Malina Moye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malina Moye
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| Background information | |
| Born | August 20, 1984 |
| Genres | Rock, blues rock, pop rock, R&B, neo soul, funk |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, musician, record label owner, actress |
| Instruments | Lead guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Labels | WCE Records, BDG, RED Distribution |
Malina Moye (born August 20, 1984) is an American singer, songwriter, and guitarist famous for her unique style. She mixes pop, rock, and soul to create her own sound. Moye is left-handed, but she plays a right-handed guitar flipped upside down. This unusual technique is similar to the legendary blues guitarist Albert King.
Moye is recognized as one of the best guitarists of her generation. The famous guitar company, Fender, named her one of their first African-American, left-handed, upside-down female artists. She started her own record label, WCE Records, in 2004.
Her music has been very successful. Her 2018 album, Bad as I Wanna Be, hit number one on the Billboard Blues chart. Her 2023 album, Dirty, also reached the top of the Billboard Blues chart and was named one of the best guitar albums of the year by Guitar World Magazine.
In 2021, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame featured Moye in an exhibit called "Here And Now." The exhibit showcased today's most important artists, including Taylor Swift and Harry Styles.
Contents
Musical Career
Early Success
Malina Moye first got noticed with her single "Girlfriend." To promote the song, she also released a calendar. This smart marketing helped her song get onto the Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Sales chart. Soon after, Guitar World magazine named her one of the ten female guitarists in the world that people should know.
Her next single, "Alone," was even more successful. It climbed to number 10 on a Billboard sales chart and stayed on the chart for over 20 weeks. This led to appearances on TV shows like Emeril Live.
Major Performances and Recognition
Moye's incredible talent earned her an invitation to the Robert Johnson Blues Festival. She was the only female singer and left-handed guitarist on the lineup. She shared the stage with blues legends like David "Honeyboy" Edwards and Hubert Sumlin.
Over the years, Moye has performed at many important events.
- 2009: She opened for famous artists like Robin Thicke and Boyz II Men. She also performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to honor Michael Jackson.
- 2010: Moye made history by playing the U.S. National Anthem on her electric guitar at a sold-out Minnesota Vikings football game. She was the first African-American woman to do so at a professional sports event.
- 2011: She performed at "Artists for Peace," a large peace concert that honored music icon Stevie Wonder.
- 2012: She joined the Experience Hendrix Tour, a concert series celebrating the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix. She was the only female guitarist on the tour.
- 2013: During a tour in Europe, Moye performed "God Save The Queen" to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's 60th year as monarch.
Recent Achievements
In 2014, Moye released her album Rock & Roll Baby. The single "K-yotic," featuring funk music legend Bootsy Collins, was a big hit. Guitar World said the album was "insanely good."
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has continued to recognize her importance. In March 2024, she was featured in their "Revolutionary Women" exhibit for Women's History Month. That same year, she performed the national anthem for a NASCAR race and played at a Cleveland Browns NFL game.
In a historic partnership, the guitar string company Dean Markley released the Malina Moye Signature guitar strings in 2021. This made her the first woman of color to have her own line of guitar strings.
Personal Life
In 2017, Moye became engaged to film director Marc Fusco.
Discography
- Diamonds & Guitars (2009)
- Rock & Roll Baby (2014)
- Bad as I Wanna Be (2018)
- Dirty (2023)
