Public Announcement

Public Announcement is an American R&B group from Chicago, formed in 1991. The collective first came to prominence as the backing band for R. Kelly, with whom they recorded the album Born Into the 90's (1992). Featuring a fusion of new-jack swing, R&B and urban soul, the album was a big hit, and spawned a number of chart-topping singles, including "Honey Love", "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)" and "Dedicated". After this initial success, R. Kelly left the group to go solo, and Public Announcement continued with new members and its own identity, including Feloney Davis, Ace Watkins, Euclid Gray and Glenn Wright in 1996. In 1998, they released the album All Work, No Play, whose single "Body Bumpin' (Yippie-Yi-Yo)" became a hit, reaching #5 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #4 on the R&B chart. This track, marked by a mix of sensuality and danceable groove, remains their biggest independent success. The group had another smaller success in 2000 with "Mamacita " (#39 Hot 100, #7 R&B), taken from the album Don't Hold Back (2001), which also included the tracks "Man Ain't Supposed to Cry" (#35 R&B) and "John Doe" (#95 Hot 100, #32 R&B). Public Announcement continues with Davis, Watkins, Wright, Mark Shaw and Mar Kannler in 2003, although their media profile is dwindling. It retains a special place in the history of 1990s R&B, as a bridge between the heritage of new jack swing and the emergence of a more contemporary sound blending seduction, dance and vocal harmonies. In 2024, the group is still active with Davis, Watkins, Kannler and Tim Campbell.

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