• Get the app
  • Concerts
  • Charts
  • Radio Spins
  • Fast Forward 2025
  • Download Shazam
  • Apps
  • Concerts
  • Charts
  • Radio Spins
  • Fast Forward 2025
  • Help
Listen to Melvin Riley, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!

Melvin Riley

R&B/Soul

View Artist

Top Songs By Melvin Riley

Listen to Whose is It? by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
Whose is It?Melvin Riley
Listen to I'm All In by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
I'm All InMelvin Riley
Listen to What Makes a Man (Wanna Cheat On His Woman) by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
What Makes a Man (Wanna Cheat On His Woman)Melvin Riley
Listen to Servin' It by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
Servin' ItMelvin Riley
Listen to You Complete Me by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
You Complete MeMelvin Riley
Listen to If You Don't Tell I Won't Tell by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
If You Don't Tell I Won't TellMelvin Riley
Listen to Tabs On Ya by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
Tabs On YaMelvin Riley
Listen to Love You Down (Southern Soul Style) by J-Wonn & Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
Love You Down (Southern Soul Style)J-Wonn & Melvin Riley
Listen to #1 N***a from the Hood by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
#1 N***a from the HoodMelvin Riley
Listen to Spoil You by Melvin Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!
Spoil YouMelvin Riley

Latest Release

Listen to Sugar Daddy - Single by Melvin Riley
ALBUMSugar Daddy - SingleMelvin Riley

More albums from Melvin Riley

Listen to Bedroom Stories (The Love Ballads Release) by Melvin Riley
ALBUMBedroom Stories (The Love Ballads Release)Melvin Riley
Listen to Ghetto Love by Melvin Riley
ALBUMGhetto LoveMelvin Riley

Melvin Riley's Popular Music Videos

Watch What Makes a Man (Wanna Cheat On His Woman) music video by Melvin Riley
What Makes a Man (Wanna Cheat On His Woman)
Melvin Riley
Watch Luke's Sheila (Edited Version) music video by Luke Skyywalker & Melvin Riley
Luke's Sheila (Edited Version)
Luke Skyywalker & Melvin Riley

About Melvin Riley

Artist Biography

Melvin Riley Jr. sang lead on hits by Ready for the World ("Oh Sheila," "Love You Down") and had his own solo sides as well as writing and producing a Top Ten R&B hit for 4 By Four ("Come Over," number ten R&B, summer 1987). Besides bandleader/singer/guitarist/principal songwriter Riley, the Flint, MI, band that started in 1982 included his schoolmates, drummer Gerald Valentine, keyboardist Gregory Potts, bassist John Eaton, percussionist Willie Triplett, and lead guitarist Gordon Strozier. Recording at Bernard Terry's Silver Sun studio, the band sent their demos out to the major labels and received back rejection notices. Co-produced with Terry, the band's first single, the languid ballad "Tonight," was released on their own Blue Lake Records label in the Flint area. The band got the single to WJLB radio DJ The Electrifying Mojo who began playing it. "Tonight" became a local then regional hit spreading to Detroit and Chicago. MCA Records who initially took a pass on the band picked up "Tonight" which went to number six R&B in late 1984. Its follow-up, the similarly toned "Deep Inside Your Love," reached number six R&B in spring 1985. The third single brought astounding success to the young band. The band's self-produced "Oh Sheila" was very much steeped in influences of another Midwest-based artist, Prince, parked at number one R&B for two weeks, and peaked at number one pop on Billboard's charts in summer 1985. The success afforded Riley, who was attending college to be a teacher (as his "fall back" occupation in case music didn't work out), the opportunity to buy his parents a house and himself a Porsche. On their first major release, Riley and his bandmates found themselves sitting in the audience of the American Music Awards with such stars as Smokey Robinson, Lionel Richie, and Huey Lewis. Their debut LP, Ready for the World, issued June 1985, went platinum reaching number three R&B that summer. The LP had an enticing mix of funk, rock, clever arrangements, and effects all wrapped up in a great mix by Louis Silas Jr. It should also be pointed out that Ready for the World was one of the last R&B/funk bands to have such huge success. The band tradition was starting to fade from R&B music due to government cutbacks in arts and music programs in urban areas, the emergence of MIDI music technology, and rap music. Going into the 21st century, the only R&B/funk band to have a major label contract was Mint Condition. Other singles on Ready for the World were the slick number four hit "Digital Display" and the charting singles "Slide Over" and the rock funky "Ceramic Girl." The second number one single, "Love You Down" (co-produced by the band and Gary Spaniola), held the number one R&B position for two weeks and hit number nine pop in fall 1986. Their Ruff 'N' Ready LP yielded the number six R&B hit "My Girly" and "Gently." The title track from their 1991 LP Straight Down To Business hit number 15 R&B in spring 1991. The ballad "Can He Do It (Like This, Can He Do It Like That)" broke through to number nine R&B in fall 1991. Melvin Riley became a MCA solo artist charting with "Whose Is It" in summer 1994 and "What Makes a Man (Wanna Cheat on His Woman)" in late 1994 from his Ghetto Love CD. Riley's Bedroom Stories on Bogard was released April 4, 2000. ~ Ed Hogan
Hometown
US
Genre
R&B/Soul

Melvin Riley: Member of

Melvin Riley is also a member of, or has been a member of the following groups
Listen to undefined, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Ready for the World
R&B/Soul

Similar to: Melvin Riley

Discover more music and artists similar to Melvin Riley, like Ready for the World, Melvin Riley, Big Bub
Listen to Ready for the World, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Ready for the World
Listen to Melvin Riley, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Melvin Riley
Listen to Big Bub, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Big Bub
Listen to Methrone, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Methrone
Listen to Men At Large, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Men At Large
Listen to H-Town, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
H-Town
Listen to Lorenzo Smith, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Lorenzo Smith
Listen to Raab, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Raab
Listen to Keith Sweat, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Keith Sweat
Listen to Troop, watch music videos, read bio, see tour dates & more!
Troop

Shazam Footer

Select language:

Company

  • About Us
  • Apps
  • Careers
  • Help for Apple Devices
  • Help for Android Devices
  • ShazamKit for Developers

Legal

  • Terms
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Your Data
  • My Library
Google Play Store
Apple App Store
Chrome Web Store
Galaxy Store

Follow Us

© Copyright 2025 Apple Inc. and its affiliates | Supplier Responsibility
instagramSharePathic_arrow_out