Coko facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheryl "Coko" Gamble
|
|
|---|---|
| Birth name | Cheryl Elizabeth Gamble |
| Also known as |
|
| Born | June 13, 1970 The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres |
|
| Occupation(s) |
|
| Instruments | Vocals |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Labels |
|
| Spouse(s) |
Mike "Big Mike" Clemons
(m. 2003; div. 2018) |
| Partner(s) | Ishmael Butler |
| Children | 2, including Lil Tracy |
Cheryl Elizabeth Gamble (born June 13, 1970), known as Coko, is an American singer and songwriter. She is most famous as the lead singer of the R&B group Sisters With Voices (SWV). Besides her R&B music, Coko also has a successful solo career singing gospel songs. As part of SWV, Coko has sold millions of records worldwide. She has also been nominated for four Grammy Awards.
Contents
Early Life
Cheryl Elizabeth Gamble was born in The Bronx, New York. Her mother, Lady "Clyde" Tibba Gamble, was a gospel singer. Coko grew up in the South Bronx and started singing when she was just three years old.
Music Career
Coko began her singing journey in Hezekiah Walker's Love Fellowship Crusade Choir.
Sisters With Voices (SWV)
From 1990 to 1998, Coko was the lead singer of the popular R&B group, Sisters With Voices (SWV). The group released five albums, and their first album, It's About Time (1992), sold over three million copies. This made SWV a huge success and earned them many awards, including a nomination for a Grammy Award in 1994.
After their Christmas album in 1997, SWV decided to take a break. Coko made the choice to leave the group at that time. Later, SWV got back together and released two more albums in the 2010s.
Solo Career
After SWV's break, Coko worked with other artists. She famously sang on Will Smith's hit song "Men in Black" from the movie of the same name in 1997. This song even won a Grammy Award!
In 1999, Coko released her first solo album called Hot Coko. The first song from it, "Sunshine," was a tribute to her son, Jazz. She also released a gospel album called Grateful in 2006, which did very well on the gospel charts. This album featured other famous singers like Faith Evans and Fantasia Barrino. Coko continued to release gospel music, including "A Coko Christmas" (2008) and The Winner in Me (2009).
Reuniting with SWV
Coko reunited with SWV for their first live show in eight years in 2005. They also performed together on the New Jack Reunion Tour in 2006. The group continued to perform and release new music. Coko also did a photoshoot in Mississippi, showing off her fashionable gowns.
Personal Life
Coko has two sons. Her first son, Jazz, is also a musician known as Lil Tracy. His father is Digable Planets member Ishmael Butler.
In 2003, Coko married Mike "Big Mike" Clemons, a gospel producer and drummer. They had a son named Jalen Clemons, who is also a singer known as Jayye Michael. Coko and Mike divorced in 2018.
Coko now lives in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Discography
Coko has released several solo albums and singles. Here are some of her main solo albums:
- Hot Coko (1999)
- Grateful (2006)
- A Coko Christmas (2008)
- The Winner in Me (2009)
- Always Coko (2012)
She has also been featured on many songs by other artists, including:
- Will Smith: "Men In Black" (1997)
- Johnny Gill & Coko: "Fire and Desire" (1997)
- Jon B., Coko and Jay-Z: "Keep It Real" (1998)
- Missy Elliott: "He Be Back" (1999)
- Brent Jones and the T. P. Mobb: "Midnite" (2002)
- Mary Mary and Deborah Cox: "My Life" (2007)
- Case & Coko: "Face To Face" (2008)
- MC Lyte featuring Coko and Faith Evans: "Last Time" (2015)
