{{short description|American contemporary R&B group}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}} {{about|the group|the group's eponymous album|After 7 (After 7 album){{!}}''After 7'' (After 7 album)|the Lay Bankz album|After 7 (Lay Bankz album){{!}}''After 7'' (Lay Bankz album)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = After 7 | image = After 7 on stage 2022.jpg | caption = Kevon, Daniel and Keith in 2022 | image_size = <!-- Only for images narrower than 220 pixels --> | alias = | origin = Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. | genre = {{flatlist| * R&B<ref name="Kellman">{{cite web|last=Kellman|first=Andy|date=n.d.|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/after-7-mn0000599777/biography|title=After 7: Biography & History|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=January 26, 2021}}</ref> * progressive soul<ref>{{cite news|last=Himes|first=Geoffrey|authorlink=Geoffrey Himes|date=May 16, 1990|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1990/05/16/records/428be2d6-aeac-4263-a825-3b08a82535a2/|title=Records|newspaper=The Washington Post|accessdate=January 26, 2021}}</ref> }} | years_active = {{flatlist| * 1987–1997 * 2006–present }} | label = {{flatlist| * Virgin * E1 Music }} | website = {{URL|https://after7music.com/}} | current_members = * Kevon Edmonds * Wil Robinson * Jeremy Keith | past_members = * Melvin Edmonds * Jason Edmonds * Danny McClain * Keith Mitchell | past_member_of = Indiana University Soul Revue }}
'''After 7''' is an American R&B group founded in 1987 by brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds, and their friend Keith Mitchell. The Edmonds brothers are the older siblings of pop/R&B singer-songwriter and record producer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, who named the group and helped them get a record deal with Virgin Records in 1988. After 7 released their platinum-selling<ref name="CNN">{{cite news|last=Melas|first=Chloe|authorlink=Chloe Melas|date=May 20, 2019|url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/20/entertainment/melvin-edmonds-dead|title=After 7 vocalist and North Central alum Melvin Edmonds dies at 65|website=CNN|accessdate=July 28, 2022}}</ref> self-titled debut album in 1989, which spawned three singles "Heat of the Moment", "Ready or Not" and "Can't Stop". "Ready or Not" and "Can't Stop" were No. 1 R&B hits and top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100. Their second album ''Takin' My Time'', released in 1992, also went platinum and contained the R&B hit medley "Baby, I'm for Real/Natural High". After 7's Gold-selling 1995 album ''Reflections'' was their last album before the group disbanded in 1997. The album included the R&B hit "'Til You Do Me Right. Years later the group resumed touring with Jason Edmonds, son of Melvin Edmonds, replacing his father.<ref name="IndyStar">{{cite news|last=Lindquist|first=David|date=May 19, 2019|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/music/concerts/2019/05/19/after-7-vocalist-and-north-central-alum-melvin-edmonds-dies-65/3732983002/|title=After 7 vocalist and North Central alum Melvin Edmonds dies at 65|newspaper=The Indianapolis Star|accessdate=July 28, 2022}}</ref> Melvin rejoined the group for their successful 2016 comeback album Timeless, which featured 3 adult R&B top 10 hits "Runnin' Out", "I Want You" and "Let Me Know".<ref name="IndyStar"/><ref name="CNN"/>
Melvin Edmonds died on May 18, 2019, at the age of 65.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eurweb.com/2019/05/19/we-remember-after-7s-melvin-edmonds-passes-away/|title=WE REMEMBER: After 7's Melvin Edmonds Passes Away|date=May 19, 2019|website=Eurweb.com|access-date=May 19, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=After 7 Speaks Out After Death of Group Member Melvin Edmonds|date=May 21, 2019|magazine=Vibe|first=Latifah|last=Muhammad|accessdate=February 5, 2022|url=https://www.vibe.com/news/entertainment/after-7-melvin-edmonds-death-649114/}}</ref><ref name="IndyStar"/> Jason left the group shortly thereafter and Daniel McClain was added in 2019. Four years later, McClain departed and was replaced by Wil Robinson. At the end of 2024, Mitchell departed the group for a gospel music career and was replaced by singer Jeremy Keith.<ref>{{cite web | title=Instagram | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DG4NSGWMfBu/ }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Instagram | url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DGZ8OuDOyRP/ }}</ref>
==History== ===1977-1987: Early beginnings and formation=== Marvin Edmonds Sr. and Barbara Edmonds of Indianapolis, Indiana had six sons: Marvin Jr., Melvin, Michael, Kevon, Kenneth and Derek.<ref name="IndyStar"/> According to Babyface, Melvin and Kevon were the two best singers in the musical family. The roots of After 7 trace to when Kevon met Keith Mitchell at Indiana University Bloomington in the late 1970s, where they were members of the Indiana University Soul Revue.<ref name="IndyStar"/> Kevon and Keith decided to form a group as a hobby and added Melvin. For years Kevon worked at Eli Lilly and Company, Mitchell worked at John Hancock in Chicago and Melvin worked at Chrysler Corp. in Indianapolis.<ref name="IndyStar"/> They would occasionally come together to perform in Indianapolis. Mitchell was long thought to be the cousin of Babyface's then-songwriting/production partner Antonio "L.A." Reid; however, this was set up as a marketing tool for the group and was incorrect.<ref name="rnbhaven">{{cite web |url=http://www.rnbhaven.com/90s-music/feature/Keith-Mitchell-Interview-Part-1/13|title=Keith Mitchell: After 7's Untold Story|access-date=February 1, 2009|year=2009|publisher=R&B Haven|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090203132903/http://www.rnbhaven.com/90s-music/feature/Keith-Mitchell-Interview-Part-1/13| archive-date= February 3, 2009|url-status= live}}</ref>
By the late 1980s, the Edmonds' younger brother Babyface had built a successful career singing, writing and producing. He invited Melvin, Kevon and Keith out to Los Angeles, named them After 7, and got them a record deal with Virgin Records.
