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Jody Watley

 
Artist: Jody Watley
 
Jody Watley

Similar Artists:

Performed Songs By:

Eric Barrier, Derrick Edmonson, Larry Campbell, David Morales, Franne Golde, Gardner Cole, James Newton Howard

Worked With:

Jeffrey Daniel, Howard Hewett

Formal Connection With:

Shalamar, André Cymone, Band Aid
  • Born: January 30, 1959, Chicago, IL
  • Active: '80s, '90s, 2000s
  • Genres: Rhythm & Blues
  • Instrument: Vocals
  • Representative Albums: "Larger Than Life," "Greatest Hits," "Jody Watley"
  • Representative Songs: "Looking for a New Love," "Real Love," "Don't You Want Me"

Biography

Grammy Award-winning vocalist/producer/songwriter Jody Watley made a name for herself with the dance-soul trio Shalamar before embarking on a solo career that would bring her numerous Top Ten hits and a reputation as "The Queen of Cool." Watley was born in Chicago, IL, on January 30, 1959, but grew up in Los Angeles. Jody's teenage gig as a dancer on Soul Train would lead to a meeting with the hit TV show's booking agent, Dick Griffey. Along with fellow singers Jeffrey Daniels and Gerald Brown, Watley was recruited by Griffey to join Shalamar in 1977. A string of poppy dance-soul hits that would chart in America and the U.K. began in 1979 with "Take That to the Bank." Watley would leave the group in 1982 and eventually move to London, where she recorded some demos with the Art of Noise. It was during this time that she was invited by Bob Geldof to appear on the 1986 charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" by Band Aid. She returned to the U.S. late in the year and began working on her solo debut.

Recorded with hit producers Bernard Edwards, David Z., Patrick Leonard, and André Cymone -- who eventually become her husband until 1995, when the two divorced -- Watley's 1987 self-titled debut became an instant smash courtesy of its lead single, "Looking for a New Love," and its catch phrase, "hasta la vista, baby." Stylish videos accompanied the future hits "Don't You Want Me" and "Still a Thrill" and would help earn her the award for Best New Artist at the 30th annual Grammy Awards. Two years later she would return with the ambitious album Larger Than Life and the number one hit "Real Love." The album's second single, "Friends," was an early R&B/hip-hop blend with Eric B. & Rakim making an appearance. The remix album You Wanna Dance with Me? surfaced a year later as did the million-selling exercise video Dance to Fitness. Fashion spreads and an appearance in a Gap ad campaign were other non-musical activities, all helping to earn her a spot on People magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People list.

More mature music appeared on both 1991's Affairs of the Heart and 1993's Intimacy, and while they weren't the major hits her earlier efforts were, they were well received by critics and helped strengthen her loyal fan base. She also worked with legendary composer Henry Mancini on the soundtrack to the Blake Edwards film Switch during this time and accepted an offer to sing at the White House in 1992. The 1995 album Affection found the singer off her longtime label, MCA, and on her own independent label, Avitone. Her 1998 effort Flower found her on Atlantic worldwide, but the label didn't release the album in the States. A year later Destiny's Child put the Watley-penned "Sweet Sixteen" on their multi-platinum album The Writing's on the Wall while Watley herself was working on a new dance sound that was slightly more left-field but still stylish and tasteful. The Japanese-only The Saturday Night Experience, Vol. 1 landed in 1999 while 2000 saw her return to the dance charts with the Masters at Work-produced "I Love to Love" featuring Roy Ayers. Tastemaker DJs Ron Trent and Blaze would remix the single "Saturday Night Experience" for the U.K. label Giant Steps in 2001, and a new, sophisticated album, Midnight Lounge, would appear on Shanachie the same year. In 2005, she appeared on King Britt's album This Is and climbed back on top of the dance charts with a new remix of her classic "Looking for a New Love." The following year, Watley released a new album The Makeover featuring a cover of Madonna's "Boderline" which made it to #2 on the dance charts. Further singles from the album also climbed the dance charts with "A Beautiful Life" making it to #5 while "I Want Your Love" went to #1. In 2008 she appeared in a fashion spread alongside Iman, Naomi Campbell, and Tina Turner in Vogue Italia. Featuring black models almost exclusively, the issue was the first to sell out in the magazine's history. That same year, the 1998 album Flower was issued for the first time in the States. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide
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Black Biography: Jody Watley
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singer; fashion model

Personal Information

Born January 30, 1959 in Chicago, IL; father a minister and gospel disc jockey; married Andre Cymone, a musician and producer (divorced 1995); children: Lauren and Arie.

