C+C^{[N 1]} Music Factory was an American musical group formed in 1989 byDavid Cole andRobert Clivillés. The group is best known for their five hit singles: "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", "Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll)", "Things That Make You Go Hmmm...", "Just a Touch of Love", and "Keep It Comin' (Dance Till You Can't Dance No More)". The band stopped recording in 1996, following Cole's death.^[1] In 2010, C+C Music Factory reformed withEric Kupper replacing Cole.^[2] Original memberFreedom Williams acquired trademark rights to the name in 2003 and still tours under that moniker.^[3]

C+C Music Factory have earned 35music industry awards, including fiveBillboard Music Awards, fiveAmerican Music Awards, and twoMTV Video Music Awards. In December 2016,Billboard named them the 44th-most successful dance act.^[4]

David Cole andRobert Clivillés became friends when they both performed at the New York City club Better Days (Clivillés as DJ and Cole as keyboardist) in the late 1980s.^[5][6] In 1987, Clivillés and Cole formed a short-livedhouse music group called2 Puerto Ricans, a Blackman and a Dominican, which also includedDavid Morales (who, like Clivillés, was a resident DJ at Better Days^[6]) andChep Nuñez. They released two minor hit singles, "Do It Properly" (1987) and "So Many Ways (Do It Properly Part II)" (1988).^[7][8] In 1989, they released their final single, "Scandalous", before disbanding.^[9]

Following the breakup of their previous group, Clivillés and Cole continued to record music together under the namethe 28th Street Crew. In mid-1989, the duo released an album titledI Need a Rhythm, whose title track and lead single peaked at no. three onBillboard'sdance chart. In September 1989, the female groupSeduction released their debut album,Nothing Matters Without Love, which was entirely produced by Clivillés and Cole. The record becamecertified Gold in the United States.^[10]

In 1989, Clivillés and Cole released a single called "Get Dumb! (Free Your Body)" under themoniker the Crew, featuring rapperFreedom Williams.^[11] The same year, the duo formed the group C+C Music Factory,^[1] which included Williams as well as theLiberian singer/dancerZelma Davis.^[1] In December 1990, C+C Music Factory released their debut album,Gonna Make You Sweat, which peaked at No. 2 onBillboard'sTop 200 Albums chart.^[12] The lead single, "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)", which featured rapping by Williams and uncredited lead vocals byMartha Wash, became an international hit and peaked at No. 1 onBillboard'sHot 100.^[12] The single went on to sell over a million copies in the United States, becoming certified Platinum.^[13] The success of the single bolstered the album's success, helping it achieve multi-platinum status for sales exceeding five million copies in the US.^[14]

In 1991, the group released two top-ten singles, "Here We Go (Let's Rock & Roll)" and "Things That Make You Go Hmmm..." (inspired by a phrase uttered periodically by late-night talk show hostArsenio Hall),^[12] both of which became certified gold in the US.^[14] In August, the album's final single, "Just a Touch of Love", which included vocals by Davis, earned the group their fourth number-one dance hit.^[12] The song was also featured on thesoundtrack of the 1992musical comedy filmSister Act. In 1992, C+C Music Factory embarked on their first international tour. During certain legs of the tour,Deborah Cooper, a backing vocalist from their album, was hired as a lead vocalist for specific concert venues as Davis was awaiting green card clearance. Also in 1992, the group released the single "Keep It Comin' (Dance Till You Can't Dance No More)", featuring Cooper and rapperQ-Unique on vocals. It became their fifth song to top theBillboard dance chart^[12] and was also featured on the soundtrack of thecomedy horror filmBuffy the Vampire Slayer, released that year. By the end of 1992, the group had earned a total of fourAmerican Music Awards, including one for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group.^[15]

In 1994, C+C Music Factory experienced a lineup change: Wash, who had just settled a lawsuit with the group, was asked to join as a full-time vocalist. Williams left the group to pursue a solo career and was replaced by the vocal trioTrilogy.^[16] In August 1994, the group released their second album, titledAnything Goes!, which performed poorly on theBillboard's Top 200 Albums chart. The lead single, "Do You Wanna Get Funky", which featured vocals from Davis, Wash, and Trilogy, became a success on the Billboard charts and earned the group their sixth number-one dance hit. The album also featured two minor hits, "Take a Toke" and "I Found Love".

