel with an upbeat R&B flavor. Through her music, she anticipates drawing fans and listeners closer to God. \u201cI just want to inspire people to live a better life and get to know the Jesus that I sing about,\u201d says Coko.<\/p>\n
Coko\u2019s latest gospel album \u201dThe Winner in Me,\u201d which debut at # 4 on the gospel billboard charts is her personal\u00a0testimony that she shares letting the world know that God will never give up on you, \u201dsays Coko<\/p>\n
Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, Coko recalls always being very active in her church community.\u00a0 As a child, she performed with the church choir and assisted the church\u2019s nurse unit.\u00a0 A former member of The Lord\u2019s Church in Bronx, N.Y., Coko recorded the song \u201cSome How, Some Way\u201d on a live recording for The Lord\u2019s Church Cathedral Choir\u2019s \u201cWe Are Healed\u201d release.\u00a0 She also recorded the breakout gospel song \u201cMidnight\u201d on EMI Gospel group Brent Jones & T.P. Mobb\u2019s 2002 release \u201cBeautiful.\u201d\u00a0 Additionally, she is featured on \u201cUp There,\u201d a track by Evidence Gospel\/Light Records artist Youthful Praise.<\/p>\n
Raised by her mother Clyde \u201cLady Tibba\u201d Gamble, Coko\u2019s singing career began at the tender age of 12, when she performed as a member of the New York Community Choir.\u00a0 She later joined Hezekiah Walker\u2019s Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.<\/p>\n
While singing with Walker\u2019s award-winning choir, Coko teamed up with two childhood friends \u2013 Leanne \u201cLelee\u201d Lyons and Tamara \u201cTaj\u201d Johnson \u2013 to form the sensational R&B group SWV.\u00a0 Once the group landed a deal with RCA records, their music career took off.\u00a0 Among the group\u2019s many mega-hits are \u201cI\u2019m So Into You,\u201d \u201cYou\u2019re The One,\u201d \u201cRight Here,\u201d \u201cWeak,\u201d and \u201cRain\u201d \u2013 just to name a few.<\/p>\n
With their New Jill Swing style, SWV conquered the urban music scene with many chart top-chart topping hits.\u00a0 During their reign in the 1990\u2019s, the platinum selling group recorded five albums: 1992 \u2013 \u201cIt\u2019s About Time;\u201d 1994 \u2013 \u201cRemixes;\u201d 1996 \u2013 \u201cNew Beginning;\u201d and in 1997 \u2013 \u201cRelease Some Tension\u201d and \u201cA Special Christmas.\u201d\u00a0 Following the group\u2019s breakup, their \u201cGreatest Hits\u201d album was released in 1999; \u201cThe Best of SWV\u201d in 2001; the \u201cPlatinum and Gold Collection\u201d in 2003; and the \u201cEncore Collection\u201d in 2004.\u00a0 Additionally, SWV recorded songs featured on various motion picture soundtracks including \u201cAbove the Rim,\u201d \u201cBabe,\u201d and \u201cWaiting to Exhale.\u201d\u00a0 The groups single, \u201cRight Here,\u201d for the movie \u201cFree Willy\u201d was among their most memorable motion picture soundtrack singles.\u00a0 The group was also featured on Quincy Jones\u2019 acclaimed \u201cQ\u2019s Jook Joint.\u201d\u00a0 What\u2019s more, SWV\u2019s music has even influenced this millennium\u2019s hip-hop world as evidenced by the Chingy song \u201cPullin\u2019\u00a0Me Back,\u201d which samples their single \u201cRain.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
In addition to the success she attained with the Grammy nominated SWV, Coko also appeared on a variety of motion picture projects.\u00a0 For the blockbuster movie, \u201cMen in Black,\u201d she sang the hook on Will Smith\u2019s award-winning single \u201cMen in Black.\u201d\u00a0 She recorded \u201cKeep It Real,\u201d a duet with Jon B. on the \u201cHavPlenty\u201d soundtrack.\u00a0 She and Johnny Gill also remade the Rick James and Teena Marie classic \u201cFire & Desire for the \u201cBooty Call\u201d soundtrack.\u00a0 Moreover, she sang \u201cHe Be Back\u201d with Missy Elliott on the soundtrack for \u201cWhy Do Fools Fall In Love; sang alongside Faith Evans and Missy Elliott on \u201cAll The Times,\u201d a track featured on R&B trio LSG\u2019s self-titled album; and recorded a duet with Tevin Campbell called \u201cEverything You Are\u201d on his self-titled album.<\/p>\n
After SWV disbanded, COKO recorded her solo debut \u201cHot Coko,\u201d which featured the notable single \u201cSunshine\u201d that was later featured on the compilation \u201cStreet Vibes, Vol. 4.\u00a0 The song\u2019s dance remix appeared on the ever popular 2000 import compilation \u201cAyia Napa.\u201d<\/p>\n
Coko, who states that she was most inspired by Tremaine Hawkins, recorded a remake of the gospel legend\u2019s \u201cHoly One.\u201d\u00a0 Initially, she hoped to use the remake as her introduction into the gospel genre.<\/p>\n
Like Coko, her mother Clyde \u201cLady Tibba\u201d Gamble also sang with the New York Community Choir, and ironically recorded with Light Records, Coko\u2019s current label.\u00a0 In 2001, the two sang a duet on the remake of Eric Clapton\u2019s \u201cTears in Heaven\u201d that was featured on the \u201cRhythm & Spirit: Love Can Build a Bridge\u201d compilation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile I am very happy with all of my accomplishments and accolades up to this point, there is still so much I want to do.\u00a0 I still would like to start my own gospel record label and help develop some new acts.\u00a0 I would also like to do some acting and maybe even Broadway at some point,\u201d shares Coko.\u00a0 A true artist indeed, Coko exhibited her acting talent while touring with the David E. Talbert play, \u201cLove Makes Things Happen,\u201d starring After 7 singer Kevin Edmonds, comedian Joe Torrey, and former En Vogue member Dawn Robinson.<\/p>\n
While it is widely known that Coko has a passion for singing, many are unaware of her other passion.\u00a0 In her spare time, she enjoys designing and creating candles.\u00a0 In addition to her future aspirations in the entertainment industry, one day she hopes to illuminate lives and homes everywhere when she presents her creations to the public.<\/p>\n
With her solo career and SWV , Coko is showing no immediate signs of slowing down.\u00a0 However, she does admit that she would one day like to retire and enjoy life with her family.\u00a0 Although singing is her passion, she is most passionate about her relationship with God, her sons Jazz and Jalen, her mother, and her husband Mike Clemmons, drummer for the gospel group Israel and New Breed.<\/p>\n
Essentially, Coko hopes to touch the lives of many through her songs of inspiration.\u00a0 Years from now, she says she would like to be remembered as \u201ca talented, gifted, well-respected singer,\u201d and for her genuine spirit and \u201cgood heart.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Most recognize Cheryl \u201cCoko\u201d Clemons as the elegant statuesque beauty of the R&B group Sisters With Voices, better known as SWV.\u00a0 As she takes the gospel music industry by storm, the world will be anointed by the smooth velvety vocals of this powerful songstress. Though widely known for her accomplishments in the R&B world, Coko […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":655,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/Cheryl-\u201cCoko\u201d-Clemons-v11.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6pLGr-ax","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=653"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":664,"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/653\/revisions\/664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/655"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/willoughbyavenue.com\/letsbelifted\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}