Legends of Freestyle Show&035; 14
Originally named "Sweet Temptation", this group had their first 1986 hit single "Hooked On You" on Next Plateau Records, & was then told by The Temptation's management that they could not use the name. So they changed it to Sweet Sensation, & were then signed to Atlantic/Atco Records. Then in 1987 released their 2nd single "Victim Of Love (Goodbye Baby)", followed by "Take It While It's Hot", & "Never Let You Go".
In 1988, their full-length album "Take It While It's Hot" was released. Five out of the 8 cuts on the album were hit singles.
The original members were Betty Dee, Margie Fernandez, & her sister Mari, who appeared on the first photo-cover version of the "Take It While It's Hot" album. Sheila Vega replaced Mari in 1989, & the album was then re-released with a new photo featuring Sheila.
Their next single was the Latin-spiced "Sincerely Yours" feat Romeo J.D. (of The Boogie Boys) as the Rap vocalist. Then a new remix/remake of "Hooked On You" was issued in 1989, along with a new video for the song, (which already had one back in 1986 with the original girls).
Sweet Sensation were probably the most Latin influenced of the girl-group Dance/Freestyle acts of their time. Riding on the success of their debut album, in 1990 the girls released their 2nd album & new single both titled "Love Child". The song was an up-beat cover of The Supremes 1968 hit.
The next single was the groups first ballad release, "If Wishes Came True". It soared to ..1 on the Billboard Pop Charts, drawing them to a wider audience, & making the girls house-hold names.
The girls were nervous as to their new sound had turned more Pop-R&B, but the album still treated old fans to some great Dance tunes. "Each & Every Time" was another single from this album, with "Bring It Back" beginning to be their final single which never was.
In 1990, Sweet Sensation then released "The Hit Singles Collection" - a collection of their music video hits. In 1991 "Time To Jam! (The Remix Album)" came out, & carried new remixes of the classic hits, along with a Carlos Berrios remix of the non-single 2nd album track "I Surrender".
Not long after Margie & Sheila were replaced by 3 new members, Belle, Maya, & Jenae, making them a quartet. They did a few shows together, and then Betty Dee was said to go solo. By 1992 Sweet Sensation seemed to just dissappear, & was never heard of again.
In 2004/2005, Betty Dee teamed up with Dance/House music mega-producers DYNAMIX, to release "My Body (Tu Cuerpo)", which quickly became a dancefloor smash.
Betty Dee now tours solo performing her new material, as well as Sweet Sensations' classics. Sheila is now a successful jewelry designer, Margie & Mari reside in New York, while Jenae resides in Florida.
- Jeff X -