After 7
After 7 formed in 1988 and was comprised of brothers Melvin and Kevon Edmonds and Keith Mitchell. The Edmonds brothers are older siblings of Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds. Keith Mitchell was actually marketed as the cousin of Antonio 'L.A.' Reid but this was purely for marketing purposes and not actually true.
While attending Indiana University, Keith and Kevon befriended each other while in a course on performing and the music business called The IU Soul Review. While in the course, Kevon and Keith performed together in a five part male vocal group. The two took the act home on summer vacations, along with Kevon's brother Melvin and performed around Indianapolis.
Upon graduating, the guys went their separate ways and took on normal jobs. However, as Babyface left the Deele and began working as a producer, the group began to be called upon again. Babyface had the three men record demos of songs Babyface had written and he would send them off to producers. Many of these tracks went on to become Babyface's first hits for other artists in R&B.
After their success doing demos, Babyface helped the group get signed to Virgin Records where they released their self-titled debut, After 7. The album After 7 was released in 1989 and ended up going Platinum. It was strongly influenced by the new jack swing movement and features many fierce up-tempo pieces. The album's first single, 'Heat Of The Moment' reached #5 on the R&B charts. The track was followed up by two #1 R&B singles, 'Ready Or Not' which reached #7 on the Hot 100 and 'Can't Stop' which reached #6. Both singles ended up going gold and helped bring After 7 into the limelight.
After 7's second album was released in 1992 and was called Takin My Time. The album went gold, with the hit single 'Kickin' It' that reached #6 on the R&B charts. At the same time, the group began to become well established as a top performing group with their many lively concerts and televised performances. The group toured with big name acts including Patti LaBelle, Whitney Houston and MC Hammer.
In 1995, the group released their third album, 'Reflections.' The album was a critical success and featured more group involvement in the production process as Kevon and Melvin spearheaded the effort. The album had the hit single 'Til You Do Me Right' which made it to number 5 on the R&B charts. Reflections also featured the Jon B penned 'Damn Thing Called Love.'
Following that album, the group left Virgin records and the members moved on to pursue their own interests. Kevon recorded a solo album in 1999 titled 24/7 and the Edmonds brothers appear on the Soul Food soundtrack as members of the group Milestone.
Today, Kevon continues to tour under the name After 7 in a group featuring him and two other members doing After 7 hits. This group, as of February 1, was comprised of Kevon, Keith and Jason Edmonds.
Keith went on to work as a Manager for the rapper Sarai and is working on a solo gospel album. Melvin resides in Las Vegas.