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. She is known for her unique style that mixes pop, rock, and soul music. Malina is a left-handed guitarist. She plays her guitars upside-down, much like the famous musician Albert King. This unique way of playing has led to comparisons with Jimi Hendrix.
Malina started her own record company, WCE Records, in 2004. Since then, she has released four albums and fifteen singles. Fender guitars has recognized Malina as one of the first African-American left-handed female artists to join their family. Her album Dirty came out in 2023. It quickly reached the top of the Billboard Blues chart. This was her eighth time on that chart! Dirty was also named one of the top five guitar albums of 2023 by Guitar World Magazine.
Her album Bad as I Wanna Be was released in 2018. It was number one on the Billboard Blues chart for two weeks. Parade Magazine called Malina "an über talented, electric guitar powerhouse." Her song "Enough" was played on NPR and featured in the movie The Samuel Project. Rolling Stone France praised her for blending blues, funk, rock, and pop perfectly.
Contents
Malina Moye's Musical Journey
Early Career and First Successes
Malina Moye began her career by releasing her single "Girlfriend." She also promoted it with a calendar called "Spend 12 Months With Malina Moye." This smart marketing helped her song "Girlfriend" reach number 43 on the R&B Hip-Hop Sales Billboard chart. Guitar World Magazine later named Malina as one of the top ten female guitarists in the world.
Her next song, "Alone," was released on its own. It reached number 10 on the Billboard R&B Hip-Hop single sales chart. The song stayed on the chart for over twenty weeks. Malina has appeared on TV shows like Weekends at the D.L. and Emeril Live. In 2007, she was part of a UK documentary called Stratmaster: The Greatest Guitar Story Ever Told. She appeared alongside famous guitarists like Robert Cray and Mark Knopfler.
Performing with Legends and Special Events
Because of her unique playing style, Malina was invited to the Robert Johnson Blues Festival. She was the only female left-handed guitarist there. She shared the stage with blues legends like David "Honeyboy" Edwards and Pinetop Perkins. In 2009, Malina opened concerts for Robin Thicke and Boyz II Men.
In 2009, Malina released her album Diamonds & Guitars. She also sang the National Anthem for over 40,000 people at Petco Park. Her hometown gave her a special day to honor her musical contributions. She performed at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, honoring Michael Jackson.
In 2010, Malina made history by playing the National Anthem on electric guitar. She performed at a Vikings/Cowboys game in Minneapolis. This made her the first African-American woman to play the anthem on electric guitar at a professional sports event.
Tours, Tributes, and Royal Performances
In 2011, Malina played at Bospop, one of Europe's biggest rock festivals. She also headlined a peace concert called "Artists for Peace." This event honored Stevie Wonder for his amazing musical achievements.
In 2012, Glamour Magazine named Malina one of the best dressed at the Grammy Awards. That same year, she joined the Experience Hendrix Tour. She was the only female guitarist on the tour. She performed with guitar greats like Eric Johnson and Kenny Wayne Shepherd. They all honored Jimi Hendrix. Malina also returned to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to honor Chuck Berry. She performed a song for him and his wife.
In 2013, Malina signed a big music deal with Brody Distribution Group. She went on a successful European tour to promote her song "K-yotic." This song featured Bootsy Collins. During her tour, Malina honored the Queen of England's 60-year reign. She played "God Save The Queen" at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
New Albums and Continued Recognition
In 2014, Malina released her album Rock & Roll Baby. The song "K-yotic" was called "explosive" by Billboard. Guitar World said Malina's album was "insanely good." Elmore Magazine noted that Malina "can play with the best of them." She also appeared on the Arsenio Hall Show to support her album. In 2015, she was featured on the cover of Asia's top guitar magazine, Gitar Plus. They called her the "Queen of funk rock."
Recent Highlights and Honors
In 2020, Malina's song "Enough" became popular again. It was used in connection with the Black Lives Matter movement. In 2021, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame featured Malina in their "Here And Now" exhibit. She was recognized as one of today's most important artists. Other artists featured included Janelle Monae and Taylor Swift.
Also in 2021, Malina was featured in Bella Thorne's song "Phantom." The music video quickly gained millions of views. In July 2021, Dean Markley announced a special partnership with Malina. They released Malina Moye Signature guitar strings. This made her the first woman of color in history to have her own line of guitar strings.
In 2024, AXS TV and Spin Magazine listed Malina as one of the top left-handed guitarists ever. She was also featured in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame's Revolutionary Women exhibit. This exhibit was unveiled for Women's History Month. Malina also played the national anthem at Sonoma Raceway for NASCAR. She also performed for the Cleveland Browns football team. This was part of a special Rock & Roll Hall of Fame themed game.
Personal Life
In 2017, Malina Moye became engaged to film director Marc Fusco.
Discography
- Diamonds & Guitars (2009)
- Rock & Roll Baby (2014)
- Bad as I Wanna Be (2018)
- Dirty (2023)
