Meshell Ndegeocello facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Meshell Ndegeocello
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Ndegeocello performing in 2016
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Michelle Lynn Johnson |
| Also known as | Meshell Suhaila Bashir-Shakur Me'Shell Ndegéocello |
| Born | August 29, 1968 Berlin, Germany |
| Origin | Washington, D.C., United States |
| Genres | |
| 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, and bass player. She is known for mixing many styles of music, such as funk, soul, jazz, hip hop, reggae, and rock.
Throughout her career, many critics have praised her work. She has been nominated for 13 Grammy Awards and has won three of them. Many people say she helped start the neo soul music style.
Contents
Life and Music
Early Life
Meshell Ndegeocello was born Michelle Lynn Johnson in Berlin, Germany. Her father, Jacques Johnson, was a saxophonist in the US Army, and her mother, Helen, was a health care worker. She grew up in Washington, D.C., and went to special schools for the arts.
When she started her music career, she chose the last name Ndegeocello. She has said it means "free like a bird" in the Swahili language.
Music Career
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In the late 1980s, Ndegeocello played with bands in the Washington, D.C. go-go music scene. She soon began a solo career and was one of the first artists to sign with Maverick Records. Her first album was called Plantation Lullabies.
Her biggest hit was a duet with singer John Mellencamp. They sang a cover of Van Morrison's song "Wild Night," which became very popular on the Billboard music charts. Her song "If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)" was also a hit.
Ndegeocello has worked with many famous artists. She played bass for Madonna on her album Bedtime Stories. She also worked with singer Chaka Khan on the song "Never Miss the Water". In 1997, she played bass on the song "Saint of Me" for The Rolling Stones' album Bridges to Babylon.
Music in Movies and TV
Her music has been used in many movies. Some of these include How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Batman & Robin, Love & Basketball, and The Hurricane.
In 2016, she created the theme song for the TV show Queen Sugar. She also hosted a radio series in 2021 about how the Beatles were inspired by Black musicians.
Recent Work
In 2023, Ndegeocello released her 13th album, The Omnichord Real Book, on the famous Blue Note jazz label. The album won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album in 2024. Her next album, No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin, also won in the same category in 2025.
Helping Others
Ndegeocello has used her music to support important causes. In 2002, she was part of a project to raise money for AIDS charities.
In 2010, she recorded a cover of the U2 song "40" for a charity album. The money from the album helped protect and support women in the Congo region of Africa. She also took part in the It Gets Better Project by writing an essay for a book that offered hope and support to young people facing bullying.
Personal Life
Ndegeocello is bisexual. She has two sons. Her first son, Askia, was born in 1989. Her second son was born to her and her wife, Alison Riley, whom she married in 2005.
Awards and Nominations
Ndegeocello has been nominated for many awards for her music. She has won three Grammy Awards.
- 1995: Nominated for four Grammy Awards, including Best R&B Album for Plantation Lullabies.
- 1997: Nominated for two Grammy Awards.
- 2003: Nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album for Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape.
- 2006: Nominated for Best Contemporary Jazz Album.
- 2008: Nominated for Best Urban/Alternative Performance.
- 2019: Nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album.
- 2021: Won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Song for "Better Than I Imagined".
- 2024: Won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album for The Omnichord Real Book.
- 2025: Won a Grammy Award for Best Alternative Jazz Album for No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin.
Discography
Studio Albums
- Plantation Lullabies (1993)
- Peace Beyond Passion (1996)
- Bitter (1999)
- Cookie: The Anthropological Mixtape (2002)
- The Spirit Music Jamia: Dance of the Infidel (2005)
- The World Has Made Me the Man of My Dreams (2007)
- Devil's Halo (2009)
- Weather (2011)
- Pour une Âme Souveraine: A Dedication to Nina Simone (2012)
- Comet, Come to Me (2014)
- Ventriloquism (2018)
- The Omnichord Real Book (2023)
- No More Water: The Gospel of James Baldwin (2024)
