Club Nouveau, formed in 1986 by Jay King in Sacramento, California, emerged as a pioneering force in R&B and pop music. Their debut album, *Life, Love & Pain*, produced hits like "Jealousy," "Situation #9," and their Grammy-winning rendition of Bill Withers' "Lean on Me," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987. The group's innovative fusion of R&B, soul, and dance elements, coupled with socially conscious lyrics, has left a lasting impact on the music industry. Their track "Why You Treat Me So Bad" has been widely sampled, notably in Luniz's "I Got 5 on It." With over ten million records sold and a legacy of chart-topping singles, Club Nouveau continues to influence contemporary music. ([en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_Nouveau?utm_source=openai))