Meshell Ndegeocello facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Meshell Ndegeocello
Ndegeocello performing in 2016
Background information
Birth name	Michelle Lynn Johnson
Also known as	Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur Me'Shell Ndegéocello
Born	(1968-08-29) August 29, 1968 (age 56) Berlin, Germany
Origin	Washington, D.C., United States
Genres	Funk soul neo soul jazz hip hop reggae rock progressive soul
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, spoken word artist, musician
Instruments	Vocals, bass, keyboards, drums, guitar
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Maverick/Reprise/Warner Bros, Shanachie, EmArcy, Decca/Universal, Mercer Street/Downtown, Naïve, Blue Note
Associated acts	John Mellencamp, Madonna, Benson Taylor, Chaka Khan, Robert Glasper

Meshell Ndegeocello (born Michelle Lynn Johnson on August 29, 1968) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, and bass player. She has also used the name Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur for some of her writing. Her music mixes many styles, including funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, reggae, and rock.

She has been praised by critics throughout her career. Meshell has been nominated for eleven Grammy Awards and has won two. She is also known for helping to start the neo-soul music movement.

About Meshell Ndegeocello

Meshell Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in West Berlin, Germany. Her father, Jacques Johnson, was a US Army officer and saxophonist. Her mother, Helen, worked in healthcare. Meshell grew up in Washington, D.C., where she went to Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Oxon Hill High School.

Meshell chose her last name, Ndegeocello, which she says means "free like a bird" in the Swahili language.

Meshell's Music Journey

Meshell Ndegeocello performing in Oslo in 2016

Meshell Ndegeocello started her music career in Washington, D.C., in the late 1980s. She played bass with bands like Prophecy, Little Benny and the Masters, and Rare Essence. She then began her solo career and was one of the first artists to sign with Maverick Records. Her first album, Plantation Lullabies, was released there.

One of her biggest hits was a duet with John Mellencamp. It was a cover version of "Wild Night" by Van Morrison, and it reached No. 3 on the Billboard charts. Her own song, "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)", also became a hit in 1994.

In 1994, Meshell worked with Herbie Hancock on a song called "Nocturnal Sunshine." This song was part of an album called Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool. This album was created by the Red Hot Organization to help raise money and awareness for the AIDS epidemic. Time magazine called it "Album of the Year."

In 1996, she had a No. 1 dance hit with a Bill Withers cover song called "Who Is He (And What Is He to You)?" This song was even featured briefly in the movie Jerry Maguire. She also had other dance hits like "Earth" and "Stay." Meshell played bass on the song "I'd Rather be Your Lover" for Madonna's album Bedtime Stories. She also performed spoken word on Chaka Khan's song "Never Miss the Water" in 1996.

Her music has been used in many movies, including How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Batman & Robin, Love Jones, and Love & Basketball.

Meshell has also appeared on recordings by other artists like Basement Jaxx, Indigo Girls, and The Blind Boys of Alabama. She played bass on "Saint of Me" for The Rolling Stones' album Bridges to Babylon in 1997. She also played bass on two songs for Alanis Morissette's album Under Rug Swept in 2002.

She was a judge for the Independent Music Awards several times, helping to support new artists. In 2016, she created the theme song, "Nova," for the TV show Queen Sugar. She also worked with the duo Ibeyi on their song "Transmission/Michaelion."

In December 2016, Meshell's new musical and art show, Can I Get a Witness? The Gospel of James Baldwin, premiered in New York. In 2021, she hosted a four-part radio series called A Shot of Rhythm and Blues: Exploring The Beatles and Black Music on Sirius XM Radio. This series looked at how black musicians inspired the Beatles.

Meshell joined the Blue Note label and released her 13th studio album, The Omnichord Real Book, in 2023. The album's title refers to a collection of songs influenced by her father, like a "real book" of jazz music.

Meshell's Activism

Meshell Ndegeocello has used her music to support important causes. In 2002, she worked with Yerba Buena on a song for Red Hot and Riot, an album honoring Fela Kuti. The money from this album went to charities that help with AIDS.

In 2010, she covered U2's song "40" for the Raise Hope for Congo album. The money from this album helps protect and empower women in Congo and encourages people to speak up for peace there.

Meshell also contributed to the book It Gets Better: Coming Out, Overcoming Bullying, and Creating a Life Worth Living in 2010. This book was part of the It Gets Better Project, which aims to support young people facing difficulties.

Meshell's Family Life

Meshell Ndegeocello has two sons. Her first son, Solomon, was born in 1989. Since 2005, she has been married to Alison Riley, and they have a second son together.

Awards and Nominations

Meshell Ndegeocello has received many awards and nominations for her music.

Discography

Albums

Singles

Other Appearances

Meshell Ndegeocello has also appeared on many other artists' albums and soundtracks:

• 1994 – Madonna, Bedtime Stories: "I'd Rather Be Your Lover"
• 1994 – Stolen Moments: Red Hot + Cool: "Nocturnal Sunshine" with Herbie Hancock
• 1995 – Higher Learning (soundtrack): "Soul Searchin' (I Wanna Know If It's Mine)"
• 1995 – Jazzmatazz, Vol. 2: The New Reality: "For You" with Guru
• 1995 – White Man's Burden: "Time Has Come Today"
• 1995 – Panther (soundtrack): "Freedom (Theme)"
• 1997 – Love Jones (soundtrack): "Rush Over" with Marcus Miller
• 1997 – Money Talks (soundtrack): "The Teaching"
• 1997 – Batman & Robin (soundtrack): "Poison Ivy"
• 1997 – Queen Pen, My Melody: "Girlfriend"
• 1998 – How Stella Got Her Groove Back (soundtrack): "Let Me Have You"
• 1998 – Down in the Delta (soundtrack): "My Soul Don't Dream"
• 1999 – Scritti Politti, Anomie & Bonhomie: "Die Alone"
• 1999 – The Best Man (soundtrack): "Untitled"
• 1999 – Eric Benét, A Day in the Life: "Ghetto Girl"
• 2000 – Love & Basketball (soundtrack): "Fool of Me"
• 2002 – Gov’t Mule, The Deep End, Volume 2: "Hammer & Nails"
• 2003 – The Blind Boys of Alabama, Go Tell It on the Mountain: "Oh Come All Ye Faithful"
• 2005 – Joshua Redman, Momentum: "Greasy G"
• 2007 – Instant Karma: The Amnesty International Campaign to Save Darfur: "Imagine" by John Lennon
• 2007 – Talk to Me (soundtrack): "Compared to What" with Terence Blanchard
• 2012 – Robert Glasper Experiment, Black Radio: "The Consequences of Jealousy"
• 2014 – Jason Moran, All Rise: A Joyful Elegy for Fats Waller: producer and vocals
• 2020 – Pat Metheny, From This Place: "From This Place"
• 2022 – Antonio Sanchez, SHIFT (Bad Hombre Vol. II): "Comet, Come to Me"
• 2022 – Robert Glasper, Black Radio III: "Better Than I Imagined" with H.E.R.