Val Young

Val Young (also known as "Lady V"), is a Urban/Dance-pop artist from Detroit, Michigan, who achieved success during the 1980s. She is now based in Los Angeles.

Career

She was discovered by George Clinton, who hired her as a background vocalist in 1977 for The Brides of Funkenstein, one of the many acts in his Funkadelic stable. In 1980, she recorded background vocals on the Roy Ayers/Wayne Henderson LP, Prime Time. Young became a background vocalist for The Gap Band the same year and was featured with the group on the funk classic hit "I Don't Believe You Want To Get Up And Dance (Oops, Up Side Your Head)". She recorded five albums with the group and also toured with them.

It wasn’t until she met Rick James that she became popular. James promoted her as the "Black Marilyn Monroe" and brought Young to Berry Gordy, who signed her to Motown Records on James' recommendation. Rick James produced her debut album Seduction which was released in 1985, it included the singles "Mind Games" and the title track "Seduction", as well as "Piece of My Heart" and "If You Should Ever Be Lonely", which were successful follow-ups in 1986.

Rick James ran into serious conflict with Motown over the status of his spin-off acts and Young subsequently left the label signing to Amherst Records, a Buffalo, New York-based label, releasing her second album Private Conversations in 1987. Three tracks from this album were produced by Rick James with the title being released as a single.

Val went on tour with Bobby Brown in 1988 after he released his Don't Be Cruel album and she was in high demand for performing live & recording background vocals for several artists: Bobby Womack, Kurtis Blow, Dr. Dre, Wayman Tisdale, Snoop Dogg, Evelyn "Champagne" King, Yo-Yo, El DeBarge, Miki Howard, Gerald LeVert, Teena Marie, Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Eddie Murphy, Teddy Riley, Michael Bivins of New Edition and many other artist.

Recent engagement

• She was also friends with Tupac Shakur and the Outlawz. She appeared on "To Live & Die in LA","Just Like Daddy" on The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory,"Black Jesus","Teardrops & Closed Caskets" on Still I Rise and "Never Forget", a tribute dedicated to Shakur by former Outlawz member, Napoleon.

• In 2009, she was featured as a background singer for Raphael Saadiq in his PBS televised concert Live From The Artists Den.

• Val Young is currently finishing up the new album "The Voice Beyond" which will be released 2009. It features a long list of her musical friends with the last duet Val and Rick James recorded before he passed.

Discography

Albums

• 1985: Seduction
• 1987: Private Conversations
• 2009: The Voice Beyond

Singles

• "Mind Games"
• "Seduction"
• "If You Should Ever Be Lonely"
• "A Piece of My Heart"
• "Private Conversations"
• "Don't Make Me Wait"
• "Stop Doing Me Wrong"

Guest appearances

• "In California" (Daz Dillinger feat. Val Young)
• "To Live & Die in LA" (2Pac feat. Val Young)
• "Tear Drops and Closed Caskets" (2Pac & The Outlawz feat. Nate Dogg & Val Young)
• "Do My Thang" (Yukmouth feat. Kurupt, Roscoe & Val Young)
• "Never Forget" (Napoleon feat. Val Young)
• "Hollywood" (Muszamil feat. Triple 7, Napoleon & Val Young)
• "Dont Need None" (Muszamil feat. Val Young & T. Scott)
• "Black Jesus" (2Pac feat. Outlawz & Val Young)
• "Don't Stop the Music" (Unreleased) (2Pac feat. Outlawz & Val Young)
• "Hellrazor" (2Pac feat. Stretch & Val Young)
• "Y Do Thugz Die" (Luniz feat. Val Young)
• "What's A Pimp?" (Too $hort feat. Shanell Woodgett Val Young)
• "Don't Act Like That" (Too $hort feat. Val Young)
• "Makavelli Never Lied" (Teena Marie feat. Val Young)
• "Y Do Thugz Die" (Luniz feat. Val Young)
• "Street Life" (Unreleased) (Prince Ital Joe, Snoop Dogg, and 2pac)

Sources & References

• http://www.billboard.com

See also

• List of number-one dance hits (United States)
• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart