Jody Watley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jody Watley
Watley performing in 2022
Background information
Birth name	Jody Vanessa Watley
Born	(1959-01-30) January 30, 1959 (age 66) Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Pop R&B hip hop soul dance new jack swing house
Occupations	Singer songwriter record producer radio host
Instruments	Vocals piano keyboards
Years active	1973–present
Labels	SOLAR MCA Atlantic Giant Step Records Avitone Records

Jody Vanessa Watley (born January 30, 1959) is an American singer, songwriter, and producer. Her music blends different styles like pop, R&B, jazz, dance, and electronic soul. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, she was a member of the R&B/funk band Shalamar. They had many hit songs, especially in the UK.

In 1988, Jody Watley won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist as a solo artist. She has been nominated for three Grammy awards in total. In 2008, Billboard magazine gave her a Lifetime Achievement Award. She was also featured in the special black issue of Vogue Italia that year.

In December 2016, Billboard ranked her as the 21st most successful dance artist of all time. In 2017, the Black Music Honors TV special honored Watley as a Crossover Music Icon. This was for her amazing achievements and influence in music. In August 2018, Billboard listed Jody Watley as one of the top female artists of all time, at number 53.

In March 2021, Jody Watley was named the first Ambassador of the National Museum of African American Music. In 2022, she received an honorary doctorate in business. She also got a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from Joe Biden during "Jody Watley Day" at the Georgia State Capitol. That same year, she was added to the Women Songwriters Hall of Fame. In 2023, Sirius XM Satellite Radio launched "The Jody Watley Show." It's a monthly show about life, music, and culture, featuring celebrity guests and classic R&B hits.

Early Life and Soul Train

Jody Watley in 1977

Jody Watley was born in Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. She first performed on stage at eight years old with her family friend and godfather, Jackie Wilson. She began her career on the TV dance show Soul Train when she was 14. At Susan Miller Dorsey High School, her classmates voted her 'best dancer' in her senior year. Ebony magazine featured her in 1977 as part of "The New Generation." Jody Watley was one of the most popular dancers on Soul Train. She was known for setting trends with her style and dance moves.

Joining Shalamar

As popular dancers on Soul Train, Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel were chosen to join Gary Mumford. They became the first members of the R&B group Shalamar. The show's creator, Don Cornelius, formed the group. Gary Mumford was soon replaced by Gerald Brown, and then Howard Hewett became the lead singer. The group with Hewett, Watley, and Daniel became the most famous lineup.

Watley stayed with Shalamar from 1977 to 1983. The group released several albums and had many hits on both pop and R&B music charts. Some of their popular songs included "Take That to the Bank," "The Second Time Around," "Make That Move," "For the Lover In You," "Dead Giveaway," and "A Night to Remember." Jody Watley left the group in 1983. This was due to disagreements within the group, different ideas about their music, and issues with payment from Solar Records.

After leaving Shalamar in 1984, Watley moved to England. There, she sang on a song with the British reggae group Musical Youth for their album, Different Style!. She also recorded with Gary Langan, Anne Dudley, and J. J. Jeczalik, who later formed Art of Noise. She briefly worked with Phonogram Records, releasing two singles under the name 'Jody': "Where the Boys Are" and "Girls Night Out." These songs were released in the UK, Europe, and Australia. During this time, she also took part in Bob Geldof's Band Aid recording of "Do They Know It's Christmas?." This song featured many famous artists like Bono, Boy George, Sting, and George Michael.

Solo Music Career

1987–1988: First Solo Album Success

Watley in Paris filming the music video for "Still a Thrill" in 1987

After two and a half years in England, Watley returned to America. She signed a record deal with MCA Records. She wanted to create her own unique music style. Her first solo album, Jody Watley, came out in March 1987. She helped write six of the album's nine songs with André Cymone, who also produced her first four albums. Watley told Rolling Stone that she wanted her voice to shine over "really funky hard dance tracks."

The album's first song, "Looking for a New Love," became a big hit and sold very well. The album reached number ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. It also hit number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold 2 million copies in the United States and 4 million worldwide. Five songs from the album became popular dance and R&B singles. Three of them reached the top ten on the Billboard Hot 100 chart: "Looking for a New Love" (#2), "Don't You Want Me" (#6), and "Some Kind of Lover" (#10). The album also included a duet with George Michael called "Learn to Say No."

At the 30th Annual Grammy Awards in 1988, Watley won the award for Best New Artist. She was also nominated for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. She received nominations for two MTV Video Music Awards and three Soul Train Awards that same year.

1989–1990: Larger Than Life

Watley around 1989

In the spring of 1989, Watley released her second album, Larger Than Life. She co-wrote eleven of the twelve songs on this album. The album sold over 4 million copies worldwide and reached number 16 on the Billboard 200. It produced four hit singles. "Real Love" sold very well and was her first top 40 UK song since 1987. "Friends" featured Eric B. & Rakim. This song was important because it was one of the first R&B, Pop, Rap, and Dance songs to reach the Top 10 on many different music charts. "Everything" was her first ballad released as a single.

In the summer of 1989, the music video for "Real Love" was nominated for seven MTV Video Music Awards. This was a record at the time. The next year, she was nominated for two Soul Train Awards and an NAACP Image Award. In October 1989, a remix album called You Wanna Dance with Me? was released and also sold very well. In 1989, Watley was featured in Harper’s Bazaar magazine's "Ten Most Beautiful Women" issue. She also appeared on the cover of the first issue of the Japanese fashion magazine SPUR. Watley also released "Dance to Fitness," which was a first for an African-American woman and artist.

1991–1992: Affairs of the Heart

Watley with President George H. W. Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush, 1992

Jody Watley wanted to try new musical styles and change her image. She didn't want to be seen only as a dance music star. She wanted to write songs that talked about social issues. In December 1991, Watley released her third album, Affairs of the Heart. This album reached No. 124 on the US chart and No. 21 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart.

The first single, "I Want You," reached No. 5 on the US R&B singles chart and No. 17 on the Dance chart. The second single, "I'm The One You Need," reached No. 3 on the Dance chart and No. 19 on the US Hot 100. The last single was the ballad "It All Begins With You." In 1992, President George H. W. Bush invited Watley to perform this song at the White House. Watley used this chance to ask the government for more help and money for public schools.

1993–1994: Intimacy

Even though her previous album didn't sell as much, Watley focused on trying new creative things rather than just having huge sales. In November 1993, MCA released her fourth solo album, Intimacy. This album focused on relationships. Critics said Intimacy showed Watley moving towards more grown-up themes. Watley herself said that the songs she wrote were always very personal.

Intimacy reached No. 164 on the US Top 200 Album Chart and No. 38 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart. The first single, "Your Love Keeps Working On Me," reached No. 2 on the Dance chart and No. 26 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. Watley also became a video director for her next single, "When a Man Loves a Woman." This song reached No. 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart and No. 8 on the US Dance chart.

1995: Affection

After leaving MCA Records, Watley decided to go her own way. She started her own record label, Avitone Records. In July 1995, she released her fifth album, Affection, through her new label. The album was produced by Booker T. Jones and Angelo Earl. Critics described Affection as a collection of slower, jazzy R&B songs. The album's main song, "Affection," became a moderate R&B hit, reaching No. 28 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.

1996: Greatest Hits and Broadway

Watley on Broadway in New York as Rizzo in Grease, 1996

In 1996, Watley played the role of Rizzo in the musical Grease on Broadway theater in New York City. She was the first African American woman to play this part. That fall, Watley appeared on the very popular song "This Is For The Lover In You" by Babyface. This song also featured LL Cool J and Watley’s former Shalamar bandmates Howard Hewett and Jeffrey Daniel. It was a new version of Shalamar’s old R&B hit "For The Lover In You." Later that year, MCA Records released her Greatest Hits album, which included her songs from MCA.

