Joyce Irby facts for kids

Joyce "Fenderella" Irby (born July 27, 1956) is an American singer, songwriter, bass guitarist, and producer. She was one of the main singers for the all-female band Klymaxx.

Joyce has also worked with many other artists. These include Lloyd, Troop, Sammie, The SOS Band, and Shalamar.

Her Musical Journey

Early Days and George Clinton

When Joyce was a teenager, she often played her bass guitar outside concert venues. She would play on the loading ramps, hoping to be noticed. This is where George Clinton, a famous funk musician, first saw her.

He would invite her to sit with him after concerts. He listened to her play and encouraged her musical talent. Joyce later signed with George Clinton's P-Funk Collective as "Fenderella." Even though she didn't appear on his albums, she considers him a lifelong friend and mentor.

Joining Klymaxx

Dick Griffey, who was the president of Solar Records, saw Joyce perform. He was looking for a female bass player for his new group, Klymaxx. Joyce joined the band.

Later, producer Jimmy Jam heard her singing in the studio. This led to her becoming a lead singer for Klymaxx. She sang lead on three of the band's four biggest hits. This included their most famous song, "I Miss You." Joyce also wrote and recorded their first hit, "The Men All Pause."

Solo Career

In 1989, Joyce signed a solo record deal with Motown Records. She had three songs that made it onto the Billboard charts. Her most well-known solo song was "Mr. DJ," which featured Doug E. Fresh. This song reached number 2 on the charts. All her solo hits were part of her album, Maximum Thrust, released that same year.

In 2012, Joyce had another big success as a songwriter. She co-wrote "Another Round," a song by Fat Joe and Chris Brown. This song became a top 5 hit on the Billboard charts.

Diva One Productions

In the mid-1980s, Joyce moved to Atlanta. She wanted to help Atlanta become a major center for urban music. She reached out to big record labels and producers. These included Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and L.A. Reid & Babyface. She encouraged them to open offices in Atlanta.

Joyce also started her own company called Diva One Productions. This company focused on music production and publishing. One of her biggest impacts was signing a 16-year-old Dallas Austin in 1988. Dallas became a songwriter and producer for her company. He produced early projects for famous groups like TLC and Boyz II Men while working with Joyce.

She also signed child star Sammie Bush when he was 12 years old. This deal helped launch his career. Joyce also signed Lloyd (The Inc) when he was 11. She helped guide his career through four major record deals. She also gave multi-platinum writer/producer Jasper Cameron his first songwriting deal.

Awards and Recognition

In 2012, Joyce Irby won an ASCAP songwriter award. She received this award for co-writing "Another Round." This song was one of the most played urban records in the U.S. It was a top 5 single by Fat Joe, Chris Brown, and Mary J Blige.

Personal Life

Joyce Irby loves animals very much. She started her own charity called "Jams For Animals." This organization uses music and videos to raise awareness and promote kindness towards animals.