Rachel Sweet (born July 28, 1962) is an American singer, television writer and actress.
Early life and education
Rachel Sweet was born in Akron, Ohio. Because she pursued her singing career so young, she dropped out of high school to concentrate on her career, but she was still required to devote time to her studies. She began recording commercials at the age of six, toured with Mickey Rooney, and performed in Las Vegas as the opening act for Bill Cosby at the age of 12. She began recording country music in 1974, but with little success beyond one minor hit.
Switching to rock and roll, she signed to Stiff Records and released her first album, Fool Around, in 1978, dropping out of high school to concentrate on her career, although she was still required to devote time to her studies. Sweet was backed by The Records on the Stiff Records tour in 1978. The record label generated some controversy by pushing a Lolita-like image for her. was largely ignored by the public and the music press, although it was popular with her fans and launched a well-received North American tour in 1980 with her band The Toys. She signed to Columbia Records in 1981, releasing the album ... And Then He Kissed Me and its hit single "Everlasting Love", a duet with Rex Smith.
Film and television
In 1982, Sweet had a starring role in the low-budget musical film Rock 'n' Roll Hotel, which also featured Judd Nelson and was filmed in Richmond, Virginia, at the then-inoperative Jefferson Hotel. Shooting in Richmond with local extras began in October 1982 and was halted abruptly in December. The film's original 3D version, with scenes in the style of early MTV music videos, received only two screenings in 1983, in Los Angeles and New York. It was never released theatrically, even after it was eventually re-cut and completed in 1986 under the supervision of Sweet's father, Dick.
Sweet also appeared in the 1989 musical film Sing, performing "Life Ain't Worth Living (When You're Dead)". While the song does not appear on the soundtrack album, Columbia Records released it as the B-side of the soundtrack single "Romance (Love Theme from "Sing") by Paul Carrack and Terri Nunn.
In 1989 and 1990, Sweet hosted a show on The Comedy Channel (forerunner of Comedy Central) called The Sweet Life, 2 Broke Girls, The Single Guy and 'The Goldbergs'.
Personal life
Sweet owned Madonna's former home Los Pavoreales, selling it in 2010.
Sweet married television writer and producer Tom Palmer in 1997; they have two children.
Discography
Albums
- Fool Around (1978), Stiff - US No. 97
- Protect the Innocent (1980), Stiff - US No. 123 AUS No. 41
- "Then He Kissed Me / Be My Baby" (1981), CBS - AUS No. 55
- "Shadows of the Night" (1981), CBS
- "Voo Doo" (1982), Columbia - US No. 72