Ceybil Jefferies facts for kids

Ceybil Jefferies was an American singer known for her amazing voice in house music and Contemporary R&B. She was very popular in the 1990s. One of her most famous songs was "It's Gonna Be Alright" with Deep Zone, which became a hit in 1996.

She also had other popular songs like "Love So Special" and "Open Your Heart." These songs were big hits on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart in 1991. Ceybil Jefferies sometimes used different names for her music. She was also known as Sweet Sable, Sable Jefferies, and her birth name, Sybil Jefferies.

It's important not to mix up Ceybil Jefferies with another singer named Sybil, who also sang R&B and pop music.

About Ceybil Jefferies

Ceybil Jefferies was born Sybil Jefferies in Brooklyn, New York. She loved music from a young age.

Her First Big Songs

Ceybil started her music career by signing with Atlantic Records. Her first album, Let Music Take Control, came out in 1991. This album included two songs that became very popular: "Love So Special" and "Open Your Heart." Both of these songs made it into the top 20 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.

New Name, New Sound

Before releasing her second album, Ceybil Jefferies decided to try something new. She left Atlantic Records and signed with Scotti Brothers Records. She also started using a new artist name: "Sable Jefferies."

Her first song with the new label was "Friends (For Old Time Sake)." This song had a different sound, mixing new jack swing with her usual house music. "Friends (For Old Time Sake)" was a big success! It reached No. 15 on the Billboard R&B chart. A shorter version of the song, called "Old Time's Sake," was even featured in the movie soundtrack for Above the Rim in 1994. For this, she used the name Sweet Sable.

More Popular Songs

Her album also featured two other singles, "Tonight" and "Love Thang." Both songs appeared on the Billboard R&B chart. "Love Thang" even reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Breakdowns chart in 1995. It was more popular than Usher's song "Think of You" at the time!

Working with Deep Zone

In 1996, Ceybil Jefferies worked with a Dutch house music group called Deep Zone. She sang on their single "It's Gonna Be Alright." This song became a hit, reaching No. 20 on the Dance Club Songs chart. A music critic from Billboard magazine, Larry Flick, said the song was "joyfully optimistic" and praised Ceybil's voice, saying it was "far more assured and smooth."

Later Years and Health

Ceybil Jefferies continued to make music into the 2000s. However, she was diagnosed with a serious illness called neurosarcoidosis. This condition affected her lungs and made it hard for her to breathe. It also caused her to lose much of her vision. Because of this illness, she had to stop her singing career.

Ceybil Jefferies sadly passed away in April 2020 due to COVID-19. Her death was announced by her friends and fellow musicians, including record producer Salaam Remi.

See also

In Spanish: Ceybil Jefferies para niños