| Cherrelle | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Cheryl Ann Norton |
| Born | October 13, 1959 |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California |
| Genres | R&B, funk |
| Years active | 1983–present |
| Labels | Tabu Records, Power Records |
| Associated acts | Stephanie Mills Pebbles Alexander O'Neal Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis SOS Band Sheila E. |
Cheryl Anne Norton, better known by her stage name, Cherrelle (born October 11, 1958), is an American R&B singer who gained fame in the 1980s. Her signature hits include "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On", "Where Do I Run To", and "Everything I Miss at Home", and duets with R&B singer Alexander O'Neal such as "Saturday Love" and "Never Knew Love Like This."
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Cherrelle began her career working with jazz/R&B artists Norman Connors and Michael Henderson, as well as touring with Luther Vandross. After Tabu Records founder Clarence Avant heard her demo, he signed her to Tabu Records in 1983. Cherrelle decided on her stage name after a boss from a previous job hollered "Cher-relle, you're late again!"[1]
In 1984, under the production of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Cherrelle released her debut album, Fragile. It featured her first R&B top ten single, "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On". That song (with a music video homage to the film King Kong, featuring Cherrelle as the beast's love interest) was covered about a year later by pop singer Robert Palmer on his 1985 album Riptide. It was also covered by Mariah Carey for her 2001 soundtrack album Glitter using the same instrumental track.
Cherrelle's follow up album, High Priority, was certified gold and produced the Top 40 hit and the #2 R&B hit "Saturday Love", a duet with Alexander O'Neal, it would also land in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart, peaking at Number 6. Cherrelle and O'Neal would have another Top 40 single with "Never Knew Love Like This", which peaked at #28 US pop in 1988, and #2 R&B.
Her third album, 1988's Affair, included the Number 1 R&B single, "Everything I Miss at Home". The album's title track became another R&B hit, peaking at Number 4 on the R&B charts.
Cherrelle's cousin is pop singer Perri "Pebbles" Reid. Cherrelle and Johnny Gill were featured on Pebbles' 1991 single "Always", which made the R&B Top 20. That same year, Cherrelle released the album The Woman I Am, a first-time departure from using Jam and Lewis productions. The singer linked with producer Narada Michael Walden (known for working with Whitney Houston). Cherrelle reunited with the producers eight years later with her independent album The Right Time, released in 1999, and featuring a guest appearance from rapper Keith Murray.
| Year | Album | Chart positions [2][3] |
Record label | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
UK | |||
| 1984 | Fragile | 144 | 27 | — | Tabu |
| 1985 | High Priority | 36 | 9 | 17 | |
| 1988 | Affair | 106 | 15 | — | |
| 1991 | The Woman I Am | — | 43 | — | |
| 1999 | The Right Time | — | 55 | — | Power |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | |||||
| Year | Album | Chart positions | Record label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
|||
| 1995 | The Best of Cherrelle | — | — | Tabu |
| 2005 | Greatest Hits | — | — | |
| 2011 | Icon | — | — | |
| "—" denotes the album failed to chart | ||||
| Year | Single | Chart positions [2][3][4] |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B |
US Dance |
UK | |||
| 1984 | "I Didn't Mean to Turn You On" | 79 | 8 | 6 | — | |
| "Fragile...Handle with Care" | — | 37 | — | — | ||
| 1985 | "You Look Good to Me" | — | 26 | — | — | |
| "Saturday Love" (with Alexander O'Neal) | 26 | 2 | 13 | 6 | ||
| 1986 | "Will You Satisfy?" | — | — | — | 57 | |
| "Artificial Heart" | — | 18 | 5 | — | ||
| 1988 | "Never Knew Love Like This" (with Alexander O'Neal) | 28 | 2 | — | 26 | |
| "Everything I Miss at Home" | — | 1 | — | 83 | ||
| 1989 | "Affair" | — | 4 | 15 | 67 | |
| "What More Can I Do for You" | — | 58 | — | — | ||
| 1990 | "Saturday Love" (Feelin' Luv Mix) (with Alexander O'Neal) | — | — | — | 55 | |
| 1991 | "Never in My Life" | — | 40 | — | — | |
| 1992 | "Tears of Joy" | — | 23 | — | — | |
| "Still in Love with You" | — | 86 | — | — | ||
| 1997 | "Baby Come to Me" (with Alexander O'Neal) | — | — | — | 56 | |
| "—" denotes the single failed to chart | ||||||