Cherry was born as Neneh Mariann Karlsson in Stockholm, Sweden, the daughter of Monika “Moki” Karlsson (1943–2009), a Swedish painter and textile artist, and the musician Ahmadu Jah (1936–2018). Jah was born in Sierra Leone, West Africa, the son of a tribal chief, and went to Stockholm to study engineering at university.

Cherry’s parents separated early and her mother married the influential American jazz musician Don Cherry, who helped raise Cherry since birth. Cherry took her stepfather’s surname.

From her mother’s side, Cherry also has a half-brother, musician Eagle-Eye Cherry. From stepfather Don Cherry’s side, she has a stepsister, violinist Jan Cherry, and a stepbrother, jazz musician David Ornette Cherry. Through her father Ahmadu Jah’s marriage to Maylen Jah (née Bergström), Cherry is the half-sister of singer Titiyo and record producer Cherno Jah.

Cherry’s parents, Moki and Don Cherry, bought and converted an old schoolhouse in the countryside outside the small town of Hässleholm in Sweden in 1970. In the early 1970s, the family moved to the United States, when Don Cherry taught at Dartmouth College. Cherry dropped out of school at 14 and moved to London.

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I blame Matt. HE triggered this memory.

I loved Neneh’s music. I’d just forgotten :o(

Neneh with Gordon on the F Word….Right here, in front of yo ‘eyes to see and ears to hear?

A bit of a Scottish/Scandi Vibe? How Dare I?

LOL :o)