Cheryl James Wray

She entered our lives as “Salt”, a member of internationally known female hip-hop and pop group, Salt-N-Pepa. From entertaining kings and queens, standing before the great Frank Sinatra to creating a worldwide “AIDS Awareness” campaign, she has made an undeniable impact on our culture. Welcome to the light and life of World Renowned Entertainer Extraordinaire, Cheryl James-Wray aka Salt. She is a hip-hop legend, an icon for women, and an advocate for today’s youth culture.

Growing up in the boroughs of New York City, she lived among individuals like LL Cool J, Spike Lee, Kid-N-Play and Martin Lawrence, which have become some of the most influential players in entertainment today. Unknowingly, what was originally a product of a school music project would land her to become a member of the most successful female hip hop group of all time.

For over ten years, Salt-N-Pepa followed in the footsteps of greatness. Their mass appeal and dedication have allowed them to share the stage and collaborate with artists like Queen Latifah, Sheryl Crow, En Vogue, and many more. Although most of their songs were party and love anthems, their commitment to the issues facing society always stood out in their music, a place where Cheryl found herself the most. Even after winning a Grammy, three MTV Music and Video Awards, the Lady of Soul Honors, and showing sales of over fifteen million records worldwide, Salt still believes that the best is yet to come.

In 1997, she recorded “Stomp” with Contemporary Gospel Sensation, Kirk Franklin and God’s Property. This non-traditional, out-of-the-box sound crossed over into every radio format, mix-tape and even played in most nightclubs around the world. After witnessing this phenomenon, Salt’s vision for the next stop on her journey became clearer.

During Cheryl’s timeout from the industry she began to paint her own self-portrait. In her own words, she is ‘much wiser now, happier and has a new outlook on life’. She left the industry on top, and has spent the past ten years building her faith with God, sharing life with her family, building her businesses, empowering our youth and community activism. She has been speaking around the globe at Universities, churches, youth rally’s, and women’s organizations. Salt is a speaker, writer, producer philanthropist and entertainer, but prides herself most on being a wife and a mother. She has two children Corin and Chapele with her husband Gavin Wray.

In 2007 Cheryl became painfully aware that she needed to mend fences with her partner in rhyme Sandra Denton aka Pepa. The two old friends came together and decided to do a reality show. The Salt-N-Pepa show aired on Vh1 it was an opportunity for them to explain to their fans the reason for their sudden disappearance. The show allowed them to explore and heal old wounds and gain some perspective on the issues plaguing their friendship. Cheryl and Sandy concluded that neither one of them felt appreciated by the other and had zero communication skills. The show also allowed the world to see who they were as individuals, Cheryl chose to be open about her faith and her convictions, setting the platform for her to move fully into her passion, philanthropy and ministry.

Cheryl wants everything she does to creatively represent her testimony, convictions, struggles and the victories life can bring. Surely Salt is a woman on the move. She understands her reach and worldwide influence and intends to use it to touch the lives of many. From working on her children’s book series, her biography, and multiple television opportunities, you will always find her representing “Salt and Light”.