Club Nouveau

Club Nouveau is an R&B-pop band that was formed by record producer/performer Jay King in 1986. Other members of Club Nouveau included original members Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Samuelle Prater, and Valerie Watson. Additional members include James L. Richard II, Kevin Irving, David Agent, Walter Phillips, and Mario Corbino.

The band's debut album, Life, Love, and Pain, was released in 1986. The group scored four consecutive hits with "Jealousy", "Situation ", a cover of Bill Withers's "Lean on Me", and "Why You Treat Me So Bad". "Lean on Me" and "Why You Treat Me So Bad" made it to #2 on the Billboard R&B chart the next year, with "Lean on Me" becoming a big Billboard Hot 100 hit and won a Grammy Award for the group. "Jealousy" also made an appearance on the soundtrack of the film Modern Girls.

The group's next albums, which included Listen to the Message, were laced with an evolving social consciousness. Notable recordings include a dancehall-influenced version of the gospel classic "Oh, Happy Day" from the album A New Beginning and they have issued a greatest hits compilation album.

Club Nouveau occasionally regroups to record. As of 2011, the current Club Nouveau roster consists of Jay King, Valerie Watson English, and Samuelle Prater, (vocals), with James L. Richard II, (guitar, keyboards, vocals).