Raw Silk was an American dance music 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.
[ The Silky Way (page 39). Record Mirror. Retrieved on January 13, 2026] They were signed to West End Records, a popular
Paradise Garage label. In July 1982, Raw Silk released their debut single "Do It to the Music".
[ Billboard Dance/Disco Top 80. Billboard. Retrieved on January 14, 2026] 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.
"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.
[ Raw Silk Official Charts History. Official Charts Company. Retrieved on January 12, 2026]
Shortly after the release of the single, Sybil Thomas was unable to tour with the group. Valarie Pettiford, a singer who was performing in theBroadway theatre production of Sophisticated Ladies,[ Let The Music Play: How R&B Fell In Love With 80s Synths by Steven Vass. Google Books. Retrieved on January 14, 2026] 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.[ Valarie Pettiford February 15, 2024 Instagram Post. Instagram. Retrieved on October 2, 2025] In an interview with British music newspaper Record Mirror from October 1982, the group confirmed that they were recording several songs for an album.[ 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.
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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).
[ Jessica Cleaves Music Credits. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 12, 2026]
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Tenita Jordan (October 8, 1960 – September 23, 2018)
[ Official Obituary of Tenita Jordan Dreher. Bostick Tompkins Inc. Retrieved on January 12, 2026] 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).[ Tenita Jordan Music Credits. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 12, 2026] 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.[ Tenita Dreher Music Credits. AllMusic. Retrieved on January 12, 2026] In 1999, she contributed background vocals to Angie Stone's albums Black Diamond (1999) and Mahogany Soul (2001).
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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.
[ Breathe - Album by Sybil Thomas. Apple Music. Retrieved on January 12, 2026] The album spawned the singles "Keep It Fired Up" and "So Fo Real".[ Keep It Fired Up - Single - Album by Sybil Thomas. Apple Music. Retrieved on January 12, 2026][ So Fo Real - Single - Album by Sybil Thomas. Apple Music. Retrieved on January 12, 2026]
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Valarie Pettiford (born July 8, 1960),
Discography
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| 1982 | "Do It to the Music" | West End | 5 | 65 | 18 |
| 1983 | "Just in Time" | West End | 40 | – | 49 |
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External links