1997–1998: Flower

After spending most of 1997 recording, Watley released her sixth album, Flower, in early 1998. The main songs were "Off The Hook" and "If I'm Not In Love." "Off The Hook" reached No. 23 on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart. It did much better on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, reaching No. 1. This was her first No. 1 dance hit in nine years. Later that year, "If I'm Not In Love" reached No. 2 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart.

However, her record label, Big Beat Records, was taken over by its parent company, Atlantic Records. Atlantic Records then decided not to release Flower in the U.S., which left Watley in a difficult legal situation for two years. Flower was still released in Canada, Great Britain, and Japan.

1999: The Saturday Night Experience Volume 1

During the time she couldn't record, Watley found inspiration from the group 4Hero. Their 1998 album Two Pages introduced her to underground electronic dance music. She says this inspiration stopped her from quitting music after the problems with Flower.

In November 1999, Jody started her independent label, Avitone, again. She released her seventh album, The Saturday Night Experience featuring Jody Watley Vol. 1, in Japan. This album was a collection of organic club music tracks, inspired by her new love for electronic music. It included the drum and bass song "Saturday Night Experience." Watley said she didn't want to release this album in the U.S.

2001–2005: Midnight Lounge

Watley meeting the Queen of Malaysia, 2005

In 2001, Jody released her eighth album, Midnight Lounge, in Europe and Japan. She told Billboard magazine that "An artist should always explore new frontiers." Midnight Lounge was a mix of soul, jazz, R&B, and electronic club music.

After some success in its first release, Watley arranged for it to be released in the U.S. in March 2003. Midnight Lounge was Watley’s first album released in the U.S. in eight years. It reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Top Electronic Albums chart. The song "Whenever" reached No. 19 on the Billboard Hot Dance/Club Play Chart. Another song, "Photographs," became popular in the underground club scene. Critics praised Watley for successfully updating her sound and becoming a soulful singer.

In 2005, Watley made history on the Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play Chart. She re-released her 1987 hit "Looking For a New Love." The 2005 remix reached No. 1 on the Billboard Dance/Club Play chart. This made her the first artist to have the same song reach No. 1 in two different decades. Jody Watley is now one of the few artists to have a No. 1 hit on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s.

2006–2014: The Makeover

The album The Makeover brought Watley together with 4Hero and King Britt to create an electronic music style. Watley's Avitone Recordings released The Makeover only at Virgin Megastores at first. It debuted at No. 1 for the store. The first single was a cover of Madonna's "Borderline." This song reached No. 2 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart in January 2007. The second single, a cover of Chic's "I Want Your Love," reached No. 1 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play in June 2007.

Jody Watley promoting 'The Makeover' in-store, 2008

In 2007, Billboard listed Watley as No. 5 in the Year End Billboard Dance Play Artists. In January 2008, "I Want Your Love" topped the U.K. Dance Charts. In 2008, she started an online music store. She also had another Top Five Billboard Dance Single, "A Beautiful Life." In May 2008, Watley performed at Life Ball in Vienna, Austria. This event raises money and awareness for HIV and AIDS. In May 2009, Watley’s Avitone signed a deal with a London-based company for music distribution.

In October 2009, an "International" version of "The Makeover" was released in the U.K. It received good reviews. Critics noted her growth as an artist. This new version had different cover art and song list.

In February 2010, Jody Watley joined Jamie Foxx on stage for a duet of her hit "Looking For a New Love." She also appeared in the VH1 documentary "Soul Train: The Hippest Trip In America." In October 2012, Watley performed in the musical event Loving the Silent Tears in Los Angeles.

Jody Watley also recorded songs with the electro-pop group French Horn Rebellion. These singles were "Cold Enough" and "Dancing Out" in 2012 and 2013. Watley performed at big summer concerts, including Grammy All-Stars in China and the Essence Music Festival in July 2013. Jody Watley released a new single, "Nightlife," in 2013. This song, which brought back disco dance, was a Top 5 British Urban Single and a Billboard Hot Dance Club Play Top 20 Single in 2014.

2014–present: Paradise and Shalamar Reloaded

On July 28, 2014, the EP "Paradise" was released. It included the single "Nightlife" and five new songs. It featured collaborations with other musicians and producers.

