En Vogue and TLC were both such powerhouse girl groups of the 90’s – of equal and separate distinctions. 

I saw the original line-up of En Vogue twice in concert: in 1992 at the Oakland Paramount (at the height of their “glam” fame) and in 2009 (re-grouped after a slight “break”).  Both times they epitomized perfect synchronicity.  The harmonizing, the acapella stretches, the hits.   

The second time I saw them was at Yoshi’s in Oakland.  It’s a smaller, more intimate venue.  Another show with the girls up to par as high-quality En Vogue at their finest.  Even though there was no meet and greet opportunity, our table was just a few yards from the stage door. Right as the show ended, my sister encouraged me (as if I really needed it) to “just go back there”.  So, I did. 

Band members and crew were still coming in and out of the stage door and I just walked right in with my envelope.  And got stopped immediately.  When I took out my pictures and asked if I could get them signed, Terry saw me and immediately said “Come on back”.  She signed for the group shot for me in the hallway and said something like “Cindy’s leaving, let me get her to sign this”.  It was all so rushed.  I went into Maxine’s dressing room, and she was welcoming, energetic and talkative.  While I was with her, some guy came into the room and handed me the group shot signed by Terry and Cindy.  But Terry was nowhere in sight to sign my solo shot of her.   

So, I had Maxine sign the group shot and a solo picture (bad choice of silver sharpie as you can see on her photo) Then I finagled my way into Dawn’s dressing room.  

There was a couple of people who moved aside when they saw my big photo of Dawn.  Dawn was a PRESENCE.  Not quite aloof, but perhaps a little wary and reserved.  I presented the solo shot to her first and mentioned how much I loved “Lucy Pearl” and the song “I Can’t Stand Your Mother”.  It broke the ice, she signed beautifully for me – and then dashed her first name (like the others) on the group shot. 

I looked around everywhere, even outside, to see if Terry or Cindy were still on premises or in their cars; but they were gone.  Hence no solo autographs of either.   

From that flurried visit backstage, I don’t know if I could see/feel the tension between the four girls, their separate-ness and lack of interaction – or if that was just normal backstage activity after a show and it was in my mind because of press coverage of the infighting.  I can say for sure that they were incredibly tight as an on-stage unit and that in person, it was Dawn who really exuded star power.   

In my opinion this is the BEST video (and social commentary) by En Vogue: 

The song I mentioned to Dawn, by her group Lucy Pearl, wasn’t a hit, but I love the lyrics! 

Now let’s fast forward to 2025.  Dawn makes a video that goes viral, talking about her choice of living in her car.  Now this is a hot topic since many people have embraced “RV or Van Life” and there’s no shame in that game.  I think it was a very savvy move on Dawn’s part because the story swirled all around social media and even got picked up by the tabloids.  This is NOT a bad thing!  This puts the spotlight right back where it belongs, on a talented woman who won’t take the cash grab, will tough it out and hopefully this swirl of activity will get her the REAL work she deserves and wants to do. 

TLC and ALL-4-ONE 

With TLC, I never saw the original trio in concert.  Lisa had already passed by the time I saw T-Boz and Chili performing as TLC, opening for Nelly in INSERT DATE.  Those girls are keeping the legacy alive and well.  T-Boz and those distinctive vocals; Chili keeping it tight.  They had such good ALBUMS – in entirety – and strong messages about society’s expectations on women “Unpretty” and how so many (even those unsuspecting) were lost to HIV/AIDS.  “Three final letters took him to his final resting place”.  Their social impact wrapped up in fun hip-hop, pop or ballads has been underrated, in my opinion. 

This fantastic, authentically signed photo of all three girls was a real find.   

Which brings me to a boy band that was at their crest during the same time as TLC and En Vogue.  This group shot signed by the members of All-4-One was in the same batch as the TLC autograph.  Sometimes, a seller doesn’t know who/what they’re getting rid of, and I was able to snag the TLC and All-4-One signed photos and some others for less than ten bucks each.  I SWEAR!