Jessica Cleaves
Jessica Cleaves | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
December 10, 1948
Died | Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist. Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Genres | R&B, pop, soul, funk |
Occupation(s) | Singer, songwriter |
Associated acts | The Friends of Distinction, Earth, Wind & Fire, George Clinton, Parliament-Funkadelic |
Website | jessicacleaves |
Jessica Marguerite Cleaves (December 10, 1948 – May 2, 2014) was an American singer and songwriter. Cleaves was lead singer for The Friends of Distinction in the 1960s.[1][2]
Early life
Jessica Cleaves was born to Mary Gladys Cleaves (née Wilkerson), a librarian, and Lane C. Cleaves II, a US Postal employee. Cleaves' paternal grandfather, Lane C. Cleaves Sr., was Presiding Bishop over Phillips Temple, CME.[3]
Career
The Friends of Distinction was founded by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler, and beside Cleaves, it included Barbara Jean Love (plus Charlene Gibson, who replaced Love during her pregnancy).[citation needed]
During the 1970s, Cleaves performed and recorded with Earth, Wind & Fire. She later moved to Detroit where she joined forces with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic[4] for several recordings, including Computer Games, R&B Skeletons in the Closet and Dope Dogs.[5]
Cleaves died in hospital in Los Angeles, California, aged 65, following complications from a stroke.[5] Her godson, director Armand Araujo, began filming Jessica Cleaves, My Friends of Distinction at the time of her passing.[5]
Charts
Grazing in the Grass
US Billboard Hot 100
- Peak Position 3
US Billboard Hot Soul Singles
- Peak Position 5
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Robert J. Carmack, "Rest in Love & Peace - Jessica Cleaves 1948-2014", Hipster Sanctuary, May 2, 2014.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Soul Singer Jessica Cleaves Dies at 65", Variety, May 7, 2014.
External links
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- Articles with hCards
- Articles with unsourced statements from May 2014
- Official website not in Wikidata
- 1948 births
- 2014 deaths
- American female singer-songwriters
- American soul singers
- American funk singers
- Earth, Wind & Fire members
- P-Funk members
- Musicians from Los Angeles, California
- Disease-related deaths in California
- American singer stubs