Vocal star Anita Baker, who rose to fame in the eighties, once mentioned a little known singer as an influence. And when you hear the voice, you can hear the connection.
The vocal group Friends of Distinction were formed in Los Angeles in 1966 by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler. Added to the group were two female singers, Barbara Jean Love, later replaced by Charlene Gibson, and 18-year-old LA native Jessica Cleaves.
Jessica Cleaves didn't sing lead on any of the major Friends of Distinction hits, but if you do a little digging, you'll hear the silky, distinctive contralto voice.
‘I Really Hope You Do’ was the flip side of their big hit, ‘Grazing in the Grass.’ Another notable Jessica Cleaves performance can be heard on the album track ‘Lady Mae’
Jessica Cleaves was born on December 10th, 1948. She stayed with Friends of Distinction until 1972. That was the year that she joined an up-and-coming band called Earth, Wind and Fire.
Jessica stayed with Earth, Wind and Fire long enough to cut a couple of albums with group. Moving on she joined up with George Clinton in Detroit and performed on a number of Parliament-Funkadelic albums.
Jessica Cleaves is one of many artists whose legacy is felt through her inspiration. A singer's singer who never became a major star. She died in 2014.
