Keith Sweat says Hll honor special because ATL is home

Seven new names will be added to the Georgia Music Hall of Fame on Saturday, one of whom hails from Harlem, N.Y.

And the inductee is...

Keith Sweat

Why he is being honored

Arguably the best-known figure in contemporary R&B music, this one-time Wall Street brokerage assistant is touted as one of the pioneers of new jack swing (a hybrid of hip-hop and soul). He discovered Atlanta R&B groups Silk and Kut Klose, and has sold some 15 million albums worldwide.

What he has to say about it

"I'm thankful. I appreciate people acknowledging me and my accomplishments while I'm here, rather than when I'm six feet under... And even though I was born and raised in New York, Atlanta's my home. I mean, I've been here so long — and I definitely made my mark in Atlanta — so this has a special meaning to me. I can't wait to take my family out, my moms out, to celebrate after the ceremony. Excuse me, let them take me out!"

What may surprise you about him

Most of Sweat's fans know that he has a nationally syndicated radio program ("Sweat Hotel"), but he's also in negotiations for a reality TV show based around his life as a radio personality. He also has another reality TV show in the works on R&B group Dru Hill. But the thing that may surprise you most: Sweat decorated his lakefront Alpharetta home himself.

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