Stevie B
Biography
Steven Bernard Hill, born April 19, 1958, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is professionally known as Stevie B. An American singer, songwriter, and producer, he was influential in the late-1980s freestyle and hi-NRG scene, especially in Miami.
Before breaking through in music, he worked a string of precarious jobs, from a car-wash attendant to fast-food service. His career took off in 1987 with his first hit, Party Your Body, which grew from a regional success into a national club hit. The track lent its name to his debut album, *Party Your Body* (1988), which went gold on the back of the massive success of the single Spring Love.
With the 1989 album *In My Eyes*, Stevie B scored his first Top 40 hit with I Wanna Be the One. The follow-up single, Love Me for Life, quickly reached the Top 30. His career peak came in 1990 with the ballad Because I Love You (The Postman Song), which hit No. 1 on the pop chart.
The accompanying album, *Love and Emotion*, also produced two more Top 20 hits: I'll Be by Your Side and the title track Love and Emotion. However, with the later rise of alternative rock, his light dance-pop sound lost much of its mainstream appeal.
He never regained his previous level of success. Later albums such as *Healing* (1992) and *Waiting for Your Love* (1996) drew relatively little notice, and the compilation *The Best of Stevie B.* was released in 1998.