About Steve Hurley
Born 1962. Steve Hurley is an American club DJ, disc jockey, singer, singer-songwriter, record producer and musician.
Steve W. "Silk" Hurley (born November 9, 1962), also known as J. M. Silk (for "Jack Master Silk"), is an American club DJ, house music producer, and songwriter.
From 1985 to 1988, he had four top-10 singles on the US Dance chart, including the number-one hit "I Can't Turn Around", all released in collaboration with Keith Nunnally as J. M. Silk. With "Jack Your Body" (number 25 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play), he topped the UK Singles Chart in January 1987 as a solo artist, while one of his later compositions, "Work It Out" from 1989, brought him his fifth top-10 record on the US Dance chart (at number three). To date, Hurley's last charting single is "The Word Is Love (Say the Word)", also known as "Silk's Anthem of Life" by The Voices of Life, which peaked at number 26 in 1997 in the UK.
Hurley is a four-time Grammy Award nominee; two times as Remixer of the Year, Non-Classical (in 1999 and 2000), and twice for Best Remixed Recording, Non-Classical (in 2002 and 2003).
Early life Hurley studied engineering at Robert Lindblom Math & Science Academy (originally named Lindblom Technical High School) in Chicago, Illinois, and later at junior college but dropped out by 1981 to concentrate on his music career full-time.
Career Hurley gained worldwide fame as a DJ on the Saturday Night Live Ain't No Jive Dance Party on WBMX in Chicago in the mid 1980s.
His song "Jack Your Body" was also a hit on the UK Singles Chart, reaching number one for two weeks in January and February 1987. This was the UK's first house music chart topper, In spite of "Jack Your Body"'s success, Hurley has had no further singles (under his own name) reach the UK charts, thus condemning him to one-hit wonder status. Ironically, Hurley's version topped the US Dance chart and the producer later got his satisfaction by trumping Keith's success with the number one hit "Jack Your Body".
Discography Albums YearTitleArtist(s)1987Hold on to Your Dream Release date: 1987 Record label: RCA Records Formats: LP, CSJ. M. Silk1989Work It Out Compilation Release date: 1989 Record label: Atlantic Records Formats: LP, CD, CSSteve "Silk" Hurley
Singles YearTitleAliasPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbumIT UK US Dance Hot Dance Singles Sales 1985"Music Is the Key"J. M. Silk β β 9 18The House Sound of Chicago1986"Shadows of Your Love" J. M. Silk featuring Steve "Silk" Hurley β β 3 40Hold on to Your Dream"I Can't Turn Around" (by Isaac Hayes)J. M. Silk β 62 1 9"Jack Your Body"Steve "Silk" Hurley β 1 25 37 BPI: Silver 1987"Let the Music Take Control"J. M. Silk β 47 2 8"She's So Far Away"J. M. Silk β 80 β β"Heart of Passion"J. M. Silk β β β β"Cry of the Lonely"J. M. Silk β β 50 β1988"All in Vain"J. M. Silk β β β βJack Trax: The Fifth Album"It's Percussion"Steve "Silk" Hurley featuring M-Doc β β β β1989"Work It Out"Steve "Silk" Hurley featuring M-Doc β β 3 17Work It Out Compilation"Chain of Fools"Steve "Silk" Hurley featuring Risse β β β β"Cold World" Steve "Silk" Hurley featuring Jamie Principle β β 22 36 1991"Seasons of Love" Keith Nunnally β β β β 1992"Melody"Steve "Silk" Hurley β β β β 1997"The Word Is Love (Say the Word)"The Voices of Life featuring Sharon Pass 15 26 β β 2000"Dubs from the Dungeon Vol.1"Steve "Silk" Hurley β β β β 2002"Don't Give Up"The Voices of Life featuring Gordon Chambers β β β βNon-album single2003"Stop Playin'"SilkMix.com vs. 2 Live Crew β β β β"Runnin' Away"The Voices of Life featuring Sharon Pass β β β β 2014"Classic"Steve "Silk" Hurley featuring Javante β β β β "β" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released in that region.
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Important facts
People in Steve Hurley's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Steve Hurley's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Steve Hurley?
American DJ
When was Steve Hurley born?
Steve Hurley was born on 9 November 1962 in Chicago.
What is Steve Hurley's occupation?
Steve Hurley is a club DJ, disc jockey, singer, singer-songwriter, record producer and musician.
What nationality is Steve Hurley?
Steve Hurley is American.
Sources & further reading
Β· DBpedia: Steve "Silk" Hurley
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Steve Hurley. https://biography.guide/steve-hurley/
MLA: "Steve Hurley." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/steve-hurley/.
Chicago: "Steve Hurley." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/steve-hurley/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 Β· Spot an error? Report a correction.
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