This doo-wop styled modern vocal quartet comprises school friends Jamie Jones (b. 26 November 1974, Palmdale, California, USA) and Alfred Nevarez (b. 17 May 1973, Mojave, California, USA), alongside Tony Borowiak (b. 12 October 1972, California City, California, USA) and Delious Kennedy (b. 21 December 1970). None of the singers received any formal vocal training, but gained valuable experience singing in their local church choirs. All-4-One was formed in the recording studio, where the members were gainfully employed singing jingles for local radio stations. They were signed to the Los Angeles-based label Blitzz (with distribution through Atlantic Records) on the strength of an impromptu arrangement of what would prove to be their debut single, a cover version of the Tymes’ 1963 US chart-topper ‘So Much In Love’. Re-released in January 1994, the single reached the Billboard Top 5. The real breakthrough came with the group’s second single, a cover version of John Michael Montgomery’s country hit ‘I Swear’. The song topped the US Hot 100 singles chart for an astonishing 11 weeks, and was 1994’s biggest-selling US single. ‘I Swear’ was also a huge international hit, reaching UK number 2, and won the 1995 Grammy for Best Pop Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal, as well as being nominated for Song Of The Year.
The quartet’s self-titled debut album, released in April 1994, featured the hot production team of David Foster, Tim O’Brien and Gary St. Clair. A lush blend of doo-wop harmonies and modern R&B rhythms, the album went on to sell over five million units. The quartet subsequently embarked on an extensive world tour, which demonstrated their live prowess and showcased their exquisite vocal harmonies. And The Music Speaks was released in June 1995, premiered by the US Top 5 hit single ‘I Can Love You Like That’. The album also included a cover version of the Dubs’ 1957 doo-wop hit ‘Could This Be Magic’, second single ‘I’m Your Man’, and another Montgomery number, ‘These Arms’. The quartet also contributed ‘One Summer Night’ to the soundtrack of My Family, and a cover version of ‘Tapestry’ to the Carole King tribute Tapestry Revisited: A Tribute To Carole King. They ended the year with the seasonal An All-4-One Christmas. ‘Someday’, taken from Walt Disney’s The Hunchback Of Notre Dame soundtrack album, was released as a single in May 1996. Later in the year they contributed ‘I Turn To You’ to the Space Jam soundtrack.
After a four year recording hiatus, the quartet returned in June 1999 with On And On. Retaining the Foster/O’Brien production team, and featuring added contributions from guitarist Nile Rodgers, the album marked a strong artistic comeback. Despite including the Dianne Warren /Foster collaboration ‘One Summer Night’, the album failed to yield any hits and was a notable commercial failure. They subsequently signed a new recording contract with the Los Angeles-based independent label Discretion.
