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Jody Watley
Jody Watley
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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 GuideMore

Most Popular Music Videos (9)

Everything
(Duration: 4:38)
Jul 21st, 8:16pm
Real Love
(Duration: 4:17)
Jul 15th, 4:52am
I Want You
(Duration: 4:19)
Jul 21st, 8:03pm
Friends
(Duration: 7:58)
Jul 21st, 8:13pm
I'm The One You Need
(Duration: 4:04)
Jul 21st, 8:27pm
Don't You Want Me
(Duration: 4:22)
Jun 20th, 10:25am
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Fan Comments

Jul 7th, 2:33am
I love your music... sweet sound..
Apr 1st, 8:34pm
Saturday April 4th in West Hollywood, California @ The Palms Bar is the next...HEAD!

DJ Myles Matisse, Maneca (Madhouse's cover model) and Shirleen are proud 2 be producing and hosting another HEAD Club Night. It is a night devoted entirely 2 the music, visuals and videos of Prince, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and the many related artists they have produced and written 4. Can anybody say MINNEAPOLIS?

HEAD promises 2 B a night full of jamz, remixes, visuals and videos of Prince and company all night long. Memorabilia will also decorate the club. Princely Drinks like Raspberry Beret, etc will B flowing 4 an affordable price. A spread of hors d'oeuvres will B complimentary as well.

What makes this HEAD the most exciting is that it will B the LOTUSFLOW3R 3CD Release Party of the year with songs from all 3 CDs being played throughout the night, mixed in with all the other jamz. Also, there will B several copies of the 3 CD set raffled off during the night. Raffle tickets can be purchased for $1 throughout the night. Buy more and increase your chances. U get 1 ticket free with the $10 Cover.

2 Add 2 the LOTUSFLOW3R night, Prince's performances from The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (March 25-27) as well as the promo videos from each of the 3 CDs will B played. To top it off, video footage from lotusflow3r.com will B shown throughout the night!!! If U aren't a member yet, U will get 2 C how the website looks and what it's all about!

What Time Is It? 8pm - 2am!
Cover: $10
(RSVP @ princelyshowla@gmail.com 2 B on the Guestlist. It will Close @ 10pm)
The night kicks off at 8pm @ The Palms Bar, 8572 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA

Make sure and RSVP @ princelyshowla@gmail.com The guestlist closes @ 10pm which means after 10pm, U will have 2 pay $10

Make sure and check out www.myspace.com/princelyshow between now and April 4th 4 updates and news. Thank U. Peace & B Wild!