Club Nouveau was formed in Sacramento in 1986 by Jay King, Denzil Foster, Thomas McElroy, Samuelle Pratter, and Valerie Watson. Jay King, the creative force behind the hit “Rumours” by the Timex Social Club, established King Jay Records for Club Nouveau. The group produced disco-flavored and funk tunes, achieving four consecutive hits in 1986 and 1987 with songs like “Jealousy,” “Situation #9,” a cover of Bill Withers’ “Lean on Me,” and “Why You Treat Me So Bad.” The latter two tracks secured the number-two spot on the R&B charts. However, in 1988, during their peak, McElroy, Pratter, and Foster departed, leading to the introduction of David Agent and Kevin Irving. Despite their initial success, their final recordings under Tommy Boy/Warner Bros. did not maintain the same level of popularity, resulting in the disbandment of the group.