Career

Soul Train television program, featured dancer, mid-1970s; Shalamar, disco vocal group, member, 1978-83; recorded and worked as model in Europe, 1983-85; MCA label, recording artist, 1987; Avitone label, founder, 1995; Atlantic label, recording artist, 1997; Ford Modeling Agency, model, 199(?)-; Shanachie label, recording artist, 2002-.

Life's Work

Vocalist Jody Watley has had a long-lasting presence in the R&B and dance music genres, beginning with her membership in the disco group Shalamar in the late 1970s and continuing into a solo career that saw her rise to the top of the pop scene in the late 1980s. More than most other African-American female artists, Watley has been adamant about keeping hold of the reins of her own career. That approach hasn't always brought her commercial success, but it has resulted in a unique body of work consistently appreciated by her international corps of fans.

Watley's father was a minister and gospel radio show host. She was born in Chicago on January 30, 1959, but the family moved to Los Angeles when she was a child. Her talent at dance was encouraged by her family. The television music program Soul Train was at the height of its popularity, and Watley won a place as a dancer on the show after her father set up an audition for her. She and her partner Jeffrey Daniel soon became featured dancers on the show; their matching costumes and their routines, using such props as roller skates, were often imitated by other dancers.

Recruited for Shalamar

As the lush dance music known as disco rose to popularity in the late 1970s, Watley got another big break. Soul Train host Don Cornelius was one of Watley's early show-business champions, encouraging her to pursue a music career instead of following through with her plans to go to college. The show's booking agent, Dick Griffey, worked with British producer Simon Soussan on a medley of disco-ized Motown songs titled Uptown Festival in 1977. The recording featured a variety of unknown studio vocalists, including Watley, under the group name Shalamar. After Uptown Festival became a minor hit, Griffey decided to take Shalamar to the next level by recruiting a fixed membership. He turned to the telegenic Watley and Daniels, who were joined by Howard Hewett in 1978.

Shalamar notched several hits, including "Second Time Around" (1980), with Watley singing close harmonies and sometimes lead in expert arrangements that bridged the gap between disco and the dance pop of the early 1980s. The group hit its peak with the Three for Love album of 1980, which featured the dance hit "Make That Move" and the ballad "This Is for the Lover in You," later covered by Babyface. Shalamar remained radio and club favorites in both the United States and England for several years, but Watley, apart from a few co-writing credits, had little creative input. Dissatisfied and hoping to pursue new career avenues, she left the group in 1983.

For the first but not the last time, Watley stuck to her guns and resisted the advice of industry veterans. "It was predicted I wouldn't make it solo, ..." she told Mary Campbell of the Chicago Sun-Times. "No record company would give me a deal. I had a lot of confidence in myself in spite of what people tried to fill me up with." Watley headed for England in 1984. She kept her name in the music headlines there by dating John Taylor of the chart-topping British dance-pop band Duran Duran and by recording a 12-inch dance single with the group Art of Noise. She was also heard on the "Do They Know It's Christmas?" single recorded as part of the BandAid hunger-relief project helmed by Bob Geldof.

Popularized Hoop Earrings

Watley returned to the United States in 1986 and was signed to the MCA label. A fresh yet familiar face, she succeeded in lining up top-notch producers--Madonna associate Patrick Leonard, Chic's Bernard Edwards, and Prince bassist Andre Cymone--for her 1987 debut release, Jody Watley. The result was state-of-the-art dance pop, exemplified by the chart-topping single "Looking for a New Love" and its "hasta la vista, baby" catchprhase. Jody Watley notched platinum-record sales and brought Watley, who already had 15 years of show-business experience behind her, the Best New Artist Grammy award in 1988. Her hoop earrings set a late 1980s fashion trend.

A solidly successful followup, Larger Than Life, came next in 1989, spawning another major dance hit, "Real Love." The video for the song was directed by David Fincher, who later made Seven and The Fight Club, and the dance-savvy Watley generally ruled the MTV cable video channel during these years. Larger Than Life was produced exclusively by Andre Cymone. Watley and Cymone married in 1991, a banner year in which Watley also performed at the White House for President George H.W. Bush. Watley and Cymone had two children; daughter Lauren was born in the early 1980s and son Arie was born in 1992.

