Grace Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Grace Jones OJ
Jones performing in 2015
Born	Grace Beverly Jones (1948-05-19) 19 May 1948 (age 77) Spanish Town, Saint Catherine, Crown Colony of Jamaica
Other names	Grace Mendoza
Citizenship	Jamaica United States
Alma mater	Onondaga Community College
Occupation	Singer songwriter model actress
Years active	1973–present
Works	Discography
Spouse(s)	Atila Altaunbay ​ ​ (m. 1996; div. 2004)​
Children	1
Relatives	Noel Jones (brother)
Musical career
Genres	R&B disco new wave art pop reggae dance club
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Island Manhattan Capitol Wall of Sound/PIAS

Grace Beverly Jones (born May 19, 1948) is a Jamaican singer, songwriter, model, and actress. She is known for her unique look and powerful music. Jones started her career as a model in New York and later in Paris. She worked with famous fashion brands like Yves St. Laurent and Kenzo. Her picture appeared on the covers of top magazines like Elle and Vogue.

In 1977, Jones began making music. She became a star of the disco scene in New York City. In the early 1980s, she changed her style to new wave, mixing it with reggae, funk, and pop. Some of her biggest hits in the United Kingdom were "Private Life", "Pull Up to the Bumper", and "Slave to the Rhythm". Her most famous albums include Warm Leatherette (1980), Nightclubbing (1981), and Slave to the Rhythm (1985).

Jones also became a successful actress. She appeared in the action movie Conan the Destroyer (1984) with Arnold Schwarzenegger. She then played the villain May Day in the James Bond movie A View to a Kill (1985). She also starred as a vampire in the movie Vamp (1986).

Grace Jones has influenced many artists, including Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna. In 2016, Billboard magazine named her the 40th greatest dance club artist of all time.

Life and Career

Early Life and Modeling

Grace Jones was born in Spanish Town, Jamaica. Her father, Robert W. Jones, was a local politician and a church leader. Her mother was Marjorie Jones. Grace's parents moved to the United States, leaving their children with their grandmother and her husband. Jones had a very strict childhood and was raised in the Pentecostal faith.

When she was 13, Grace and her siblings moved to the U.S. to live with their parents in New York. After high school, she went to college to study Spanish. She also took a theatre class, which led her to join a summer acting group in Philadelphia.

At 18, she moved back to New York and became a model. In 1970, she moved to Paris, where her unique, bold look was very popular. She modeled for famous designers like Yves St. Laurent and Kenzo Takada. She appeared on the covers of magazines like Elle and Vogue.

Starting Her Music Career

In 1974, Jones signed a record deal with Island Records. Her first album, Portfolio, came out in 1977. It included her version of the famous French song "La Vie en rose" and her first club hit, "I Need a Man".

Jones in a 1977 photo for her album Portfolio

In 1978, she released the album Fame. It was a hit in dance clubs. Her live shows were known for being very energetic and exciting. Her third disco album, Muse, was released in 1979.

Breakthrough in the 1980s

In the 1980s, Jones changed her musical style from disco to new wave. She worked with the Jamaican rhythm duo Sly & Robbie. Her 1980 album, Warm Leatherette, included cover songs from bands like The Pretenders and Roxy Music.

Her next album, Nightclubbing (1981), was a huge success. It featured hit songs like "Pull Up to the Bumper" and "I've Seen That Face Before". The album is considered one of her best works. The album's cover, a painting of Jones by Jean-Paul Goude, became iconic.

Jones in Los Angeles, 1984

In 1982, she released Living My Life. This album included the popular song "My Jamaican Guy". The cover art for this album, also by Goude, was very famous. It showed her head cut out and placed on a white background.

During this time, Jones also became a movie star. She played the warrior Zula in Conan the Destroyer (1984). In 1985, she starred as the villain May Day in the James Bond film A View to a Kill.

Later Career and Films

In 1985, Jones released the album Slave to the Rhythm. It was a concept album with different versions of the title track. The album was a success in Europe. After this, Island Records released Island Life, a collection of her greatest hits. The cover art for this album is one of the most famous images in pop culture.

She then signed with a new record label and released Inside Story in 1986. The album was produced by Nile Rodgers of the band Chic. That same year, she starred as a vampire queen in the movie Vamp.

In 1989, she released the album Bulletproof Heart. In the 1990s, she appeared in the Eddie Murphy movie Boomerang (1992) and contributed a song to its soundtrack.

Return to Music

After a long break from releasing new albums, Jones returned in 2008 with Hurricane. The album included personal songs about her life, like "Williams' Blood" and "I'm Crying (Mother's Tears)". She worked with many of the same musicians from her classic 1980s albums.

Jones performing in 2011

To promote the album, she went on The Hurricane Tour. In 2015, she released her life story, a book called I'll Never Write My Memoirs.

Recent Years

In 2017, Jones was featured on the song "Charger" by the band Gorillaz. In 2018, she received the Order of Jamaica, a high honor from the Jamaican government.

In 2022, she was the curator for the Meltdown Festival in London. During her performance, she announced that she was working on a new album. That same year, she was a guest singer on Beyoncé's song "Move" from the album Renaissance. Jones continues to perform at music festivals around the world.

Artistry and Influence

Image and Style

Grace Jones is famous for her striking and unique image. Her look has been described as androgynous, meaning it blends male and female styles. Her angular clothing and tall height of 179 cm (5' 10½") influenced the fashion of the 1980s.

Many artists, including Annie Lennox, Lady Gaga, and Rihanna, have been inspired by her. Her image was heavily shaped by her collaboration with French artist Jean-Paul Goude. He designed her album covers, directed her music videos, and helped create her iconic look. Goude saw her as his muse and created images that were both beautiful and strange.

Jones was also close to the artist Andy Warhol, who created several paintings of her. Artist Keith Haring also painted her for a series of photographs.

Music and Voice

Jones's music has changed over the years, mixing many different styles. She started with disco and then moved to a new wave sound that blended reggae, funk, and rock. Her music is often described as progressive and unique.

She has a deep contralto singing voice. She often sings in a half-speaking, half-singing style on songs like "Private Life". On other songs, like "La Vie en rose" and "Slave to the Rhythm", she sings in a higher, more powerful voice.

Personal Life

Jones had a strict relationship with her father, Bishop Robert W. Jones, who passed away in 2008. Her mother, Marjorie, always supported her career and even sang on some of her songs.

Jones has one son, Paulo, from her relationship with Jean-Paul Goude. Through her son, she has one granddaughter. Her brother, Noel Jones, is a well-known preacher.

Discography

Studio albums

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Grace Jones para niños