{{short description|American singer-songwriter}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Tenita Jordan | image = Tenita_Jordan.jpg | caption = Tenita Jordan, circa 1982. | background = solo_singer | birth_name = Tenita Lavern Jordan | alias = Tenita Dreher | birth_date = {{birth date|1960|10|08}} | birth_place = Monroe, North Carolina, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2018|09|23|1960|10|08}} | origin = | genre = {{Flat list| *R&B *soul }} | occupation = {{flatlist| * Singer * songwriter * actress }} | years_active = 1978–present | label = {{Flatlist| *Top Priority Records *CBS}} | website = }}
'''Tenita Jordan-Dreher''' (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> was an American singer, songwriter, and actress. In 1981, she portrayed one of the Stepp Sisters in the original Broadway musical production of ''Dreamgirls''.<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-production/dreamgirls-4152#OpeningNightCast Dreamgirls - Broadway Musical - Original]. ibdb. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> She later formed a post disco group called Raw Silk. The group had a US Top 5 dance song called "Do It to the Music". In 1986, she released her solo album ''Tenita'' on Teddy Pendergrass' record label Top Priority Records.<ref name="worldradiohistory">[https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/80s/1985/CB-1985-12-28.pdf Teddy Pendergrass Top Priority (page 18)]. ''Cashbox''. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref>
==Early life== Tenita Lavern Jordan was born in Monroe, North Carolina, on October 8, 1960.<ref name="bosticktompkinsinc"/> Her mother, Ruth Jordan (née Threatt), was a military bookkeeper and taught business classes to military personnel, while her father, James Jordan, was a United States Army Staff Sergeant who served in the Korean War and Vietnam War.<ref name="bosticktompkinsinc"/> She attended CA Johnson High School where she graduated from in 1977.<ref name="bosticktompkinsinc"/> During her sophomore year of high school, she won the fifth annual Miss Black Teenage World pageant in 1975.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=3EIDAAAAMBAJ People (page 20)]. ''Ebony''. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> She later attended Hampton University but left in 1978 to pursue a career on Broadway.
==Career== ===1978–1982: Beginnings and Broadway=== In June 1978, she debuted in the Broadway production of ''The Wiz'', she portrayed one of the Munchkins and one of the Field Mice.<ref name="ibdb">[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/tenita-jordan-87358 Tenita Jordan Broadway Credits]. ibdb. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> In December 1979, she appeared as one of the performers in ''Eubie!''.<ref name="ibdb"/> In December 1981, she appeared as one of the Stepp Sisters in the original production of ''Dreamgirls''.<ref name="ibdb"/> She toured with the production until 1985.<ref name="ibdb"/> She also appeared on the ''Dreamgirls: Original Broadway Cast Album''.
===1982–1983: Raw Silk=== {{main|Raw Silk}} In 1982, Crown Heights Affair musicians Ron Dean Miller and Bert Reid formed a female group called Raw Silk.<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> The group comprised Jordan, Jessica Cleaves, and Sybil Thomas. Raw Silk was signed to West End Records and debuted in late 1982 with the release of their single "Do It to the Music". The song peaked in the Top 40 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot Black Singles chart and number 5 on the Hot Dance/Disco Club Play chart. "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>
In 1983, the group followed up with the release of their second single "Just in Time". While the song was commercially less successful than its predecessor, "Just in Time" peaked in the Top 40 on the US Dance chart and at number 49 on the UK Singles chart.<ref name="officialcharts"/> The group disbanded shortly after the release of the single. In an interview with British music newspaper ''Record Mirror'', the group had confirmed that they were recording several songs for an album but it was never released.<ref name="recordmirror"/>
===1984–1988: ''Tenita'' and Top Priority Records=== In 1984, Jordan began working with American singer Teddy Pendergrass. She sang background on his album ''Love Language'' (1984). Pendergrass, who was just forming his own record label Top Priority (subsidiary of CBS Records), eventually signed Jordan to his label and began managing her career.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=M7MDAAAAMBAJ Teddy Pender says, 'Don't Feel Sorry for Me; Listen to my Songs' (page 60)]. ''Jet''. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> In 1986, Jordan released her debut solo album ''Tenita''. The album's lead single, "I Don't Wanna Think About It", peaked at number 41 on US Dance chart and number 89 on the US Hot Black Singles chart.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=yCQEAAAAMBAJ Hot Dance/Disco chart]. ''Billboard''. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> She followed up with the release of two more singles "You Got Me Dreamin'" and "Free Me". After Pendergrass left Asylum Records, his own record label became defunct, leaving Jordan without a record deal. Jordan continued to record with Pendergrass on his next album ''Joy'' (1988).
===1998–2005: Later career=== After a hiatus, Jordan continued her work as a session singer. She worked 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.<ref>[https://www.northseajazz.com/en/program/2002/friday-12-july/119-angie-stone/ Angie Stone Lineup]. North Sea Jazz. Retrieved on January 13, 2026.</ref> Tenita Jordan died on September 23, 2018.<ref name="bosticktompkinsinc"/>
==Personal life== In 1985, she married a technician named Christopher Nightingale.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=77ADAAAAMBAJ Musical Union (page 34)]. ''Ebony''. Retrieved on January 12, 2026</ref> The couple had a daughter Jhena Ruth Nightengale in 1987.
==Discography== ===Albums=== * ''Tenita'' (1986)
===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" |- ! rowspan="2"|Year ! rowspan="2"|Song ! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions ! rowspan="2"|Album |- ! style="width:40px;" align=center|US R&B ! style="width:40px;" align=center|US Dance |- | rowspan="2"|1985 | "I Don't Wanna Think About It" | align=center | 41 | align=center | 89 | rowspan="3"| ''Tenita'' |- | "You Got Me Dreamin'" | align=center | – | align=center | – |- | 1986 | "Free Again" | align=center | – | align=center | – |- |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Jordan, Tenita}} Category:1960 births Category:2018 deaths Category:20th-century African-American actresses Category:20th-century African-American women singers Category:20th-century American actresses Category:20th-century American singers Category:20th-century American women singers Category:21st-century African-American actresses Category:21st-century American actresses Category:21st-century American singers Category:21st-century American women singers Category:American ballad musicians Category:American contemporary R&B singers Category:American gospel singers Category:American musical theatre actresses Category:American soul singers Category:American women pop singers