Felt at Odds with Gangster Trend

In 1990, Watley contributed a Cole Porter ballad, "After You," to the AIDS-research benefit album Red Hot & Blue. After issuing the successful exercise video Dance to Fitness and becoming perhaps the first black artist to release a fitness video, she tried to broaden her appeal beyond dance pop. Her next two albums, the ballad-heavy Affairs of the Heart (1991) and the introspective Intimacy (1993) were praised by critics but had only modest commercial success. Although Watley had been ahead of the curve in fusing R&B with hip-hop sounds in "Friends," her 1989 collaboration with Eric B. & Rakim, she was now swimming against commercial tides. "I can't bring myself to sit down and try to turn myself into one of those new-jill-swing girls or a gangsta [woman]. It's not me," she told Larry Flick of Billboard. She got moral support from her daughter, Lauren, who asked her why so many women's behinds appeared in music videos.

Watley was dropped by MCA, missing the late-1990s rise of female neo-soul vocals by just a few years. Her Intimacy album, for which she wrote or co-wrote much of the material, focused on the ups and downs of relationships, and she and Cymone divorced in 1995. It was a series of setbacks that would have sent many artists into retirement, but Watley hung on and took steps to plot out a midlife career that, even if she didn't occupy the spotlight the way she did in the late 1980s, offered her various outlets for her creative energies.

Forming her own label, Avitone, Watley released Affection in 1995. Appearing as Rizzo in the Broadway musical Grease the following year, she also signed with the Ford Modeling Agency. Even in her late 30s, Watley, whom both People and Harper's Bazaar had ranked among the world's most beautiful women, had no trouble lining up modeling jobs, including a partially nude six-page photo feature that appeared in Playboy in 1998. An album called Flower that Watley recorded for Atlantic was eventually shelved in the United States but was released in Europe and Japan and generated singles that were successful among Watley's strong fan bases in those areas. Her 2002 release of Midnight Lounge, an eclectic, high-tech vocal collection, put her back in the U.S. dance top 20 with the single "Whenever." In addition to her continued recording schedule, Watley sought out live performances as well. In 2005, an appearance by Watley at the Compound nightclub in Atlanta was recorded for broadcast on the VH1 cable channel. With her continued fan appeal, Watley's career had a lot of life left in it.

Awards

Selected: Grammy award, Best New Artist, 1988.

Works

Selected discography

    Albums with Shalamar
    • Disco Gardens, RCA, 1979.
    • Big Fun, Solar, 1980.
    • Three For Love, Solar, 1981.
    • Go for It, Solar, 1981.
    • Friends, Solar, 1982.
    Solo Albums
    • Jody Watley, MCA, 1987.
    • Larger Than Life, MCA, 1989.
    • Affairs of the Heart, MCA, 1991.
    • Intimacy, MCA, 1993.
    • Affection, Avitone, 1995.
    • Greatest Hits, MCA, 1996.
    • Flower, Atlantic, 1998.
    • Midnight Lounge, Shanachie, 2002.

    Further Reading

    Books

    • Contemporary Musicians, Volume 26, Gale, 1999.
    Periodicals
    • Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 31, 2005, p. 27.
    • Billboard, November 13, 1993, p. 26.
    • Business Wire, October 22, 2004.
    • Chicago Sun-Times, May 26, 1992, section 2, p. 4.
    • Curve, November 2003, p. 40.
    • Ebony, April 1994, p. 16.
    • Essence, March 1994, p. 62.
    • Fresno Bee, July 12, 1998, p. H3.
    • Jet, June 9, 2003, p. 35.
    • People, November 8, 1993, p. 24; March 11, 1996, p. 116; April 6, 1998, p. 23; March 17, 2003, p. 41.
    On-line
    • "Jody Watley," All Music Guide, www.allmusic.com (August 3, 2005).
    • "Jody Watley," America Models, www.americamodels.com/jodywatley/_bio.htm (August 3, 2005).
    • "Jody Watley Profile," And We Danced, www.andwedanced.com/artists/watley.htm (August 3, 2005).
    • "Profile," Jody Watley, www.jodywatley.net (August 3, 2005).
    • "Shalamar," All Music Guide, www.allmusic.com (August 3, 2005).

