CeCe Peniston

In January 1991, CeCe was recording background vocals for Overweight Pooch at A&M Records. Manny Lehman, A&R director, heard her and a demo she was doing of "Finally."

"Finally" was "an instant hit in the clubs." Rick Stone, A&M's senior VP of promotion, told Billboard that getting the record played on pop radio required "immense passion and belief in the music and the artist. We knew we had something special, so we decided to stick with it for a little while (September through December 1991), and try to spread the excitement we were felling from the street. We thought it had reached its peak in December, and then out of nowhere it resurged. IT got to a point when the single had taken on a life of its own."

Peniston supported her single and signing with nine months on tour in the U.S., Britain and Europe. She told Billboard, "I feel like I've been in constant motion since the first single came out. It's a little scary at times, but I try to never lose sight of how fortunate I am to have this opportunity."

CeCe was the leading nominee for the 1992 Billboard Music Video Awards for 1992. She had four nominations. "Finally" had three nominations in the dance categories. The "Keep on Walkin'" video was nominated in the best female artist in R&B/rap.

"We Got a Love Thang" was No. 1 on Billboard's Club Play chart within one month of its release in February 1992.

In 1994, CeCe was named Billboard's Top Dance-Music Club-Play Artist with three singles that charted.