Joyce Sims

Flourishing throughout a transitional period for R&B, Joyce Sims found success in the late '80s with a sound that drew directly from electro and freestyle rather than the emergent house and new jack swing styles. Her vocal performances -- burning and sometimes trilling, but not oversung -- were suited for emotional release on the dancefloor, and were also compatible with material rooted in traditional soul. Sims, who was also a songwriter, keyboardist, and producer, scored nine charting singles during a lengthy career highlighted by "All and All" and "Come Into My Life," the silky latter of which went Top Ten R&B in the U.S. and Top Ten pop in the U.K. Sims occasionally recorded and regularly performed until her death in 2022.