    — James M. Manheim

     
    Wikipedia: Jody Watley
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    Jody Watley
    Jody Watley in 2008
    Jody Watley in 2008
    Background information
    Birth name Jody Watley
    Born January 30, 1959 (1959-01-30) (age 50)
    Chicago, Illinois, United States
    Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, pianist
    Years active 1977–present
    Label(s) SOLAR, MCA, Atlantic, Avitone Recordings
    Associated acts Shalamar, Babyface, 4Hero, Destiny's Child, Band Aid, George Michael

    Jody Watley (born January 30, 1959 in Chicago, Illinois, United States) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and founder of Avitone Records [3].

    Watley has sold over twenty million albums and singles worldwide.[1] Along with Janet Jackson and Madonna, she ranks as one of MTV Video Music Awards most nominated female artists ever, with ten nominations. In 1987, she won the Grammy Award for "Best New Artist" [4]. In 2008, she was the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Billboard Magazine, and was also prominently featured[2] in an historic issue of Vogue Italia highlighting black beauty that same year.

    Jody Watley ranks as the #144 most successful R&B artist of all time according to Billboard magazine.[citation needed]

    Contents

    Biography

    Shalamar (1977–1984)

    With an early influence of the legendary Diana Ross, [5], Watley got her start on the hit TV show Soul Train at the age of 14 but was not just any dancer. Documented by Ebony magazine in 1977 as a part of 'The New Generation', Jody Watley was one of the most popular on the show and recognized as a trendsetter.[3] She was noted as innovative and influential to teenage girls all over the United States who copied her hairstyles and dance moves. The article states that one of her innovations was to use fans in her dance routines, which were called 'freestyle' and 'Waack Dancing.'[4]

    Founder of Soul Train, Don Cornelius would say in an interview with Jet in 1980, [5], that Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel were the most interesting of the dancers on Soul Train, and it was lucky that the duo could sing, as they were recruited to join the group.

    From 1977 to 1984, she was an original member in the R&B group Shalamar with Howard Hewett and Jeffrey Daniel. Previously, the line-up included Gerald Brown[5] as lead singer, prior to the addition of Hewett. Jody's style contributions from her Soul Train days, continued to be evident as wardrobe designer and choreographer for the group. [5]. Shalamar achieved a platinum-selling album, Friends, and the #1 R&B single The Second Time Around. After several reported conflicts in the group, and with Solar Records, Watley abruptly quit the group in 1984, determined to call her own shots.[6]

    Post-Shalamar, Jody recorded a guest vocal with British Jamaican roots reggae child pop stars Musical Youth [6] for their "Different Style" album. Musical Youth were most known for their international hit 'Pass The Dutchie'. She also recorded demo's with Gary Langan, Anne Dudley and J.J Jeczalik who later became Art of Noise as she charted a new music direction. A brief stint with Phonogram Records yielded two of the demo's as 12" promo recordings, 'Where the Boys Are' [7]and 'Girls Night Out'[8].

    Most notably during this era, she took part in Bob Geldof's historic Band Aid alongside such stars as Sting, Bono from U2, and George Michael. Released by Phonogram, their charity single "Do They Know It's Christmas?" became the fastest selling single of all time in the UK, before being surpassed by Elton John's 'Candle in the Wind (Tribute to Diana, Princess of Wales)' in 1997. 'Do They Know It's Christmas' helped raise millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia.



    She is said to be related to Michele Watley, also known as "Midori," a former adult film actress and singer who also appeared in mainstream films.[citation needed][citation needed]

    Solo Debut Jody Watley (1986–1988)

    Jody Watley in Paris, France on location for 'Still a Thrill' Video from solo debut.

    In late 1986, MCA released the first single from her debut album called "Looking for a New Love", co-penned by Watley[9]. The single became a hit with an instant catch phrase ("Hasta La Vista…Baby").

    Watley's solo debut album, Jody Watley, with her sharing in co- writing the majority of the album, was released in March 1987 on MCA Records. Looking for a New Love stayed at #2 on the Billboard's Hot 100 Single chart for four weeks and sold over 750,000 copies in the U.S. [7] The album peaked at #10 on The Billboard 200, and topped the Billboard Hot R&B Albums Chart at #1. [10].

    The album, which also included a duet with English pop soul singer George Michael, produced four more hits; "Don't You Want Me" (#6), "Still a Thrill" (#56), "Some Kind of Lover" (#10) and "Most of All" (#60) according to Billboard. All singles were also hits in other genres such as R&B and Dance[11] . It sold over 2 million copies in the U.S. and nearly 5 million worldwide.

    Jody Watley had the honor of performing another duet with one of her music influences Stevie Wonder, for his MTV Special "Characters Gathering". Also appearing in the performance were hip hop's Salt-n-Pepa, and influential guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughn.[12]

    At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards, Watley was named Best New Artist and was nominated for Grammy Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. That same year (1988), she was also nominated for four MTV Video Music Awards and three Soul Train Awards, including Album of the Year and Single of the Year.

    Larger Than Life (1989)

    Jody Watley 1989.

    In the spring of 1989, Watley released her second album, Larger than Life. Her second album solidified her as a pop icon in the music industry. The album sold over four million copies worldwide and hit the Top 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in America. The first single release, Real Love , was a massive hit that set a trend with its new style of bass heavy-thumping beat dance. In America, it hit #1 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, the Single Sales chart, and the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, while hitting #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The single went gold for attaining sales of over 500,000 copies. The album contained two more Top 10 Pop, Dance and R&B hits: "Friends" (featuring Eric B. & Rakim). It is noted as the first singer/rapper collaboration that became commonplace by the late 1990s. The ballad "Everything" peaked at #11 on the Adult Contemporary chart, #3 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and #4 on the Billboard Hot 100. The albums final single, "Precious Love" became a moderate hit peaked at #51 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and #87 on the Billboard Hot 100.

    During the summer of 1989, Watley's "Real Love" video, directed by David Fincher, was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards including Breakthrough Video, Best Art Direction, Best Dance Video, and Best Female Video at the 1989 award show. That record was held until Michael Jackson and Janet Jackson's video "Scream" received 11 VMA nominations in 1995. The next year, she was nominated for two Soul Train Awards, an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Female Artist, and a Narm Award for Best Selling R&B Female Album. While riding high on her Larger Than Life World Tour, a remix album, You Wanna Dance with Me?, was released in October 1989 and hit Gold status in America.

    Into the 90s

    Fashion and Style.

    Jody Watley as featured in Italian Vogue.

    In 1990, Watley released a million-selling home video, Dance To Fitness, a first for a black woman. Leaving behind the trendy looks of her solo debut, Jody was photographed by famed fashion photographer Steven Meisel for her second album 'Larger Than Life'. With a sleeker fashion forward image for the album and accompanying videos such as the heavily nominated Real Love and Friends where she appeared in couture Jean-Paul Gaultier, Watley became somewhat of an early fashion darling during this era; evidenced by her visibility in ad campaigns for Gap titled 'Individuals', and fashion layouts in such high profile magazines as Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, Vogue Italia, Rolling Stone, and Essence. Further embraced into the mainstream and fashion media, Watley was featured in Vanity Fair, Interview, and also named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People of 1990[13]. In 1990, she also further broadened her musical horizons by contributing a jazzy rendition of "After You, Who?" (on which she also apparently played piano) to Red, Hot, & Blue, the first major AIDS-awareness charity recording by contemporary stars. Singing Cole Porter, included in the project with Watley was a diverse cast including Annie Lennox, Tom Waits, and David Byrne. During the 1990s the subject of HIV and AIDS was, according to the New York Times being largely ignored [14]. Red, Hot and Blue went on to sell over a million copies [15] launching a series of Red Hot benefit albums. The project helped open the doors for greater HIV and AIDS awareness in the media,[16]. The following year, Jody quietly married long time producer André Cymone.

    Affairs of the Heart (1991)

    On December 17, 1991, Watley released her third album, Affairs of the Heart, described by Justin Kantor, in 'Guide to Soul', an overlooked standout of her 80's and 90's output[17]. "Affairs of the Heart" was described as deeper than her previous two albums, with a broader lyrical scope, which may have caused some confusion with her fan base. The album peaked at #21 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, #124 on The Billboard 200), and sold less than 400,000 copies in the U.S. Watley claimed to have had only minor marketing and promotional support for her new sound and artistic vision. Although the lead single, "I Want You," peaked at #5 on the Hot R&B Singles chart, it only managed to climb to #61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

    The next single, "I'm The One You Need" fared better, peaking at #19 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was Watley's first foray into House music produced by international DJ David Morales who also remixed the track to produce his infamous Dead Zone mix. It was seen as an underground masterpiece, with vinyl promos trading at one time in excess of $100. The remix is featured on the DJ John Digweed's Choice Classics compilation album produced by Azuli Records.

