TLC (group)

TLC
TLC in 1999; left to right: Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
TLC in 1999; left to right: Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas, Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes
Background information
Also known as
  • TLC-Skee
  • 2nd Nature
OriginAtlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Genres
Years active1990–present
Labels
Spinoff ofDungeon Family
Members
Past members
Websiteofficialtlc.com

TLC is an American girl group formed in 1990 in Atlanta, Georgia. The group's best-known line-up was composed of Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins, Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes, and Rozonda "Chilli" Thomas. The group enjoyed success during the 1990s,[1] with nine top-ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100, including four number-one singles: "Creep", "Waterfalls", "No Scrubs", and "Unpretty".[2] The group also recorded four multi-platinum albums, including CrazySexyCool (1994), which received a diamond certification from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[3] TLC became the first R&B group in history to receive the million certification from the Recording Industry Association of Japan (RIAJ) for FanMail (1999).[4]

Having sold over 65 million records worldwide, TLC is the best-selling American girl group of all time.[5][6] VH1 ranked TLC as the greatest female group, placing them at number 12 on the list of 100 Greatest Women in Music.[7] Billboard magazine ranked TLC as one of the greatest musical trios,[8] as well as the seventh-most-successful act of the 1990s. The group's accolades include four career Grammy Awards, five MTV Video Music Awards, and five Soul Train Music Awards.

Twenty years after their debut, TLC received the Outstanding Contribution to Music award at the 17th MOBO Awards and the Legend Award at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards Japan. Following Lopes' death in 2002, instead of replacing her, the remaining members chose to continue as a duo. In 2017, they released their eponymous fifth album TLC. In 2022, the group was inducted into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame.[9]

  1. ^ a b c d Huey, Steve. "TLC – Artist Biography". AllMusic. All Media Network. Archived from the original on November 10, 2013. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  2. ^ "TLC Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  3. ^ "Gold & Platinum Searchable Database – June 04, 2014". RIAA. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2014.
  4. ^ "RIAJ Certified Million Seller Albums". www.hbr3.sakura.ne.jp. Archived from the original on April 27, 2015. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Gerrick (November 5, 2012). "TLC Plans First Album in 12 Years". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on November 9, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2020.
  6. ^ Thomas, Rebecca (April 25, 2012). "TLC's Left Eye Remembered: 10 Years Later". MTV. Archived from the original on June 22, 2012. Retrieved July 11, 2012.
  7. ^ Graham, Mark (February 13, 2012). "The 100 Greatest Women In Music | VH1 Tuner". Vh1.com. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013. Retrieved May 31, 2013.
  8. ^ "Billboard Greatest Trios of All Time". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 30, 2008. Retrieved May 13, 2008.
  9. ^ Nazareno, Mia (December 17, 2021). "Smokey Robinson, Berry Gordy, Jr. & More to Be Inducted at 2022 Black Music and Entertainment Walk of Fame". Billboard. Retrieved December 17, 2021.