On January 24, 1995, David Cole died fromspinal meningitis.^[17][18] Despite the death of one of their core members, C+C Music Factory embarked on another international tour. In November 1995, they released theirself-titled third album. The record was released by Robert Clivillés using the C+C Music Factory name, though it did not feature any musical contributions from Cole, Davis, or Wash, but retained the vocal contributions of Trilogy. The album's lead single, "I'll Always Be Around", became their seventh number-one dance hit. The second single, "Don't Stop the Remix", was the group's final release before disbanding.

In October 1996, Clivillés released an album of new material under the name Robi-Rob's Clubworld. The same year, a compilation titledRobi Rob's Clubworld – House of Sound presents Clubworld Shut Up and Dance was released exclusively in Japan.^[19] The album contains past singles and unreleased material recorded by C+C Music Factory.

C+C Music Factory reformed in 2010, withEric Kupper replacing Cole. They released the song "Live Your Life", featuring singerScarlett Santana, which was included on DJ Bill Coleman's compilation albumRemixxer.^[2] In August 2011, Santana released the single "Rain", which was produced by C+C Music Factory (composed of Clivillés and Kupper credited as CnC Music Factory).^[20]

As of 1995, C+C Music Factory have accumulated a total of seven number-onedance songs. "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" was included in the top-ten VH1's "100 Greatest Dance Songs".^[21]

In 2003, Freedom Williams acquired the federal trademark to use the name "C and C Music Factory" for live performances.^[22] Williams toured under that name until renewing his trademark to "C & C Music Factory" in 2014.^[23][16][24] As of 2014, Williams has owned the trademark rights for the name for all related efforts, not just live performances.^[25] Founding producer Clivillés has labeled this "the biggest insult in the world".^[16][3]

In 1990, the Crew, a group composed of Clivillés, Cole, and Williams, released the single "Get Dumb! (Free Your Body)". The song featured an unauthorized sample ofBoyd Jarvis' 1983 song "The Music Got Me". Jarvis filed a lawsuit against Cole and Clivillés as well asA&M Records.^[26] The court ruled in favor of Jarvis.^[27]

Following the release of "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)" in November 1990, C+C Music Factory was hit with a lawsuit by Martha Wash, whose vocals were uncredited on the chorus. The song used an edited compilation of vocal parts that Wash recorded in June 1990 for an unrelated demo tape.^[28] After discovering that the group was usingZelma Davis in the music video, Wash attempted to negotiate with Clivillés and Cole for sleeve credits and royalties, which ultimately proved unsuccessful. On December 11, 1991, Wash filed a lawsuit in theLos Angeles Superior Court against Clivillés and Cole, charging the producers and their record company,Sony Music Entertainment, withfraud, deceptive packaging, and commercial appropriation.^[28] The case was eventually settled in 1994 and, as a result of the settlement, Sony made an unprecedented request toMTV to add a disclaimer that credited Wash for vocals and Davis (who lip-synched Wash's vocals in the official music video) for "visualization" to the "Gonna Make You Sweat" music video.^[29]

• Clivillés and Cole
• List of number-one hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the Hot 100 (U.S.)
• List of Number 1 Dance Hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance chart
• MVP

• C+C Music Factory discography atDiscogs

• American house music groups
• Dance-pop groups
• American electronic music groups
• American pop music groups
• Musical groups established in 1989
• A&M Records artists
• Columbia Records artists
• MCA Records artists
• PolyGram artists
• Sony Music artists

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