    The final single was the inspirational pop ballad "It All Begins With You". The performance earned Watley a special invitation by President George H. W. Bush in 1992 to perform the song at the White House[18], Watley also used the opportunity to encourage the government to provide more support and funding for public schools [19]. "It All Begins With You" peaked at #80 on the Hot R&B Singles chart.

    Intimacy (1993)

    On November 9, 1993 MCA released Jody's fourth solo album, the introspective relationship themed Intimacy. Noting that the New Jack Swing was all the rage in R&B at the time, Amy Linden wrote in People Magazine that 'Intimacy' continued the process of Watley's move toward more refreshingly adult themes, which began with 'Affairs of The Heart, and stated that Watley was deserving of serious attention.[20]. Jody Watley noted at the time that the songs she wrote were always personal statements, and strong female statements.[21]

    'Intimacy' with its songs of romance and angst[22] reached #38 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and #164 on The Billboard 200. The first single was the danceable R&B jazz influenced "Your Love Keeps Working On Me", peaking at #26 R&B and #2 Dance. Watley added video director to her resume, for the spoken word/hip-hop tune "When a Man Loves a Woman".[23] With her lyrics aimed at respect of women, relationships, HIV and AIDS achieved moderate success on the R&B and Dance singles charts, and #11 R&B and #16 Dance. The BBG Remix of "When a Man Loves a Man" also topped the dance charts in the UK. It also contained the song "Ecstasy", produced by David Morales, which became an underground hit and later appeared on her Greatest Hits collection.

    Affection (1995)

    After having parted ways with MCA Records, Watley took an independent and entrepreneurial path releasing her fifth solo album, Affection, on July 11, 1995 through her own Avitone Records label. The launch of the label seemed to mark a new chapter in Watley's continued metamorphosis. [24]. She told USA Today in an interview that year that though she knew critics and fans expected her to do the same thing all the time, she didn't like being tied down to formulas.

    She aligned Avitone with with noted independent Bellmark Records as distributor. After leaving Warner Brothers Records, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Prince [25] had begun his independent label NPG Records, releasing the hit single 'The Most Beautiful Girl in The World', with Bellmark as distributor in 1994.

    According to Jose Promis of All Music Guide, the release lacked the urgency and immediancy of her dance era hits, but was an engaging collection of slow burners, mid tempo and jazzy R&B [26]. The album's title track, "Affection", became a modest R&B hit, peaking at #28 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart [27].

    Greatest Hits (1996)

    Jody Watley on Broadway in New York as Rizzo in the hit musical GREASE!.

    In 1996, Watley's career continued to evolve. She made history as the first African-American to play Rizzo in the hit Broadway musical Grease at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre.

    Watley was photographed by famous photographer, Victor Skrebneski, for the popular Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog, where she appeared in a 15 page high fashion layout.

    That fall, Watley scored a platinum-selling single as a guest vocalist on Babyface's "This Is For The Lover In You". The single, which also featured vocals from LL Cool J and Watley's former Shalamar bandmates Howard Hewett and Jeffrey Daniel, was a remake of Shalamar's Top 10 hit by the same name. Babyface's version peaked at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart and #2 on the R&B Singles Chart. The song's video received heavy rotation on MTV and BET. As the year wound to a close, taking a slight detour from her Avitone label, Watley signed with Big Beat/Atlantic Records. The same year MCA released a Greatest Hits package with Watley's recordings for the label.

    The late 90s and the Millennium

    Flower (1997-1998)

    After spending most of 1997 in the recording studio crafting her sixth studio album, Flower, Watley was back in early 1998 with its lead singles "Off The Hook" and "If I'm Not In Love." "Off The Hook" peaked at #23 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and #73 Billboard Hot 100 but fared much better on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart. Propelled by remixes from Masters At Work and Soul Solution(Dance act), the track reached #1 on the dance chart, making it her first #1 Hot Dance Music/Club Play hit in nine years. Later the same year, a single of "If I'm Not In Love" was released, with promo mixes by Sal Dano (credited as BK Dano) and Lenny Bertoldo, and that song reached #2 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

    Big Beat Records was absorbed into its parent label, Atlantic Records, which then shelved the album from a U.S. release. Flower was, however, released in Canada, Great Britain, and Japan. The critically-acclaimed release was championed by many UK magazines, including Blues and Soul and Echoes among others.

    The Saturday Night Experience (1999)

    Jody Watley during Saturday Night Experience era.

