Cheryl Pepsii Riley

Cheryl Bridget 'Pepsii' Riley is a talented American vocalist and actress recognized for her contributions to the music scene from the late 1980s to the early 1990s. One of her most acclaimed works is the R&B ballad "Thanks for My Child," which topped the US R&B charts in November 1988 and reached No. 32 on the pop charts. Written by Full Force, the song helped establish her career. Additionally, Riley has made significant appearances in various Tyler Perry stage productions and films.

Before venturing into music, Riley worked as a nurse for children with disabilities after graduating from high school. Her musical journey began as the lead singer in the band Stargaze, which released the single "You Can't Have It" in 1982. Following the success of her debut album, "Chapters," which featured the hits "How Can You Hurt The One You Love" and a rendition of Aretha Franklin's "Ain't No Way," she released a third album, "All That!," under Reprise Records.

After stepping away from the entertainment industry for a while, Riley returned in the late 1990s, collaborating on tracks like "I Love It" and "Look Around" for The Beatnuts’ album, "A Musical Massacre." She has since starred in several of Perry's gospel plays, including "Madea Goes to Jail" and "Why Did I Get Married?" In 2005, she contributed to the soundtrack of "Diary of a Mad Black Woman," before releasing her first album in fourteen years, "Let Me Be Me," the following year. In 2015, she offered fans a new solo project titled "Still Believe."