===1988-1997: Career success=== After 7 released their self-titled debut album in August 1989. The album was mostly written and produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid. The album was certified platinum and produced three singles "Heat of the Moment", "Ready or Not" and "Can't Stop" and two other charting songs "One Night" and "My Only Woman". "Ready or Not" and "Can't Stop" were both No. 1 R&B hits and reached No. 7 and No. 6 respectively on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref name="allmusic"/> "Can't Stop" was also nominated for a Grammy in the category of best R&B performance by a duo or group.<ref name="IndyStar"/> After 7 toured with MC Hammer in the summer of 1990, and they won an NAACP Image Award for best new male artist or group that year.<ref name="IndyStar"/> In 1991, they released the top 10 R&B hit "Nights Like This" for ''The Five Heartbeats'' movie soundtrack. That same year, they took the road as Whitney Houston's opening act on her ''I'm Your Baby Tonight World Tour''.<ref name=WhitneyTour>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TLADAAAAMBAJ |title=Whitney Houston Performs With Soul and Sass On World Tour |date=June 24, 1991 |page=57 |work=Jet |author=Waldron, Clarence |accessdate=November 29, 2022}}</ref>
After 7's second album ''Takin' My Time'' was released in August 1992. The album is notable for being their only album without any songs produced by Babyface and L.A. Reid, who were focused on developing other artists. Instead, they contribute as writers, with Reid co-writing the songs "Can He Love U Like This" and "G.S.T.", and Babyface writing "Truly Something Special" and "Love by Day/Love by Night". The production was handed over to Daryl Simmons & Kayo, who co-produced and co-wrote many of the songs on their debut album.<ref name="Kellman"/>
Other songs on the album were produced by Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis associate Randy Ran and producer Dallas Austin. As a result, this gave ''Takin' My Time'' a decidedly "new jack swing" sound and feel. Three singles were released from the album; the first was "Kickin' It", followed by a medley of The Originals' song "Baby I'm for Real" and Bloodstone's "Natural High". The third single was "Can He Love U Like This". The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.<ref>{{cite web|last=Hogan|first=Ed|title=Kevon Edmonds Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/kevon-edmonds-mn0000087965/biography|publisher=AllMusic|accessdate=September 11, 2012}}</ref>
''Reflections'' is the third and last studio album by After 7 before the group split. The album reunited them with producer Babyface and L.A. Reid. They also enlisted the production talents of Babyface protegés Jon B. and Keith Andes as well as newcomers The Boom Brothers. Reflections is the first After 7 album on which the members of the group are credited as both songwriters and executive producers. The album included the R&B top 5 hit "'Til You Do Me Right.<ref name="allmusic"/> Melvin exited the group after the release of ''Reflections'' and the group officially disbanded in 1997. After 7's last release on Virgin Records was the compilation album ''The Very Best of After 7'' in March 1997. It included unreleased material, including a cover version of "Sara Smile". Also in 1997, Melvin and Kevon joined their brother Babyface to form the quintet Milestone along with K-Ci & JoJo. The group only released one single, "I Care 'Bout You", for the ''Soul Food'' movie soundtrack.
===1998-present: Comeback=== Kevon Edmonds released the solo album ''24/7'' in October 1999. He invited his nephew Jason Edmonds, son of Melvin, to tour with him as a background singer for years. By the late 2000s, After 7 resumed touring with Jason replacing his father. However, the group decided not to record again without the participation of Melvin. Melvin battled health issues, including a stroke in 2011.<ref name="CNN"/> Melvin was able to reunite with the group on the 2015 single "I Want You", which reached the top 10 of Billboard's adult R&B songs chart. The group also recorded a version of the song with Babyface. The album ''Timeless'' was released in October 2016. It featured the group as a quartet (Melvin, Kevon, Keith and Jason) and included "I Want You" and other top 10 adult R&B hits "Runnin' Out" and "Let Me Know".
