Cheryl Pepsii Riley reached the top of the R&B charts with the emotionally charged ballad “Thanks for My Child,” a track whose lyrics resonated deeply with single mothers everywhere. Although many listeners assumed she had written the song herself, the composition actually came from Full Force, the six-man performing, songwriting, and production collective based in East Flatbush/Brooklyn, NY. The group had already accumulated an extensive catalog of successes for acts including themselves, Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam, UTFO, Jasmine Guy, Lala, Samantha Fox, and the Weather Girls. Riley’s delivery gained additional depth from her decade-long career as a nurse caring for handicapped children. The song’s origins traced back to Full Force member Bowlegged Lou’s personal experience with complications during his wife’s first pregnancy.
Despite the breakthrough impact of “Thanks for My Child,” it was not the first Full Force composition offered to Riley. She declined an opportunity to record “I Wonder If I Take You Home,” fearing overcommitment, only to watch it become a million-selling hit for Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam in 1985 and later regret the decision. Full Force then presented her with “Thanks for My Child.” At the time the single climbed to number one in fall 1988, Riley continued working her nursing job.
The title track from her debut album Me Myself and I reached number 18 on the R&B chart in early 1989. Later that year, the follow-up single “Every Little Thing About You” peaked at number 55 R&B. Her second album, Chapters, produced the singles “How Can You Hurt the One You Love” and a cover of Aretha Franklin’s 1968 hit “Ain’t No Way,” the latter featuring backing vocals from the Full Force–produced group Ex-Girlfriend. Reprise released her third album, All That!, which included the singles “Gimme” and “Guess I’m in Love.” Throughout the 1990s Riley performed in nationally touring gospel plays.
