{{Short description|American band}} {{for|the 1988 Australian film|Raw Silk (film)}} {{use mdy dates|date=December 2020}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Raw Silk | image = | caption = | alias = | origin = New York City, U.S. | genre = Post-disco, boogie, R&B | years_active = 1979–1983 | label = West End Records, Arista Records | Associated Acts = | past_members = Jessica Cleaves<br>Tenita Jordan<br>Sybil Thomas<br>Valarie Pettiford }}
'''Raw Silk''' was an American dance group which originated in New York. The original lineup comprised Jessica Cleaves, Tenita Jordan, and Sybil Thomas. The group released a single called "Do It to the Music" on West End Records, which peaked in the Top 10 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart.
==History== In 1982, Crown Heights Affair members Ron Dean Miller and Bert Reid formed a female group called Raw Silk, originally comprised Jessica Cleaves, Tenita Jordan, and Sybil Thomas.<ref name="recordmirror">[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Record-Mirror/80s/82/Record-Mirror-1982-10-30.pdf The Silky Way (page 39)]. ''Record Mirror''. Retrieved on January 13, 2026</ref> They were signed to West End Records, a popular garage label. In July 1982, Raw Silk released their debut single "Do It to the Music".<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=1yQEAAAAMBAJ Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved on January 14, 2026</ref> The single became popular in clubs and pushed the song to number 5 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart as well as to the Top 40 on the US Hot Black Singles chart.<ref name="VF"/> "Do It to the Music" also peaked in the Top 20 on the UK Singles chart, inviting the group to perform on ''Top of the Pops'' in October 1982.<ref name="officialcharts">[https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19818/raw-silk/ Raw Silk Official Charts History]. Official Charts Company. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref><ref name="British Hit Singles">{{cite book|last1=McAleer|first1=Dave|last2=Gregory|first2=Andy|last3=White|first3=Matthew|title=The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles, Volume 2|date=November 15, 2010|publisher=Random House|page=387|isbn=9780753522455}}</ref>
Shortly after the release of the single, Sybil Thomas was unable to tour with the group. Valarie Pettiford, a singer who was performing in the Broadway production of ''Sophisticated Ladies'',<ref name="recordmirror"/> was added to the lineup for the duration of their tour.<ref>[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Let_The_Music_Play_How_R_B_Fell_In_Love/rHjqEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 Let The Music Play: How R&B Fell In Love With 80s Synths by Steven Vass]. Google Books. Retrieved on January 14, 2026</ref> The new lineup debuted on British music show ''Top of the Pops'' with Pettiford lip-syncing to Thomas' lead vocals on "Do It to the Music" in October 1982.<ref>[https://www.instagram.com/reel/C3YaHKRPld6/ Valarie Pettiford February 15, 2024 Instagram Post]. Instagram. Retrieved on October 2, 2025</ref> In an interview with British music newspaper ''Record Mirror'' from October 1982, the group confirmed that they were recording several songs for an album.<ref name="recordmirror"/> In August 1983, the group released their second single "Just in Time". The single was commercially less successful than its predecessor, only peaking in the Top 40 of the US ''Billboard'' R&B chart and UK Singles chart.<ref name="VF"/><ref name=UK/> The group disbanded at the end of 1983 and no album was released.
==Disbandment and aftermath== Following the disbandment of the group in 1983, each member went to pursue solo careers in music and entertainment.
