Jermaine Stewart

Jermaine Stewart started out dancing on Soul Train along with Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniels. Although Jody was from Chicago Jermaine didn't actually meet them until he got to Los Angeles. That's when the three got together and talked and formed a group called the Soul Train Whack Dancers. This group was for dancing on Soul Train. They traveled to Canada, Kansas and other places within the United States. Jermaine said they did pretty well. All three of them auditioned for Shalamar and Jermaine went for lead singer, however, Howard Hewitt got the part but Jermaine toured with the new group as a dancer and back up vocalist. He remained with Shalamar for three years. While on the road he met a man who changed his career.

"The Word Is Out" was Jermaine's first solo effort. It threw him into the mainstream of solo success. Prior to it's release he performed on Culture Club's album - Colour By Numbers. He landed that slot when he met the members of Culture Club while touring London with Shalamar. Culture Club's band member, Mikey Craig, helped Jermaine put together a demo tape. In return Jermaine performed the background vocals on the groups hit "Miss Me Blind". With the groups encouragement Jermaine traded his career as a backup singer for a place in the spotlight.