Karyn White
Karyn White is an American R&B singer born on October 14, 1965, in Los Angeles, California, as the youngest of five children. She rose to fame in the late 1980s with her self-titled debut album, produced by L.A. Reid and Babyface, which went platinum and featured hits like "Superwoman," "Secret Rendezvous," and "The Way You Love Me."
White sang in her church choir as a child and later worked odd jobs like a change counter while pursuing music. She gained early exposure as a backing vocalist and on Jeff Lorber's "Facts of Love" in 1986, leading to her Warner Bros. deal.
Her 1988 debut made history as the first by a female artist with three No. 1 R&B singles from initial solo releases. She earned Grammy nominations and a Soul Train award nod.
Key Albums and Hits:- Ritual of Love (1991): Produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis; topped Hot 100 with "Romantic;" Make Him Do Right (1994): Featured R&B hits "Hungah" and "Can I Stay With You;" Carpe Diem (2012): Marked her return after a hiatus for family.
White stepped back in 1999 to raise a family, attempted a 2006 album that was shelved, and has since toured while expanding into acting and production.
Karyn White
Written-By – D. Simmons, Babyface - L.A. Reid
4:56
A2 Secret Rendezvous
Written-By – D. Simmons, Babyface - L.A. Reid
5:38
A3 Slow Down
Written-By – D. Simmons, Karyn White, Steve Harvey
4:35
A4 Superwoman
Written-By – D. Simmons, Babyface - L.A. Reid
5:49
B1 Family Man
Written-By – D. Simmons, Babyface - L.A. Reid
4:07
B2 Love Saw It
Written-By – D. Simmons, Babyface - L.A. Reid
5:21
B3 Don't Mess With Me
Written-By – D. Simmons, Babyface - L.A. Reid
4:53
B4 Tell Me Tomorrow
Written-By – Arnie Roman, Evan Rogers, Karyn White
4:54
B5 One Wish
Written-By – Ian Prince, Jimmy Scott
Label: Warner Bros. Records – 1-25637
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1988
Genre: R&B Soul
Style: Soul, New Jack Swing
Karyn White’s self-titled 1988 debut album is a landmark New Jack Swing and R&B classic, reaching #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Produced heavily by L.A. and Babyface, it features iconic hits like "The Way You Love Me," "Superwoman," and "Secret Rendezvous," balancing dance-pop with soulful, emotional ballads.
The album is split between high-energy New Jack Swing (produced by LA & Babyface) and smooth, soulful tracks.
Key Tracks: "Superwoman": A signature ballad that has become an enduring anthem for female strength; "The Way You Love Me": A top-10 pop hit that established her mainstream appeal; "Secret Rendezvous": A high-energy, dance-oriented track; "Love Saw It": A notable duet with Babyface.
The album is regarded as an essential, high-quality 80s R&B release that showcases both vocal power and strong songwriting.
The 1988 debut solidified White as a top-tier R&B artist, with the album later receiving a deluxe remaster with numerous bonus tracks.
A deluxe, remastered edition exists, featuring 19 bonus tracks, including 12-inch remixes, instrumentals, and B-sides like "Love on the Line" and "The Language of Love".
Overall, the 1988 Karyn White album is considered a "must-have" for fans of 80s pop and R&B, delivering a cohesive blend of danceable hits and emotional ballads.