SA-FIRE

Born 'Wilma Cosme' in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 1967.
She grew up mostly in East Harlem and began her singing career as a session vocalist.

Contents

Music career

The 1990s

The 2000's

Discgraphy

Albums

Singles

Music career

Safire was discovered at an audition for Cutting Records. While she did not have massive pop chart success, she is nevertheless considered an important part of the success of Freestyle music and remains one of the most recognizable names in Freestyle. Her debut single ''Don't Break My Heart''(1986), became an instant classic, and remains highly regarded by Freestyle music and Club/Dance lovers. ''Let Me Be The One'' (1987), her follow-up single, proved to be a bigger hit then her debut single. "Boy I've Been Told" the first single from her debut album crossed over to pop radio and became her first big pop hit reaching #48 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The song was the #1 selling single in new york city for 12 straight weeks and the #1 song on the old Hot 97 radio station in 1988. The song top the charts in all of the major radio stations throughout the country, including Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Houston and many others. Safire scored her most commercially successful hit with the ballad, ''Thinking of You'' in 1989 when hit peaked at #4 on the Adult Contemporary chart and at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Those hits and others helped her debut album, ''Sa-Fire'' remain a strong seller for years. The album peaked at #84 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at #79 on The Billboard 200. Other singles by Safire that charted on the Billboard Hot 100 include ''Gonna Make It'' and ''Made Up My Mind''. Safire was fortunate to have a major label behind her to push her career forward. Polycom/Mercury was able to expose her to a whole new audience via tv, videos, magazines, concerts etc..
Safire has been featured in various magazines, such as ''US Magazine'', ''Billboard'', ''Vogue'', ''Elle'' In Fashion Magazine and was the first Latina to grace the cover of ''Spin Magazine.'' She has also appeared on television programs such as American Bandstand, Pat Sajak Show, Joan Rivers Show, Latin Connection, MTV International, Party Machine,PM Magazine, and Entertainment Tonight. Safire has performed throughout the United States, Japan, Europe, Caribbean and South America. She has won numerous awards, including six New York Music Awards, three Desi Awards and an ASCAP award for writing "Thinking of You," which was cited as one of the most played songs on radio.

The 1990s

In 1990, she remade "I Will Survive" for the soundtrack of the film ''She-Devil'', incorporating a house and rap element into the 1970s disco hit. Although Freestyle music had begun to wane in mainstream popularity in the early 1990s, Safire counteracted this by releasing the House music song, "Taste the Bass" as a single from her second album, ''I Wasn't Born Yesterday.'' "Taste the Bass" peaked at #6 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. The lead single, "Made Up My Mind" was an immediate success within the dance music and urban music communities, peaking at #9 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play. However, the song stalled at #80 on the Billboard Hot 100.
During the mid 1990s, after a short hiatus, Safire returned with a Spanish language album, ''Atrevida''. However, this first try at a salsa album was not commercially successful.

The 2000's

After another hiatus, Safire announced the release of her new album, ''Bringing Back the Groove'', in 2001. The album featured a cover of the New Edition hit, "Can You Stand The Rain", featuring Cynthia. The single sparked moderate dance and urban format radio airplay. The album's second single, "Don't Break My Heart 2002," peaked at #3 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play.
As of 2007, Safire continues to tour, as well as produce and write for other artists. She also plans to release two singles, and is currently putting the finishing touches on a dance album and a Latino rock album.

Discgraphy

Albums

★ ''Sa-Fire'' (1988) Mercury Records

★ ''I Wasn't Born Yesterday'' (1991) Mercury Records

★ ''Atrevida'' (1996) Sony International

★ ''Bringing Back the Groove'' (2001) Globestar

★ ''TBA'' (2007)

Singles

1986 Don't Break My Heart Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #31
1987 Let Me Be the One Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #26
1988 Boy I've Been Told Hot Dance Music/Club Play #13
1988 Boy I've Been Told Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #3
1988 Boy I've Been Told The Billboard Hot 100 #48
1989 Gonna Make It Hot Dance Music/Club Play #31
1989 Gonna Make It Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #20
1989 Gonna Make It The Billboard Hot 100 #71
1989 Love Is on Her Mind Hot Dance Music/Club Play #29
1989 Love Is on Her Mind Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #18
1989 Thinking of You Adult Contemporary #3
1989 Thinking of You Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #26
1989 Thinking of You The Billboard Hot 100 #12
1990 I Will Survive The Billboard Hot 100 #53
1989 I Will Survive Hot Dance Music/Club Play #30
1989 I Will Survive Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #37
1991 Made up My Mind Hot Dance Music/Club Play #36
1991 Made up My Mind Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #7
1991 Made up My Mind The Billboard Hot 100 #82
1991 Made up My Mind Hot 100 Airplay #60
1991 Taste the Bass Hot Dance Music/Club Play #6
1991 Taste the Bass Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales #4
2001 Can you stand the Rain