This past weekend, Grammy-winner R&B group All-4-One celebrated three decades of music at the Grand Theatre in Tracy.
The group best known for their 1994 hit “I Swear,” spoke about their career longevity and the memories that continue to shape them.
Jamie Jones recalled their Grammy-winning night, when nerves nearly got the best of him.
He explained that while preparing to perform at the Grammy’s with country artist John Michael Montgomery, who also recorded “I Swear,” he froze upon seeing his musical heroes in the audience.
“Everything we rehearsed went out the window and I even started singing John’s lines instead of my own,” Jones exclaimed. “Afterward, I had to apologize because I just got lost in the moment.”
Their actual Grammy win played out much differently than others. Instead of hearing their names called live, they received the news from a reporter while the group was backstage.
“We were in the middle of getting dressed when a reporter told us we had already won,” Jones stated. “It instantly relaxed us, because while everyone else was stressing about the results, we walked in grinning from ear to ear.”
Though “I Swear” remains their most famous hit, the group believes some of their other songs deserve more recognition.
“We recorded ‘I Turn to You’ for the ‘Space Jam’ soundtrack, but it was never released as a single,” Jones said. “Years later, Christina Aguilera recorded it, and it went No. 1, which we always knew it could.”
Another standout for them was “Someday” from Disney’s “The Hunchback of Notre Dame.”
“We’ve always loved that song, but the label chose to promote ‘These Arms’ instead,” Jones remarked. “Even so, ‘These Arms’ became just as big overseas as ‘I Swear.’”
The secret to staying together for 30 years, they said, comes down to friendship.
“We’ve known each other since we were teenagers, and we’ve lived together, struggled together, and grown together.” Tony Borowiak explained. “At the end of the day, we share the same values and that keeps us strong.”
Outside of touring, the group enjoys hanging out and doing things they all like.
“We’re just big kids at heart,” Borowiak and Jones said. “We love golf, movies, bowling; Anything where we can laugh and hang out.”
On stage, their connection with fans fuels them.
“When we sing ‘I Swear,’ I’ll look out and see couples holding each other, friends hugging, or even people crying,” Jones stated. “It makes me think about how music ties to people’s memories in such a powerful way.”
Looking into their future, All-4-One said they are excited to release a new project they’ve been working on.
“We can’t give away much yet,” Jones exclaimed. “But we’re working on new music and can’t wait to share it.”
As for their legacy, the band hopes their authenticity leaves a lasting mark.
“We’ve never relied on gimmicks,” Jones stated. “What you saw was what you got, and we hope our songs continue to bring joy long after we’re gone.”