Also in 2014, Watley, an original member of Shalamar, became the legal owner of the group's name. She wanted to rebrand the group as "Shalamar Reloaded." This name showed that it was not a reunion with past members. She found it exciting to bring the group to a new generation. Watley also launched a new online store for Shalamar merchandise. The new Shalamar Reloaded group includes choreographer Rosero McCoy and singer Nate Allen Smith.

Shalamar Reloaded released a song called "SlowDance" in July 2015. They also made television appearances to introduce the new members. Jody Watley also sang on Dam-Funk's album "Invite The Light." Jody Watley and Shalamar Reloaded continue to tour in the United States and other countries like Japan, Brazil, and the Netherlands. In 2017, Watley changed her music group's name again to Jody Watley & SRL (Soul Revolution Love). They released new songs like "The Mood" and "The Passion," which were popular on the UK Soul Chart. Watley also released a jazzy version of Bob Marley's "Waiting In Vain," which entered Billboard magazine's Top 25 Smooth Jazz chart.

Music and Fashion Legacy

In 1988, Watley filmed the video for "Looking for a New Love." She used fashion to show her artistic vision, wearing clothes from designers like Issey Miyake. In 1990, Watley continued to be involved with fashion. For her second album, she was photographed by famous fashion photographer Steven Meisel. In her "Real Love" video, Watley showed a mix of high fashion, vintage clothes, and custom designs. The "Friends" video combined designer clothes by Jean Paul Gaultier with a city style.

She released a very popular home video called Dance To Fitness. She was featured in the first celebrity ad campaign for Gap and in many fashion magazines like Harper’s Bazaar, Vogue, and Vanity Fair. In 1990, People named her one of the 50 Most Beautiful People.

In the same year, she sang a jazzy version of "After You, Who?" for the album "Red Hot + Blue". This album raised money for AIDS awareness. In 1996, Watley was photographed by Victor Skrebneski for the Saks Fifth Avenue Defining Style Fall Catalog. In 2006, Watley walked the runway for designer Kevan Hall at LA Fashion Week. She is seen as a style icon and has influenced many modern designers.

Influences

Jody Watley's early music influences include Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, The Jackson 5, The Carpenters, Roberta Flack, Prince, Grace Jones, and various jazz artists like Nancy Wilson.

Legacy

T-Boz of TLC said that Watley's song "Still a Thrill" helped her find her vocal style for her singing career. In a video, T-Boz thanked Watley for this song, saying it helped her sing in a lower voice that suited her. Another TLC member, Lisa Lopes, was seen in a video dancing to Watley's song "Friends" before TLC became famous.

Selena was influenced by Watley's song "Looking for a New Love." This song made Selena want to sing in English. Selena also performed this song in concert, which was shown in her Netflix show.

Jody Watley is an important influencer who brought high fashion mixed with street style to the mainstream. She also made her signature hoop earrings popular. Her career includes features in fashion magazines, ad campaigns, a very popular fitness video, and being the first Black woman on the cover of a Japanese fashion magazine. She created a style of branding and image that is now common in the music industry.

Personal Life

Jody Watley has two children. Her daughter, Lauren, is with her former fiancé and music producer Leon Sylvers III. Her son, Arie, is with her ex-husband André Cymone. She is the goddaughter of Jackie Wilson.

Discography

Studio albums

• Jody Watley (1987)
• Larger than Life (1989)
• Affairs of the Heart (1991)
• Intimacy (1993)
• Affection (1995)
• Flower (1998)
• The Saturday Night Experience Volume 1 (1999)
• Midnight Lounge (2001)
• The Makeover (2006)

Tours

• Larger Than Life Tour (1989)
• The Intimate Tour (1993)
• Colors of Christmas (2002)
• Superfreestyle Freestyle Explosion (2015/2016)

Awards and Nominations

Grammy Awards

American Music Awards

MTV Video Music Awards

Soul Train Music Awards

Billboard Music Awards

See Also

In Spanish: Jody Watley para niños

• List of bestselling music artists
• List of Billboard number-one dance club songs
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart