Jermaine Stewart, an R&B lyricist, singer, and dancer, was born William Jermaine Stewart on September 7, 1957, in Columbus, Ohio, to Eugene Stewart and Ethel M. Stewart. In 1972, his parents relocated the family to Chicago, Illinois. Eugene, Jr., Sondra, Leandra, and Norma Stewart were Stewart’s four siblings. In 1975, he graduated from Paul Roberson High School.
Stewart rose to prominence in 1977 after appearing on the musical variety show Soul Train. He also sang backup vocals for the band Shalamar. Stewart moved to London, England, in 1983, and by 1984, he had signed his first solo recording contract with Arista Records, releasing his debut album The Word is Out and a smash song of the same name. The album peaked at 90 on the Billboard 200 albums chart and 30 on the R&B Albums chart in the United States.
Two years later, in 1986, Stewart released his most successful album, Frantic Romantic, which sold over one million copies and peaked at number 34 on the US Billboard Album list. The album contained the top ten Billboard Hot 100 hit “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off.” The record was a worldwide success, reaching no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and no. 2 in Canada and the United Kingdom. That single sold one million copies as well.
Following the success of his recordings, Steward was invited by Dick Clark to be interviewed and perform on American Bandstand in 1986. Stewart performed “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off” and “Jody,” which charted at 42 on the Billboard Hot 100 and 18 on the Billboard R&B chart as a result of the program. It also reached at number 50 in the United Kingdom. Stewart’s single “Don’t Ever Leave Me,” from the same album, peaked at number 74 in the UK in 1987, and he starred in Deniece Williams’ video “Never Say Never.”
Stewart’s album Say It Again peaked at no. 27 in the United States and no. 15 in R&B in 1988, while the singles “Get Lucky” peaked at no. 69 in R&B and no. 13 in the United Kingdom, and “Don’t Talk Dirty to Me” peaked at no. 61 in the United Kingdom.
What Becomes a Legend Most, Stewart’s final album for Arista Records, did not fare well. The album’s lead single, “Every Woman Wants To,” peaked at no. 95 in the UK. Set Me Free, Stewart’s first album for his new label, Reprise Records, was also a commercial flop.
While battling AIDS, Stewart recorded several pieces, including his unfinished album, Believe In Me, between 1996 and 1997. William Jermaine Stewart died of AIDS complications on March 17, 1997, in Homewood, Illinois. He was 39.