Melvin Edmonds died on May 18, 2019, at the age of 65.<ref name="CNN"/> Jason left the group shortly thereafter and Daniel McClain was added. After 7 released their fifth album, ''Unfinished Business'', in August 2021. Danny was then replaced in 2023 by Wil Robinson and they continue to perform to the present day.
==Discography== ===Studio albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album details ! colspan="4"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:30px;"| US<br><ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/after-7-mn0000599777/awards|title=US Charts > After 7|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=September 1, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405021458/http://www.allmusic.com/artist/after-7-mn0000599777/awards|archive-date=April 5, 2013}}</ref> ! style="width:30px;"| US<br>R&B<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! style="width:30px;"| AUS<br><ref name="aus albums">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/u1n5NsW |title=After 7 ARIA chart history (albums), received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= July 7, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> ! style="width:30px;"| NZ<br><ref name="nz">{{cite web|url=https://charts.nz/showinterpret.asp?interpret=After+7|title=NZ Charts > After 7|publisher=Recording Industry Association of New Zealand|access-date=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- || 1989 | style="text-align:left;"| ''After 7'' * Release date: August 22, 1989 * Label: Virgin | 35 | 3 | 124 | 35 | style="text-align:left;"| * US: Platinum<ref name="riaa">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH_RESULTS&artist=%22After%207%22|title=US Certifications > After 7|publisher=Recording Industry Association of America|access-date=September 1, 2013}}</ref> |- || 1992 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Takin' My Time'' * Release date: August 25, 1992 * Label: Virgin | 76 | 8 | 196 | — | style="text-align:left;"| * US: Platinum<ref name="riaa"/> |- || 1995 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Reflections'' * Release date: July 18, 1995 * Label: Virgin | 40 | 7 | 83 | — | style="text-align:left;"| * US: Gold<ref name="riaa"/> |- || 2016 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Timeless'' * Release date: October 14, 2016 * Label: eOne Music | — | 7 | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- || 2021 | style="text-align:left;"| ''Unfinished Business'' * Release date: August 20, 2021 * Label: The SoNo Recording Group | — | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |}
===Compilation albums=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Album details ! colspan="3"| Peak positions |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:30px;"| US<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! style="width:30px;"| US<br>R&B<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! style="width:30px;"| AUS<br><ref name="aus albums"/> |- || 1997 | style="text-align:left;"| ''The Very Best of After 7'' * Release date: March 11, 1997 * Label: Virgin | 97 | 24 | 181 |- || 2003 | style="text-align:left;"| ''The Best of After 7'' * Release date: December 30, 2003 * Label: EMI | — | — | — |- | colspan="8" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart. |}
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Single ! colspan="5" | Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"| Certifications ! rowspan="2"| Album |- style="font-size:smaller;" ! style="width:30px;"| US<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! style="width:30px;"| US<br>R&B<br><ref name="allmusic"/> ! style="width:30px;"| AUS<br><ref name="aus">Australian (ARIA) chart peaks: *Top 50 peaks: {{cite web|url=http://australian-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=After+7|title=australian-charts.com > After 7 in Australian Charts|publisher=Hung Medien|access-date=September 1, 2013}} *Top 100 peaks from January 1990 to December 2010: {{cite book|last=Ryan|first=Gavin|title=Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010|year=2011|publisher=Moonlight Publishing|location=Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia}} *"Sara Smile": {{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/wjmQ4Uk.jpg|title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles Chart – Week Ending 06 Apr 1997|publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA)|access-date=June 24, 2017}} N.B. The HP column displays the highest peak reached.</ref><ref name="aus singles">{{cite web|url=https://imgur.com/a/tVp9dBA| title=After 7 ARIA chart history (singles), received from ARIA in May 2024|publisher=ARIA|via=Imgur.com|access-date= July 7, 2024}} N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.