Jessica Cleaves
musician · singer · singer-songwriter · composer
- December 10, 1948 · Los Angeles
- May 2, 2014 · Los Angeles
- 65 years
- stroke
About Jessica Cleaves
Jessica Cleaves, 65, American singer (The Friends of Distinction, Earth, Wind & Fire), complications from a stroke.
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Full Biography
|Jessica Marguerite Cleaves (December 10, 1948 – May 2, 2014) was an American singer and songwriter who was the lead singer of the Friends of Distinction, Earth, Wind & Fire, Parliament Funkadelic, and Raw Silk.
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. Cleaves attended the California Institute of the Arts' School of Music and later studied at The University of California, Los Angeles. One of her classmates was the famed songwriter Skip Scarborough.
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).
During 1971, Cleaves became a member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire. She went on to appear on EWF's 1972 LP Last Days and Time and 1973 album Head to the Sky. After this album was released Cleaves quit EWF before founder Maurice White implemented his plans to fire her. Then Cleaves later moved to Detroit where she joined forces with George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic. Cleaves went on to appear on Funkadelic's 1976 album Tales of Kidd Funkadelic and 1979 LP Uncle Jam Wants You. She also sang on Parliament's 1979 album Gloryhallastoopid, 1980 LP Trombipulation and Funkadelic's 1981 album The Electric Spanking of War Babies. Cleaves later appeared on George Clinton's 1983 album Computer Games, his 1986 LP R&B Skeletons in the Closet and the P Funk All Stars' 1995 album Dope Dogs.
Personal life
Cleaves died in Los Angeles, California, aged 65, following complications from a stroke. Her godson, director Armand Araujo, began filming Jessica Cleaves, My Friends of Distinction at the time of her death.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Articles & News
- "Jessica Cleaves: A Silky, Soulful — And Funky — Voice Goes Silent"npr.org
- "Soul Singer Jessica Cleaves Dies at 65"variety.com
Reported coverage of Jessica Cleaves; each link opens the original article on the publisher's own site.
Books & Media
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jessica_Cleaves
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- View record
- September 30, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jessica Cleaves's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was Jessica Marguerite Cleaves born?
- A.December 10, 1950
- B.May 2, 2014
- C.May 2, 1948
- D.December 10, 1948correct
Jessica Marguerite Cleaves was born on December 10, 1948.
Source: biographical introduction
2.What was the profession of Jessica Marguerite Cleaves' father, Lane C. Cleaves II?
- A.Librarian
- B.Presiding Bishop
- C.US Postal employeecorrect
- D.Music teacher
Lane C. Cleaves II was a US Postal employee.
Source: early life section
3.Which institution did Jessica Marguerite Cleaves attend for music studies?
- A.University of Southern California
- B.Harvard University
- C.Juilliard School
- D.The University of California, Los Angelescorrect
Jessica Cleaves studied at The University of California, Los Angeles.
Source: early life section
4.Who was one of Jessica Marguerite Cleaves' classmates during her time at university?
- A.Maurice White
- B.George Clinton
- C.Harry Elston
- D.Skip Scarboroughcorrect
The famed songwriter Skip Scarborough was a classmate of Jessica Cleaves.
Source: early life section
5.Who were the founders of the group The Friends of Distinction?
- A.Armand Araujo and Floyd Butler
- B.Harry Elston and Floyd Butlercorrect
- C.Skip Scarborough and Lane C. Cleaves II
- D.George Clinton and Maurice White
The Friends of Distinction was founded by Harry Elston and Floyd Butler.
Source: career section
6.Who replaced Barbara Jean Love in The Friends of Distinction during her pregnancy?
- A.Jessica Cleaves
- B.Mary Gladys Cleaves
- C.Lane C. Cleaves Sr.
- D.Charlene Gibsoncorrect
Charlene Gibson replaced Barbara Jean Love in The Friends of Distinction during her pregnancy.
Source: career section
7.In what year did Jessica Marguerite Cleaves join the band Earth, Wind & Fire?
- A.1970
- B.1971correct
- C.1973
- D.1972
Jessica Cleaves became a member of Earth, Wind & Fire during 1971.
Source: career section
8.Which Earth, Wind & Fire album released in 1972 featured Jessica Marguerite Cleaves?
- A.Uncle Jam Wants You
- B.Computer Games
- C.Head to the Sky
- D.Last Days and Timecorrect
Jessica Cleaves appeared on Earth, Wind & Fire's 1972 LP Last Days and Time.
Source: career section
9.Why did Jessica Marguerite Cleaves leave the band Earth, Wind & Fire?
- A.She retired from music
- B.She quit before Maurice White could fire hercorrect
- C.She moved to London
- D.She was fired by Maurice White
Jessica Cleaves quit Earth, Wind & Fire before founder Maurice White implemented his plans to fire her.
Source: career section
10.Which city did Jessica Marguerite Cleaves move to after leaving Earth, Wind & Fire?
- A.Detroitcorrect
- B.Los Angeles
- C.Chicago
- D.New York
Jessica Cleaves later moved to Detroit where she joined forces with George Clinton.
Source: career section
11.On which Funkadelic album released in 1976 did Jessica Marguerite Cleaves appear?
- A.Trombipulation
- B.Uncle Jam Wants You
- C.Tales of Kidd Funkadeliccorrect
- D.Gloryhallastoopid
Jessica Cleaves appeared on Funkadelic's 1976 album Tales of Kidd Funkadelic.
Source: career section
12.In what year was the P Funk All Stars' album Dope Dogs released?
- A.1981
- B.1986
- C.1983
- D.1995correct
Jessica Cleaves appeared on the P Funk All Stars' 1995 album Dope Dogs.
Source: career section
13.Where did Jessica Marguerite Cleaves die?
- A.Chicago, Illinois
- B.Los Angeles, Californiacorrect
- C.Detroit, Michigan
- D.New York City, New York
Jessica Cleaves died in Los Angeles, California.
Source: personal life section
14.What was the cause of Jessica Marguerite Cleaves' death?
- A.A heart attack
- B.Pneumonia
- C.A car accident
- D.Complications from a strokecorrect
Jessica Cleaves died following complications from a stroke.
Source: personal life section
15.Who is the director of the film Jessica Cleaves, My Friends of Distinction?
- A.George Clinton
- B.Maurice White
- C.Armand Araujocorrect
- D.Harry Elston
Her godson, director Armand Araujo, began filming Jessica Cleaves, My Friends of Distinction at the time of her death.
Source: personal life section
16.How old was Jessica Marguerite Cleaves when she died?
- A.62
- B.65correct
- C.70
- D.68
Jessica Cleaves died in Los Angeles, California, aged 65.
Source: personal life section
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