    In November 1999, Jody reactivated her independent label, Avitone, and released her seventh studio album: The Saturday Night Experience, which marked another stylistic musical change. A collection of organic club music tracks, it was released in Japan, along with a single "Another Chapter" with remixes by DJ Soma. Also included on the project was the drum and bass[28] title song 'Saturday Night Experience'. The song would later be included on tastemaking indepedendent label Giant Step Records[29] compilation 'Soul Sessions'[30], which spotlighted a diverse cast of artists from Herbie Hancock[31], electronic jazz duo Koop[32], and critically acclaimed Donnie[33]. It was during this era that Watley says she was inspired by 4Hero[34], whose MOBO Award Winning[35] 'Two Pages' in 1998, exposed her to this new genre of electronic dance music, which provided new inspiration after wanting to retire from the music industry after the disappointment of the handling of 'Flower'[36]. 'The Saturday Night Experience Vol. 1', as Watley told music historian David Nathan[37] was intended to be a concept album, a liberating experience, and one which she had no desire to try to get licensed or released in the U.S. Instead, the project was intended soley for those looking for something different.

    On the opposite end of the spectrum, in 1999, Destiny's Child, with an additional mini bridge added by Beyonce Knowles[38] released a cover of the Watley-penned Flower album track "Sweet Sixteen", on their multi-platinum The Writing's On The Wall album[39].

    The following year, MCA released 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Jody Watley, a sort of leaner version of Watley's previous Greatest Hits album.

    Midnight Lounge (2001-2005)

    Jody Watley meeting Queen of Malaysia in 2005.

    In 2001, Jody released her eighth studio album, Midnight Lounge in Europe and Japan. It was a collection of tracks that combined a blend of soul, jazz, R&B, and club music. After achieving moderate success in its original release, Watley arranged for it to be released in the U.S. through her Avitone imprint in a short-term license deal with Shanachie Records on March 11, 2003. Midnight Lounge was Watley's first studio album released in the U.S. in eight years, reaching Top 20 status on Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart. Junior Vasquez and several other producers contributed remixes to the single release of "Whenever", bringing the track to #19 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart. One of the album's other single, "Photographs", became a sizable hit overseas, especially in Japan. It became an underground hit stateside. Photographer Michael Walls is credited on the album sleeve.

    In 2005, Watley made history on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart, when she re-released her 1987 smash hit "Looking For a New Love", her 2005 remixes of the song hit #1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart for the second time in 2005, making her the first artist ever to take the same song to #1 in two different decades. The 2005 mixes of the single sold well in multiple formats. As a result of this single hitting #1, Jody Watley has the distinction of being among the few artists who have been to #1 on Billboard's Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in all of the past three decades (the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s).

    The same year, Watley was among those invited to participate in the Force of Nature Relief Concert [40] to aid the thousands affected by devastating effects of a massive tsumani [41]. During the trip Watley along with other participants including The Black Eyed Peas, Lauryn Hill, actor Jackie Chan and others were invited by special invitation to the Royal Palace to meet The King and Queen of Malaysia for a special Tea reception in showing their gratitude for all involved with Force of Nature.[42]

    The Makeover (2006-2008)

    Jody Watley promoting 'The Makeover' in-store.

    Watley's album The Makeover was released on August 8, 2006 through Avitone Records in a unique partnership as an exclusive with the Virgin Megastore chain, where it debuted at #1 for the retailer over major label releases, in a "new paradigm" concept in the music business. The 1st single/video is a remake of Madonna's "Borderline". The single reached #2 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, January 13, 2007. The second single, a cover of Chic's "I Want Your Love" reached #1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play for the week of June 16, 2007. The album is coproduced by Watley's long-term collaborator Rodney Lee and an international selection of producers and DJs such as 4hero, King Britt, Mark De Clive Lowe, DJ Spinna, and Chris Brann of the Wamdue Project.

    Watley was asked by her long-time trainer to appear with him while working out, as a guest of the Bravo's reality series, Work Out, to promote The Makeover.

    In 2007, Watley was listed as #5 in the Year End Billboard Dance Play Artists. Her single "I Want Your Love" was #15 and "Borderline" #19 according to Billboard Year End Chart Review for 2007.[8] [9] In January 2008, Watley topped the U.K. Dance Charts according to Music Week Jan. 7 at #1, her first U.K. mainstream dance hit in two decades.[10]

    In 2008 Jody Watley branched further into the entrepreneurial side launching an online music store, [43], while extending her singles chart streak by securing with the Top Five Billboard Dance Single, "A Beautiful Life".[44], bringing the total to 3, of Top Five Singles for "The Makeover".

    Discography

    Awards and nominations

    Year Award
    1987 Grammy Award win for Best New Artist
    1987 Grammy Award nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Looking for a New Love"
    1988 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Album of the Year (Female) for Jody Watley
    1988 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Single of the Year (Female) for '"Looking for a New Love"
    1988 Soul Train Music Award nomination for Best Music Video for '"Looking for a New Love"
    1988 American Music Award nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Single for "Looking For A New Love
    1988 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video for "Some Kind of Lover"
    1988 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best New Artist for "Some Kind of Lover"
    1989 Narm Award nomination for Best Selling R&B Female Album for Larger than Life
    1989 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Female Video for "Real Love"
    1989 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Dance Video for "Real Love"
    1989 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Direction for "Real Love"
    1989 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Art Direction for "Real Love"
    1989 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Best Editing for "Real Love"
    1989 MTV Video Music Award nomination for Breakthrough Video for "Real Love"
    2007 Billboard Lifetime Achievement Award

    Personal life

    Watley's father was a minister/disc jockey. Her sister Michelle is supposedly known as adult star Midori. Jody's brother John was her tour manager in 1996, and now operates a vocal training and production company in Japan.[11] She has two children, Lauren and Arie, and was married to producer André Cymone.[12][13]

    References

    All Music Guide, 'Guide to Soul'. June 2003 pg. 736 'Affairs of the Heart' chronicled. ISBN 0879307447

    1. ^ Boykin, Keith. Jody Watley Barred From Talking About Gay Games During Chicago Radio Interview, 2006-07-24. Accessed 2008-02-03. "She's a Grammy Award-winning artist who has sold more than 20 million albums and singles worldwide."
    2. ^ Cunnacia, Cesare (July). "Vogue Italia". Condé Nast Publications. 
    3. ^ The 'Outrageous' Waack, Ebony, Aug 1978, pp. 64-68, http://books.google.com/books?id=Sc0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=the+waack+dancers+ebony+magazine#PPA64,M1 
    4. ^ The 'Outrageous' Waack, Ebony, Aug 1978, pp. 66, http://books.google.com/books?id=Sc0DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA4&dq=the+waack+dancers+ebony+magazine#PPA66,M2 
    5. ^ a b c Chris Benson (May 1, 1980), Shalamar: Having Big fun with hot hits, Jet, pp. 22-24, http://books.google.com/books?id=T7cDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22&dq=jet+shalamar+1980#PPA22,M1 
    6. ^ Introducing: Jody Watley, Ebony Magazine, February 1988, p. 170, http://books.google.com/books?id=ocwDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA170&dq=jody+watley+jet#PPA170,M2 
    7. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=nA0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30&dq=Jody+Watley&as_pt=MAGAZINES
    8. ^ Billboard Charts - Year-end Top Artists - Hot Dance Club Play Artists
    9. ^ Billboard Charts - Year-end Singles - Hot Dance Club Play Tracks
    10. ^ JODY WATLEY U.K. NUMBER ONE | MAMi Magazine Blog
    11. ^ Jody Watley in her own words 'BIO' - 2006
    12. ^ Soul Music: Jody Watley
    13. ^ She is also the older sister to famous adult star Midori aka Michele Evette Watley [1]
    14. ^ [2], Diana Ross A Lifetime To Get Here ISBN 1425971393, 9781425971397, Published by; Author House 2006, Page 267
    15. ^ WireImage Force of Nature Photos 2005
    16. ^ Best New Artist Grammy 1987 http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:kifoxqr5ldde~T52
    17. ^ Saks Fifth Avenue, Defining Style Fall Catalog 1996. Pages 81-96
    18. ^ USA Today, Monday July 17, 1995 by James T. Jones IV, USA Today Life Section
    19. ^ Jet Magazine May 30, 1988 Pages-58-61, Stevie Wonder MTV Special with Jody Watley

    See also

    External links

    Awards and achievements
    Preceded by
    Bruce Hornsby & the Range
    Grammy Award for Best New Artist
    1988
    Succeeded by
    Tracy Chapman

     
     

     

    Copyrights:

    Artist. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Black Biography. Contemporary Black Biography. Copyright © 2006 by The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
    Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jody Watley" Read more

     

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