* Jessica Cleaves (December 10, 1948 – May 2, 2014) went on to work with Parliament-Funkadelic singer and musician George Clinton. She performed on his Family Series' albums ''Go Fer Yer Funk'' (1992), ''Plush Funk'' (1992), ''Testing Positive 4 the Funk'' (1993), and ''A Fifth of Funk'' (1993).<ref name="jessicacleavesallmusic">[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jessica-cleaves-mn0000286547#credits Jessica Cleaves Music Credits]. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref>
* Tenita Jordan (October 8, 1960 – September 23, 2018)<ref name="bosticktompkinsinc">[https://www.bosticktompkinsinc.com/obituary/Tenita-Dreher Official Obituary of Tenita Jordan Dreher]. Bostick Tompkins Inc. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> pursued work as a session singer, eventually becoming a background singer for American singer Teddy Pendergrass. She performed background vocals for his albums ''Love Language'' (1984) and ''Workin' It Back'' (1985).<ref name="tenitajordanallmusic">[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tenita-jordan-mn0001192572#credits Tenita Jordan Music Credits]. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> In 1985, she signed to his recording label Top Priority Records. The following year, she released her debut album ''Tenita'', which spawned the singles "I Don't Wanna Think About It", "You Got Me Dreamin'", and "Free Me". She continued her work as a session singer, working with Lenny Kravitz on his ''5'' album in 1998.<ref name="tenitadreherallmusic">[https://www.allmusic.com/artist/tenita-dreher-mn0001783662#credits Tenita Dreher Music Credits]. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> In 1999, she contributed background vocals to Angie Stone's albums ''Black Diamond'' (1999) and ''Mahogany Soul'' (2001).<ref name="tenitadreherallmusic"/> From 2000 to 2005, she toured as a background singer for Angie Stone. Tenita Jordan died on September 23, 2018.<ref name="bosticktompkinsinc" />
* Sybil Thomas also continued working as a session singer. Different record labels began hiring her to perform background vocals for their signed recording artists. Gramavision Records hired Thomas to perform on Jay Hoggard's album ''Love Survives'' and Oliver Lake's album ''Plug It'', both released in 1983. Japan-based record label Apollon Music Industrial Corp. hired her to perform on Hiroshi Fukumura's ''Hot Shot'' and Barry Finnerty's ''Lights On Broadway'' album, both released in 1985. In March 2018, she released her debut solo album ''Breathe'' on Kultone Records.<ref>[https://music.apple.com/us/album/breathe/1350213158 Breathe - Album by Sybil Thomas]. Apple Music. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> The album spawned the singles "Keep It Fired Up" and "So Fo Real".<ref>[https://music.apple.com/us/album/keep-it-fired-up-single/1342851769 Keep It Fired Up - Single - Album by Sybil Thomas]. Apple Music. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref><ref>[https://music.apple.com/us/album/so-fo-real-single/1564411113 So Fo Real - Single - Album by Sybil Thomas]. Apple Music. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref>
* Valarie Pettiford (born July 8, 1960),<ref name=soap>{{cite book|last1=Rout|first1=Nancy E.|last2=Buckley|first2=Ellen|title=The Soap Opera Book: Who's Who in Daytime Drama|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yzQlimPTTEMC&q=pettiford|year=1993|publisher=Todd Publications|isbn=0-915344-23-8|page=207}}</ref> who replaced Thomas during their tour in 1982, went to become a successful actress. Pettiford received a Tony nomination as Best Featured Actress in a Musical and a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination for her role in the Broadway production ''Fosse'' from 1998 to 1999.<ref name=broadway>{{cite news|url=http://losangeles.broadwayworld.com/article/Valarie_Pettiford_to_Perform_Thankful_at_Upright_Cabaret_20081010|title=Valarie Pettiford to Perform 'Thankful' at Upright Cabaret|date=October 10, 2008|work=Broadway World|access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref><ref name=playbill>{{cite news|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/46765-Reva-Rice-Formerly-of-Starlight-Express-Steams-Into-Fosse-July-20|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|title=Reva Rice, Formerly of Starlight Express, Steams Into Fosse July 20|date=July 20, 1999|work=Playbill|access-date=July 18, 2010}}</ref> She eventually starred in Deirdre "Big Dee Dee" LaFontaine Thorne on the UPN television sitcom ''Half & Half'' from 2002 to 2006.
==Discography== {| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan="2"|Year ! rowspan="2"|Song ! rowspan="2"|Label ! colspan="3"| Peak chart positions |- ! style="width:40px;" align=center|US Dance<br><ref name="VF">{{cite web|url=https://www.musicvf.com/Raw+Silk.art|title=Raw Silk Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography|website=Music VF|accessdate=December 13, 2020}}</ref> ! style="width:40px;" align=center|US R&B<br><ref name="VF"/> ! style="width:40px;" align=center|UK<br><ref name=UK>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artist/19818/raw-silk/|title=Raw Silk - full Official Chart History|website=Official Charts Company|accessdate=2011-08-20}}</ref> |- | 1982 | "Do It to the Music" | West End | align=center | 5 | align=center | 65 | align=center | 18 |- | 1983 | "Just in Time" | West End | align=center | 40 | align=center | – | align=center | 49 |- |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/6055-Raw-Silk Raw Silk] at Discogs.
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Category:African-American girl groups Category:American boogie musicians Category:American contemporary R&B musical groups Category:American dance music groups Category:American disco groups Category:American funk musical groups Category:American garage house musicians Category:American girl groups Category:American musical trios Category:American R&B girl groups Category:Arista Records artists Category:Musical groups established in 1979 Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1983 Category:Musical groups from New York City Category:Vocal trios Category:West End Records artists