Jody Watley
Funk/Soul/R&B/Pop
Usa
Jody Watley is a Grammy Award Winning Singer, Songwriter, Producer and CEO of Avitone Recordings. To many she is a trendsetting icon who helped define a generation with her stylish videos and pop classics, including 'Looking For a New Love' ( with it's sardonic signature line "Hasta La Vista Baby"), "Don't You Want Me", Real Love and the groundbreaking hip hop classic "Friends", her collaboration with Eric B and Rakim recognized as the first mainstream hit to incorporate the Pop/R&B singer with a rapper formula with a 16 bar tailored verse/bridge.
With a career spanning three decades and an amazing 32 Top Ten Singles (Billboard Pop, R&B and Dance), 6 Top Ten Pop Hits, 15 Top 40 R&B Hits, 13 Dance Hits, 13 #1 Singles (Pop, R&B or Dance - 80s, 90s 00s), Watley received Billboards prestigious Lifetime Achievement award in Fall 2008.
Jody has consistently broken new ground in music, fashion (culminating in being featured in the Historic "The Black Issue of Italian VOGUE' in 2008), being named as one of People Magazines 50 Most Beautiful People and Harper's Bazaar's Ten Most Beautiful Women. In music video she remains one of MTV's most nominated female artists for her stylish video 'Real Love' directed by David Fincher. Watley also has a best selling 'Dance To Fitness' , another first for a woman of color accoriding to the New York Times to add to her impressive list of career achievements.
Vanity Fair once proclaimed that Watley's knack for reinvention "has always complimented her music". In the late 80's into the 90's Jody Watley was featured in fashion magazines such as Harper's Bazaar in multi-page layouts. Watley also appeared in one of the first 'celebrity' ads for GAP in their notable 'Individuals' campaign. Jody Watley's popularity in Japan would lead to her being the first woman of color featured on the cover of a high fashion magazine in Japan, as the face for the launch of 'SPUR'.
Though identified in pop culture for her early signature extra jumbo hoop earrings - Jody Watley evolved her style and the fashion world took notice. Some would argue Jody Watley indeed paved the way for acceptance and cross marketing in music and fashion for the next generation of artists such as Beyonce, Rihanna and Jennifer Lopez.
Inspired early on by Diana Ross, Watley has said in interviews she always wanted to be a performer. According to an interview in Rolling Stone in 1987 her first stage appearance was with the legendary singer Jackie Wilson, when he brought her onstage to dance when she was 7 or 8 years old. Wilson was a family friend and godfather of Watley.
As a teenager Jody Watley found early recognition as documented in1978's 'The New Generation Issue of Ebony Magazine as one of the most popular and influential dancers on the show Soul Train.
The popularity from the show led to Watley being an original member of the R&B trio Shalamar from 1977-1984 singing on such R&B hits like 'A Night To Remember' and 'The Second Time Around'. With reported conflicts within the group and the Solar Records label over lack of statements, royalties and other payments, Watley abruptly quit Shalamar in 1984.
Post Shalamar Watley was a part of the historic charity single Band Aid "Do They Know It's Christmas" which raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia.
Jody Watley was also featured in an early project to raise awareness for HIV and AIDS. Singing a jazzy rendition of Cole Porter's 'After You Who' alongside Annie Lennox, David Byrne, U2 and other artists for Red, Hot and Blue - A Benefit For AIDS Research & Relief. Watley has stated it was important to get the word out when so few outlets were covering the disease inthe early 90's. Watley was also invited to sing at The White House in 1993 after being seen performing her song "It All Begins With You"
by The President and First Lady. She took the opportunity encourage support for public
education.
In recent years she has continued to broaden her music evolution and growth as an artist working successfully in the jazz influenced ambience of electronic soul. Watley has said over the years that she is more interested in broadening her creative boundaries and lasting messages over record breaking sales.
One of the first already established female artist to establish herself as an entrepreneur by forming Avitone Recordings in 1995, Jody Watley's broad range has found a continued presence among the club set as a mainstay on the Billboard Hot Dance Play Charts with Top Five singles well into the new millenium.
Always an outspoken advocate, Jody Watley has also continued to work with various charitable organizations promoting tolerance, HIV and AIDS awareness, famine relief and self esteem for girls and women.
ALBUMS:
2002 - Midnight Lounge
1. Midnight Lounge
2. Whenever...
3. Photographs
4. I Love to Love
5. Skin Deep
6. More
7. Saturday Night Experience [Ron Trent Remix]
8. Clouds
9. Don't Give Up
10. Midnight Lounge (Reprise)
11. Photographs [Remix]
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