Club Nouveau is an American R&B group formed in 1986. The group’s original members included producer Jay King, vocalist Valerie Watson, and instrumentalist Samuelle Prater. They gained fame for their chart-topping hit “Lean on Me,” a modernized rendition of the Bill Withers classic. “Lean on Me” reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1987, earning Club Nouveau a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song. The group’s debut album, also titled “Lean on Me,” achieved commercial success. Club Nouveau continued to release albums throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, exploring various styles within R&B and funk. While they may be best known for their iconic cover of “Lean on Me,” their influence extends to other tracks such as “Why You Treat Me So Bad” and “Jealousy.” Though the lineup underwent changes over the years, Club Nouveau’s impact on the R&B and dance music scenes during the late 1980s is remembered fondly. Their energetic sound, infused with elements of funk and soul, left an indelible mark on the era’s musical landscape.