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Jermaine Stewart

1957 – 1997; born in Columbus, Ohio

Jermaine Stewart

Despite five other singles that appeared on various Billboard charts during the 1980s, Jermaine Stewart will always be associated with “We Don’t Have to Take Our Clothes Off,” one of the first pop hits to address “safe sex.” The song peaked at #5 on the Hot 100 in August 1986. “I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with sex,” Stewart said at the time. “There’s nothing wrong with it. In the song, I’m saying to kids that they don’t have to do anything they don’t want to in terms of sex. You don’t have to take your clothes off to have a good time. It can be dangerous. There are so many diseases floating around these days, you don’t know what you’re going to catch.”

Stewart started his career as a dancer on Soul Train, which was still taping in Chicago when his family moved there in 1972. He became friends with members of Shalamar, who invited him to tour with them. That association led to Stewart meeting Mikey Craig, the bassist for Culture Club, who helped him record demos and secure a record deal. Stewart is also featured prominently on that group’s top 5 hit, “Miss Me Blind.”

Stewart’s albums were released on Arista Records in the United States, and he was promoted as that label’s answer to Michael Jackson. (Proof here.) As hits became scarce, he was dropped from the label roster. An entire album, recorded in 1992, remains unreleased.

Stewart died of AIDS in 1997. His music is neither in print nor repackaged, save for his most famous song which is currently on the soundtrack of Zack & Mira Make a Porno.

Album Discography:
• The Word Is Out (1984)
• Frantic Romantic (1986)
• Say It Again (1988)
• What Becomes a Legend Most (1989)

SOURCES:
Hunt, Dennis. “Stewart Dressed for Top-10 Success.” Los Angeles Times. 10 August 1986.
Pope-Chappell, Maya. “In His Steps.” Essence. September 2009.
Tucker, Hannah. “AIDS: 25 Years Later.” Entertainment Weekly. 16 June 2006.

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