DeVante Swing is an esteemed rap, singing, songwriting, production, and mentorship figure. He is renowned for his influential contributions to the R&B group Jodeci.
He is a founding member of the Jodeci quartet singing group, which started in 1988 as a duo with singers DeVanté Swing and JoJo. Later, their brothers joined the group. Jodeci is still active, and their latest performance was during the Summer Block Party tour, where they reunited alongside SWV and Dru Hill.
Profile Summary
| Name | Donald Earle DeGrate Jr |
| Age | 55 years old |
| Date of Birth | September 29, 1969 |
| Place of Birth | Hampton, Virginia, U.S |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Rapper Singer Songwriter Producer |
| Mother | Mary DeGrate |
| Father | Donald Earle DeGrate |
| Sibling | Dalvin DeGrate |
| Wife | Miranda Santana |
| Daughter | Dyana DeGrate |
| Son | Justin DeGrate |
| Height | 6’1″ 1.85m 185cm |
| Weight | 70kg 154lbs |
DeVante Swing Biography
Originally named Donald Earle DeGrate Jr, DeVante Swing entered this world on September 29, 1969, in Hampton, Virginia, USA.
He is the son of Donald DeGrate (father) and Mary DeGrate (mother) and is the elder brother of Dalvin DeGrate, who, like him, is a songwriter, producer, and rapper.
Despite being born in Hampton, he spent his formative years in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA.
Regarding his educational journey, details remain undisclosed and hidden from public knowledge.
Professional Career
DeVante Swing has always been passionate about his musical craft. He began treading the waters of the music industry with a strong passion that fuelled him enough to travel to Minneapolis in 1985, at age 16, hoping to audition for Prince at Paisley Park Studios.
Despite facing resistance and rejection, he persisted, spending time at Paisley Park daily, seeking opportunities, and begging people to listen to his tape.
Undeterred, he moved to North Carolina to concentrate on improving his songwriting and production skills.
In the early stages of his career in the music industry, he worked as a mix engineer and contributed to different projects. One of his notable works was as a mix engineer for Hi-Five’s “I Just Can’t Handle It” which was a 1990 hit reaching #3 on the R&B charts. DeVanted worked on several remixes for the track.
DeVante got his ground in the music industry when he founded Jodeci, an R&B group consisting of himself, his brother Dalvin DeGrate, Joel Hailey, and K-Ci. The quartet R&B group name was coined from their names. Jo – Joel, De – DeGrate and DeVante, Ci – K-ci
DeVante held a crucial role as the primary songwriter, producer, and leader within the group. The name “Jodeci” was a combination of letters from the four members’ names.
Jodeci quickly gained fame on the U.S. R&B charts, releasing three highly successful studio albums. Their debut album, “Forever My Lady” (1991), achieved 3x Platinum status and reached #1 on the US R&B chart.
Their subsequent albums, “Diary of a Mad Band” (1993) and “The Show, the After Party, the Hotel” (1995), achieved 2x Platinum and Platinum certifications, respectively, claiming top spots on various music charts.
DeVante’s impact extends beyond Jodeci, as he played a crucial role in discovering and nurturing talents like Timbaland, Missy Elliott, Ginuwine, Stevie J, and Static Major. Additionally, he showcased his directing skills by co-directing notable Jodeci music videos.
Album Discography
- Forever My Lady (1991)
- Diary of a Mad Band (1993)
- The Show, the After Party, the Hotel (1995)
Some Songs from his Albums
- “Stay” from “Forever My Lady” (1991)
- “Feenin'” from “Diary of a Mad Band” (1993)
- “Cry for You” from “Diary of a Mad Band” (1993)
- “My Heart Belongs To U” from “Diary of a Mad Band” (1993)
- “Get On Up” from “The Show, the After Party, the Hotel” (1995)
- “I’m Still Waiting” from “Forever My Lady” (1991)
Personal Life
While DeVante prefers to keep his personal life discreet, reports suggest he is married to Miranda Santana. He is a proud parent to Justin DeGrate – his son and Dyana DeGrate – his daughter.
Devante Swings Net Worth
DeVante amassed wealth due to his work as both a singer, songwriter, and producer. At Jodeci, he released three studio albums that all hit #1 on the U.S. R&B charts.
His debut studio album with the group, ‘Forever My Lady,’ was released in 1991 on Uptown/MCA Records and was certified 3x Platinum, reaching #1 on the USA R&B charts. Their second album was also 2x Platinum, reaching #1 on the US R&B charts and #3 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Jodeci’s third album, ‘The Show, The After Party, The Hotel,’ was released in 1995 and certified Platinum. It peaked at #1 on the US R&B, #2 on the Billboard 200, and #4 on the UK charts. Their most popular songs include the #1 hits “Forever My Lady” and others.
After that, DeVante became a producer and owner of Swing Mob, producing stars like Missy Elliott and others. With this, he has amassed his fair share of money.
DeVante is estimated to have a net worth of $5 million.
DeVante also had a house in Lloyd Harbor, New York, but no longer stayed there.