This seminal R&B trio was the first group to sport the new jack swing sound, essentially traditional soul vocals melded to hip-hop beats, with credit for the genre's invention going to founder, multi-instrumentalist, and super-producer
Teddy Riley.
Riley formed his first band,
Wreckx-N-Effect, while still a teenager, with brothers
Markell Riley and
Brandon Mitchell;
Guy followed a few years later in 1987. Its first incarnation featured vocalists
Aaron Hall and
Timmy Gatling. Their self-titled debut album was an instant smash, producing the R&B hits "I Like," "Groove Me," "Spend the Night," and "Teddy's Jam." Meanwhile,
Riley found himself in strong demand as a songwriter and producer; in 1988,
Riley produced
Bobby Brown's
Don't Be Cruel, the album that helped new jack swing cross over into the pop mainstream.
Riley has also worked with
Kool Moe Dee,
Michael Jackson (
Dangerous),
Stevie Wonder,
Keith Sweat,
Jane Child, and
SWV, among others. In between albums,
Guy contributed songs to the soundtracks of
Do the Right Thing and
New Jack City.
By 1989,
Guy was in turmoil;
Riley's brother
Brandon Mitchell was killed in a shooting, and the group became involved in an acrimonious split with manager
Gene Griffin over money. 1990's
The Future featured
Hall's brother, Albert Damion Hall, in place of
Gatling and spawned R&B hits in "Let's Chill," "Do Me Right," "D-O-G Me Out," and "Long Gone." However, by the time
Riley and
Guy finally started to attract media attention for their innovative and influential work, the trio had broken up.
Riley concentrated on his production and songwriting career for several years before forming the band
Blackstreet with vocalists
Chauncey "Black" Hannibal,
Dave Hollister, and
Levi Little. The quartet released a self-titled debut in 1994.
Aaron Hall released his solo debut,
The Truth, in 1993; brother
Damion followed in 1994 with Straight to the Point.
Guy reunited in 1999, issuing
Guy III early the following year. ~ Steve Huey