| Eternal | |
|---|---|
R&B girl group, Eternal. |
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| Background information | |
| Genres | R&B |
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1993–1999 |
| Labels | EMI Records |
| Associated acts | Sugababes |
| Past members | |
| Easther Bennett Vernie Bennett Kelle Bryan Louise Redknapp |
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Eternal were an English R&B girl group formed in 1992. The group featured two sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, alongside Kelle Bryan and Louise Nurding. Eternal became an international success and achieved fifteen Top 20 hits in the UK, and have sold about 10 million records worldwide.[1][2]
Contents |
Eternal were formed in 1992 by music manager Denis Ingoldsby of First Avenue Records, after Eddie Gordon showed him how the success of En Vogue was built in the United Kingdom. Eternal were quickly signed to EMI Records and released their debut single, "Stay", in September 1993. The song was a success and it reached number 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[3][4]
Eternal released their debut album, Always & Forever in November 1993, and it reached number 2. The album sold over a million copies in the United Kingdom, making this one of 1994's biggest selling albums. They were named Best Group at the Smash Hits Poll Winners Party, and were nominated for four Brit Awards. Louise decided to leave the group before the recording of Eternal's second album, and went on to pursue a successful solo career.
Power of a Woman was the first album without Louise, and entered the charts at number 5. Another great success for the group, it produced four hit singles, including "Power of a Woman", "I Am Blessed", and a remixed version of "Good Thing", continuing Eternal's string of Top 20 Hits.
In 1997, Eternal achieved their first ever UK number one, a duet with BeBe Winans, "I Wanna Be the Only One", which became the second most played song on UK Radio in 1997, and stayed at the top spot for 1 week. It was taken from their third album Before the Rain, which also included "Don't You Love Me". Eternal's Greatest Hits package was released in the later part of 1997, and became the highest selling Greatest Hits package of the year. It featured their last Top 10 single "Angel of Mine", which reached number 4.
In 1998, a week after their Party In The Park performance, Kelle Bryan was controversially sacked by the Bennett Sisters via a fax from their solicitor. Their reasons cited "a break down in professional communications". A short time later Bryan was diagnosed with Lupus and was forced to abandon plans for a solo career. Easther & Vernie recruited a new member, TJ, but she left after a matter of days and the sisters carried on as a duo but it was rumored that singer Michelle Gayle was to step in as Kelle's replacement but proved untrue. "Whatcha Gonna Do" was released from their fourth album Eternal and hit number 16. With lack of promotion the album charted at number 87, despite positive reviews. "Treat Me Like A Lady", "I Cry Real Tears" and "If She Breaks Your Heart" were scheduled for release but plans were scrapped due to Easther and Vernie deciding it was time to pursue other projects. Eternal then parted ways with EMI in 2000.
Now Louise Redknapp, she was the first member of the band to leave to pursue a solo career, scoring a string of Top 10 singles and albums and two UK tours from 1995 to 2003. She married football player Jamie Redknapp in 1998, and she has also presented a number of television shows including SMTV Live, CD:UK and most notably The Clothes Show, Something for the Weekend and So You Think You Can Dance.
As a singer, Bryan experienced minor success after leaving Eternal in the form of a no. 14 single called "Higher Than Heaven" in October 1999, but her debut solo album, Breakfast in Bed, was never released. A second single, "I Wanna Know", was canceled due to further health issues.[5]
Easther Bennett teamed up with reggae band Aswad to record a cover of Diana King's "Shy Guy", which was released as a single in August 2002. Easther then decided to turn to songwriting and has written for many different artists including Girls Aloud.
Vernie Bennett stepped out of the limelight following the split of Eternal. She went back to finish studying law and, in 2006, gave birth to her first child. In August 2010, Bennett signed with ASM Artist Management.[6]
| Book: Eternal | |
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