Jasmine Guy

Biography

Jasmine Guy starred in the Cosby Show TV spin-off A Different World that ran on NBC-TV from 1987 to 1993. Her role as the snooty, heavy-Southern-accented Whitley Gilbert was one of the highlights of the show. She also had three R&B hits, "Try Me," "Another Like My Lover," and "Just Want to Hold You." Born March 10, 1964, in Boston, MA, Guy grew up in Atlanta, GA. She was a dancer with the Alvin Ailey Dance Troupe and later danced as a part of the cast of the '80s NBC-TV series Fame, which was based on the hit movie of the same name. Guy also appeared in numerous off-Broadway shows and in the Spike Lee movie School Daze with Lawrence Fishburne.

Being on a TV show that was a spin-off of a phenomenally successful, groundbreaking TV series had its benefits. Guy was afforded the opportunity to become a recording artist. Signing with Warner Bros., Guy's first single, "Try Me," was written and produced by Full Force. The ultra-sexy video of the song was heavily hyped and premiered after a segment of A Different World. "Try Me" made it to number 14 R&B in fall 1990. Her self-titled debut LP made it to number 38 R&B on Billboard's charts in late 1990.

Guy received kudos for her steely-eyed, menacing performance in the 1989 Eddie Murphy/Richard Pryor/Redd Foxx/Della Reese/Arsenio Hall movie Harlem Nights. Guy also voiced a part in the 1997 animated movie Cats Don't Dance and toured in the late '90s in Chicago the Musical with Ben Vereen. ~ Ed Hogan, All Music Guide