</ref> ! style="width:30px;"| NZ<br><ref name="nz"/> ! style="width:30px;"| UK<br><ref name="uk">UK chart peaks: *Top 100 peaks: {{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/26013/after%207/|title=Official Charts > After 7|publisher=The Official UK Charts Company|access-date=June 24, 2017}} *Top 200 peaks from November 1994 to December 2010: {{cite web|url=http://www.zobbel.de/cluk/CLUK_A.HTM|title=Chart Log UK 1994–2010 > A – Azzido Da Bass|publisher=zobbel.de|access-date=June 24, 2017}}</ref> |- | rowspan="2" |1989 | style="text-align:left;"| "Heat of the Moment" | 19 | 5 | 107 | 28 | 87 | style="text-align:left;"| | rowspan="5" style="text-align:left;"| ''After 7'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Don't Cha' Think" | — | 25 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | rowspan="3" |1990 | style="text-align:left;"| "Ready or Not" {{note label|Note1|B|B}} | 7 | 1 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| * US: Gold<ref name="riaa" /> |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Can't Stop" {{note label|Note1|B|B}} | 6 | 1 | 80 | 9 | 54 | style="text-align:left;"| * US: Gold<ref name="riaa" /> |- | style="text-align:left;"| "My Only Woman" | — | 36 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | 1991 | style="text-align:left;"| "Nights Like This" {{note label|Note1|B|B}} | 24 | 7 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| ''The Five Heartbeats'' |- | rowspan="2" |1992 | style="text-align:left;"| "Kickin' It" | 45 | 6 | 191 | 29 | — | style="text-align:left;"| | rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| ''Takin' My Time'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Baby, I'm for Real/Natural High" <small>(medley)</small> | 55 | 5 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | rowspan="2" |1993 | style="text-align:left;"| "Can He Love U Like This" | — | 22 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Truly Something Special" | — | 49 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | rowspan="2" |1994 | style="text-align:left;"| "Gonna Love You Right" | 87 | 15 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| ''Sugar Hill'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Not Enough Hours in the Night" | — | 56 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| ''Beverly Hills 90210: The College Years'' |- | rowspan="2" |1995 | style="text-align:left;"| "'Til You Do Me Right" | 31 | 5 | 16 | 11 | — | style="text-align:left;"| *AUS: Gold<ref>{{cite web|url=http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg |title=The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1996 |publisher=Imgur.com (original document published by ARIA) |access-date=June 24, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102010347/http://i.imgur.com/t1PYbhG.jpg |archive-date=November 2, 2015 }}</ref> | rowspan="4" style="text-align:left;"| ''Reflections'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Damn Thing Called Love" | — | 33 | — | 38 | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | rowspan="2" |1996 | style="text-align:left;"| "How Do You Tell the One" | — | 60 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | style="text-align:left;"| "I Like It Like That" | — | — | 46 | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | 1997 | style="text-align:left;"| "Sara Smile" {{ref label|Note1|A|A}} | — | 31 | 99 | — | 130 | style="text-align:left;"| | style="text-align:left;"| ''The Very Best of After 7'' |- | 2015 | align="left" | "I Want You" {{ref label|Note1|C|C}} | — | 6 | — | — | — | | rowspan="5" style="text-align:left;"|''Timeless'' |- | 2016 | align="left" | "Let Me Know" {{ref label|Note1|C|C}} | — | 6 | — | — | — | |- | rowspan="2" |2017 | align="left" | "Runnin' Out" {{ref label|Note1|C|C}} | — | 3 | — | — | — | |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Too Late" {{ref label|Note1|C|C}} | — | 8 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | 2018 | style="text-align:left;"| "If I"{{ref label|Note1|C|C}} | — | 8 | — | — | — | style="text-align:left;"| |- | rowspan=3|2021 | style="text-align:left;"| "Bittersweet" | — | 8 | — | — | — | | rowspan=3 style="text-align:left;"|''Unfinished Business'' |- | style="text-align:left;"| "No Place Like You" | — | 11 | — | — | — | |- | style="text-align:left;"| "Tomorrow Can Wait" | — | — | — | — | — | |- | colspan="16" style="text-align:center; font-size:9pt;"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory. |} ; Notes * {{note label|Note1|A|A}}Did not chart on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart (''Billboard'' rules at the time prevented album cuts from charting). Chart peak listed represent the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart. * {{note label|Note1|B|B}} "Ready or Not," "Can't Stop" and "Nights Like This" charted on the ''Billboard'' Adult Contemporary chart as well, reaching No. 7, No. 23, and No. 36 respectively. * {{note label|Note1|C|C}}Did not chart on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Chart peak listed represent the ''Billboard'' Adult R&B Songs chart. These singles charted on the ''Billboard'' Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart as well, reaching No. 29, No. 38, No. 24, No. 41 and No. 36 respectively.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{AllMusic}} *{{Discogs artist}} *{{MusicBrainz artist}}
{{After 7|state=expanded}} {{Navboxes |title = Awards for After 7 |list = {{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Duo or Group}} {{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist}} }} {{Authority control}} Category:Musical groups established in 1987 Category:American soul musical groups Category:African-American musical groups Category:New jack swing music groups Category:Virgin Records artists Category:1987 establishments in Indiana Category:Musical groups from Indianapolis Category:Progressive soul music groups Category:American musical families