Cheryl Pepsii Riley
| Cheryl Pepsii Riley | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Cheryl Riley October 18, 1968 Brooklyn, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse(s) | Mike Grace (m. 2003–09) (1 child) |
| Website | cherylpepsiiriley |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Labels | |
| Associated acts | Tamela Mann, D'atra Hicks, Michel'le, Keith Sweat, Babyface, Johnny Gill, Tyler Perry |
Cheryl "Pepsii" Riley (born October 18, 1968) is an American R&B/Soul and Gospel singer and actress. She is best known for her 1988 ballad "Thanks for My Child." She also starred in Tyler Perry's stageplays including; Madea's Class Reunion (2003) and Why Did I Get Married? (2006).
Born Cheryl Ann Riley in Brooklyn, New York she worked as a nurse for handicapped children before beginning her singing career. She topped the US R&B chart and hit the Top 40 on the pop chart at #32 with the 1988 ballad, "Thanks for My Child," a song written by Full Force. It peaked at #75 in the UK Singles Chart in January 1989. The genesis of "Thanks for My Child" began with Full Force member Bowlegged Lou's experience with the complications of his wife's first pregnancy.
As pivotal as "Thanks for My Child" was for Riley's career, it was not the first song Lou offered to her. She refused his offer to record "I Wonder If I Take You Home" because she did not want to spread herself too thin, but after it became a million-selling hit for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam in 1985, she thought she had missed her big break. Lou then offered her "Thanks for My Child". Riley still had her nurse's job when the song went to number one on the R&B chart.
...
Wikipedia