Allure

The New York-based urban soul vocal group Allure was the first band to be signed
to Mariah Carey's Crave Records. Such connections ensured that Allure would be
promoted well and that their eponymous 1997 debut would have cameos by such
stars as Nas, L.L. Cool J, Raekwon, 112, Q-Tip and Carey herself, but it didn't ensure
that the record itself would be a blockbuster. Instead, the album was a moderate hit,
suggesting the group'scommercial potential instead of fulfilling it.
The roots of Allure lay in the early '90s, when Alia Davis, Lalisha McLean and Akissa
Mendez were studying at the LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts in New
York. When the girls decided to form a full-fledged group, they recruited Davis' friend
Linnie Belcher, who was studying at the Julia Richmond High School. For the next
two years, they rehearsed and practised, eventually securing management connections
which broughtthem to the attention of Poke, a member of the production team Track
Masters. Poke worked with the unnamed group and soon signed them to Track Masters
under the name Allure, and then helped the group sign with Crave Records.
Allure's debut single, "Head Over Heels," featured a rap by Nas and became a moderate
R&B hit in April of 1997. The following month, the group's eponymous debut album was
released.
Unfortunately, the band's label folded and the girls found themselves shopping a new
deal. In 2001 Allure has found a home on MCA, which released the group's sophomore
release, Sunny Days. This album produced the catchy first single "Enjoy Yourself"
followed by "Kool Wit Me".

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